On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee hosted their Summer Sichuan Night at the restaurant CHILI in Midtown Manhattan.
The dinner at CHILI proved to be a cozy and inviting experience and brought new and old members together to mingle over a spicy family-style Sichuan meal. Attendees networked and mingled throughout the evening, learning about each other’s backgrounds, careers, and professional experiences. The Labor & Employment Law Committee collected a group of individuals from far and wide, a reflection of AABANY’s diverse membership, with attendees hailing from as close as Brooklyn, to as far as Shenzhen, China.
Thank you to the Labor & Employment Law Committee for planning and hosting Sichuan Night as well as everyone who attended and enjoyed conversing over delicious Sichuan cuisine on a hot summer day. The Labor and Employment Law Committee continues to welcome new members and hopes to see many old and new faces at future events!
To find out more about the Labor & Employment Law Committee, please click here.
On Thursday, June 20, the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s Intellectual Property (IP) Committee hosted a dinner at Mama Fina’s, renowned as the House of Filipino Sisig. New and returning members attended the dinner, eager to meet and catch up with one another.
For some attendees, the dinner was an eye-opening experience as this was their first time exploring Filipino cuisine. Attendees enjoyed Filipino classics such as their light and flavorful lumpia, unforgettable crispy lechon, and of course, their famous fragrant and savory sisig, all shared family style. Safe to say, many attendees left Mama Fina’s as newfound lovers of the cuisine.
At the dinner, members bonded over endless discussions on various intriguing topics such as hometowns, pop culture, and AI. Some Canadian members of the committee had an unexpected encounter with one another, and gave travel advice to committee members that have travel plans in Canada. From there, discussions ensued on music and the use of AI in recent songs. Practicing lawyers gave their two cents on the use of AI in music, and how AI has and will continue to affect the legal field. Attendees conversed for about two hours at the dinner, leaving content and well-fed.
Thank you to those who joined us for the wonderful evening. To learn more about the IP Committee and how to get more involved, click here.
November 6-7, 2024 | Seattle, WA Application Opens July 9, 2024
NAPABA is proud to launch its newest program, the NAPABA ADR Institute. This multi-day career and skills development program will provide a broad overview of the practice and substantive, hands-on training to members who are interested in pursuing a career in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This program aims to diversify the pool of mediators and arbitrators in the United States and to increase the use of mediation and arbitration by those who attend the training.
The training is designed for:
those interested in incorporating work as a mediator or arbitrator while still advocating;
those who are interested in pursuing a judicial career and will benefit from serving as a neutral to gain valuable experience before applying for or running for a judicial position; and
those who wish to pursue a career as a full-time mediator and/or arbitrator, either ad hoc or by joining an ADR provider.
The application to be a part of NAPABA Connects, an exclusive program available to in-house counsel convention registrants and Solo and Small Firm, Gold, or higher-level firm sponsors is still open. IHC Participants with two or more meetings with firms will be reimbursed for their Convention registration, up to $735.
In-house counsel and law firm participants will be matched for one-on-one meetings during the NAPABA Convention. All IHC participants are required to attend at least one NAPABA Connects touchpoint during the Convention November 7-10, 2024. Details will be given in further communications.
To participate as in-house counsel, you must fill out our application form. You can be matched with diverse law firm attorneys to cultivate new business relationships, or you may choose from a list of participating firms to expand your network with existing provider firms who may be in your preferred network. NAPABA will also send a list of all certified minority or women-owned firms to participating companies that may already have a preferred provider firm list.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2024 – On Monday, June 24, 2024, at 6 PM, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) will be presenting the recipients of its 2024 Public Interest Scholarships at the AALFNY-AABANY Summer Reception at FTI Consulting, held at their offices at 1166 Avenue of the Americas.
Jessica Chan (New York Law School, Class of 2025) will be interning with the Legal Aid Society in its Criminal Defense Practice. She is looking forward to using her experience in criminal defense work to build bridges between communities of color.
Ranjana Venkatesh (City University of New York School of Law, Class of 2025) will be interning with The Bronx Defenders’ Criminal Defense Practice under the Adolescent Defense Project. She hopes her experience in the juvenile criminal defense arena will highlight the importance of holistic lawyering.
AALFNY awards Public Interest Scholarships each year to law students with a demonstrated commitment to the Asian American community. The purpose of the award is to assist law students with their tuition while encouraging them to use their legal knowledge and training to benefit the Asian American community in New York and to foster commitment by law students to public service in New York. Since 1997, AALFNY has funded more than 60 public interest scholarships to law students.
