About “Documented”:Vargas began working on the documentary shortly before “outing” himself as undocumented in a groundbreaking June 2011 New York Times Magazine essay, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” Sent here from the Philippines at age 12 by his mother to live with his grandparents – naturalized citizens – in Mountain View, CA, Vargas found out he was undocumented when he was 16. “Documented” follows Jose as he travels around the country, speaking to people across America and sharing his personal experience in order to spark an honest dialogue about immigration and the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US today. The film also explores his relationship with his mom – whom he hasn’t seen in person in over 20 years.CNN Films acquired the North American broadcast rights to “Documented” in November 2013, before its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam and following its world premiere at the AFI Docs festival in Washington, D.C. in June 2013.“Documented” is a project of Define American, and executive producers include Sean Parker, Matthew HIltzik, Liz Simons, Scott Budnick, Janet Yang and Kevin Iwashina. “Documented” is the inaugural film by Apo Anak Productions, created by Vargas in honor of his grandparents and mother. In Tagalog, Vargas’ native language, “apo” means grandchild and “anak” means “child.” For more information, please visit: documentedthefilm.com.
New York Immigrant Assistance Consortium: “This Land is Your Land, Too: Working Together for Immigrant New Yorkers”
Please save the date for the inaugural conference of the New York Immigrant Assistance Consortium:
“This Land is Your Land, Too: Working Together for Immigrant New Yorkers”
Moderated by: Mark O’Brien of ProBono Net
Registration opened on Friday, April 11th, 2014.
SDNY ECF SYSTEM UPGRADE: SERVICE INTERRUPTION NOTICE FOR APRIL 25-27, 2014
COURT NOTICE TO THE BAR April 14, 2013
CONTACT: ECF Help Desk, 212-805-0800
SDNY ECF SYSTEM UPGRADE: SERVICE INTERRUPTION NOTICE FOR APRIL 25-27, 2014
For the purposes of upgrading the Southern District of New York’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system, ECF will be unavailable beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2014. Service will be restored by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2014.
During this time, users will be unable to file documents on the court’s ECF