AALFNY was established in 1993 by the Asian American Bar Association of New York to create and support non-profit and charitable efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to defend human and civil rights.
Donations to AALFNY may be made at asianamericanlawfund.org/donate. A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained from AALFNY at P.O. Box 161, 41 Purdy Ave., Rye NY 10580 or from the NY Attorney General’s Charities Bureau website www.charitiesnys.com. Information may also be obtained from AALFNY at [email protected] or the NYS Attorney General at 212-416-8686.
On Tuesday, June 18th, 2024, at the 2024 Annual Judges’ Reception,AABANYs Judiciary Committee honored eighteen newly elected, elevated, or retired AAPI judges, each of whom are incredible trailblazers and represent continuing progress in the ongoing effort to increase AAPI representation in our courts.
The Judiciary Committee’s flagship event was hosted in the main hall of New York City’s Surrogate’s Court. Between sky-reaching pillars, and under the vaulted arch-ceiling the following eighteen judges were recognized and celebrated for their work, effort, and example:
Hon. Deepa Ambekar (Kings Co. Sup. Ct.)
Hon. Sanket J. Bulsara (United States District Court, EDNY)
Hon. Nusrat J. Choudhury (United States District Court, EDNY)
Hon. Kenneth W. Chu (ret. ALJ, NLRB)
Hon. Christopher J. Exias (Rockland Co. Fam. Ct.)
Hon. Evelyn Gong (Queens Co. Civ. Ct.)
Hon. Dale E. Ho (United States District Court, SDNY)
Hon. Phillip Hom (App. Term, 2d Dept)
Hon. Gilbert C. Hong (ret. NY Co. Sup. Ct.)
Hon. Biju J. Koshy (Supervising Judge, Richmond Co. Crim. Ct.)
Hon. Karen Lin (Queens Co. Sup. Ct.)
Hon. Rena Malik (Kings Co. Civ. Ct.)
Hon. Kim Parker (Court of Claims)
Hon. Kris Singh (Admin. Judge, 4th Jud. Dist.)
Hon. Rantideva Singh (NYC Fam. Ct.)
Hon. Richard Tsai (NY Co. Sup. Ct.)
Hon. Vikram S. Vilkhu (Brighton Town Justice)
Hon. John Zhuo Wang (NY Co. Sup. Ct.).
The night began with introductory remarks by Committee Co-Chair Mark Son, who thanked elevated and retired judges for their service and congratulated new judges for their work which allowed them to advance to their new positions. He first praised several judges whose work has had a long-term effect and was substantially significant in making the AAPI voice in the justice system grow and prosper. He then acknowledged all other judges in attendance and expressed regret for being unable to share the breadth of their contributions in the short time allotted.
Next to take the podium was AABANY’s current President, Joseph Eng, Jr. He began by reiterating Mark’s congratulatory sentiments, then introduced the eighteen honorees. Each in turn stood up and received warm applause from the audience. President Eng stressed the significance of hosting a Judges’ Reception as far more than an isolated single annual moment, but a day of celebration culminating from decades of work, a day to remind everyone of the great strides that have been made, and all the work that lays ahead in the continued struggle for diversity, equity, and inclusion. President Eng lauded the growth of AAPI representation, while also focusing on the milestones yet to be reached for true representation, drawing attention to the lack of any AAPI judges in the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, and in the United States Supreme Court.
Once all the judges present came up to the front of the room to receive their awards, they gathered for a group photo with President Eng and the Judiciary Committee leadership. The deserving honorees were regaled with cheers and applause from everyone.
Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally, President of the Asian American Judges Association of New York (AAJANY), then stepped up to the podium to present final remarks. He reiterated the main points of the evening, and celebrated the effort involved in organizing this event. He congratulated the judges being honored and praised the growth of AAPI representation, even as he considered the work that remains ahead and the necessity of diligence and focus to achieve progress. He verbalized the goal of reaching 100 AAPI judges in New York State in the near future as an aspirational challenge. Finally, Committee Vice-Chair Vanessa Kong thanked everyone for attending and invited everyone to partake in the complimentary food and drink catered by Nom Wah. Laughter and stories filled the room, reflecting the camaraderie and mutual respect among the attendees.
As the evening drew to a close, it was evident that this reception was more than just an event; it was a celebration of progress, diversity, and the indomitable spirit of the AAPI community within the judiciary. The honorees left with not only memories of a joyous evening but also with the knowledge that their contributions are making a lasting impact.
We thank the Judiciary Committee for their tireless effort in making this annual event happen, as well as all the guests who attended. We thank AAJANY and Judge Ally for their participation. Once again, congratulations to all the honorees. To learn more about the Judiciary Committee please click here. To see more photos from the event, go to the album here.
Thank you AABANY, PBCS, AAFE, and our volunteers who helped out at the June 5th (Queens) and June 19th (Manhattan) pro bono legal clinics!
At the Queens clinic, our volunteers met with 20 clients and discussed issues involving housing, immigration, criminal, and consumer debt matters. At the Manhattan clinic, our volunteers met with 10 clients and discussed issues involving housing, immigration, and personal injury claims. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answered questions and connected them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
Thank you to all our volunteers for dedicating your valuable time to our pro bono clinics, especially during the Juneteenth holiday. Your compassion and dedication are deeply valued and truly make a positive impact on the community we serve. By offering services in both Mandarin and Cantonese, we aim to continue to provide support for those who may face linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking access to legal services.
Please join us in our upcoming clinics:
July 13, 2024 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:00 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
July 17, 2024 [Manhattan link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
August 7, 2024 [Queens link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
WASHINGTON – NAPABA applauds President Biden’s executive action on June 17, 2024 to keep American families together. It creates critical protections for undocumented spouses of United States citizens who have resided in this country for over 10 years and streamlines work visa access for Dreamers. Over half of the Asian American population is composed of immigrants, and NAPABA has for years advocated for the government to treat the immigrant community with fairness, dignity, and humanity. The new policy will grant formal work authorization to persons who are already contributing to this country in the shadows. NAPABA has long viewed family unity as the cornerstone of commonsense immigration reform, and we commend President Biden for focusing on keeping families together.
The Administration’s action today, however, is no excuse for Congressional inaction. During NAPABA Lobby Day last month, NAPABA members from across the country pressed Congress to protect the right to counsel within the immigration system and prioritize the reunification of families. NAPABA continues to call on Congress to advance commonsense immigration reform that upholds the basic values of the Nation and delivers statutory protections for our Dreamers.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, AABANY’s Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee held a panel on how to thrive as a first generation lawyer. Moderated by Committee Co-Chair Yen-Yi Anderson, panelists Michelle Yang, Jasper Wong, Karen Eng, and Minyao Wang shared their experiences in choosing law school, preparing for the LSAT and bar exams, as well as detailing the struggles and victories that arose from their individual circumstances.
Before the panel discussion began, guests enjoyed delicious complimentary Korean food and various beverages.
When discussing how they first dreamed of becoming attorneys, panelists’ answers varied from as simple as wanting to make their parents––who often held grueling jobs with long hours and little pay––understand that their sacrifice was indeed worth it, to as lighthearted as having really enjoyed Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a law video game. Mr. Wang mentioned the stability he hoped being a lawyer would bring, and both he and Ms. Eng discussed having explored related subjects like history, government, international relations, and social sciences that eventually led them to pursuing law. Despite all of the panelists’ shared identity as first-generation lawyers, the variety of motivations, choices, and experiences that inspired each of them to enter the industry was most striking.
When answering how to succeed in studying for the LSAT and within law school after it, panelists were admirably honest and treated the guests, mostly college students or recent college graduates, to a real picture of what their future could be. The panelists generally agreed that law school had been difficult in a way they had each never experienced, especially during 1L, and how they had to change their habits to succeed. Ms. Yang and Mr. Wang began to study independently without peers and friends, while Mr. Wong altered his time management and developed new skills to focus and study, and Ms. Eng recommended taking classes where students would have a high level of motivation and passion.
The panel then ended with a short Q & A with guests. Asked about the pressure of being part of a family adjusting to a new country, Ms. Eng and Mr. Wong agreed that their parents’ determination and steadfast intent had been integral in instilling a certain grit that helped them persevere through the challenges of law school and the legal profession. During the Q & A, Ms. Yang recommended investing in paid tutoring for LSAT and bar exams, though Mr. Wang shared that it was indeed possible to self-study given enough time and focus. Ms. Yang and Mr. Wong had both attended law school for periods during the Covid pandemic and discussed how it had been incredibly isolating, and Ms. Eng mentioned the feelings of imposter syndrome that developed during times of struggle in law school, each emphasizing to the attendees that these feelings were valid and common.
Thank you to the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for organizing this event, Ms. Anderson for moderating, and thank you to all the panelists for their wonderful insight and candor. To learn more about AABANY’s Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee please click here.
While we can’t reveal everything we have in store for you at the 2024 NAPABA Convention, we can tell you that you won’t want to miss any of our sessions, networking opportunities, receptions, and more!
To help you get ready for our June 17 registration and housing launch, we’ve created a quick checklist.
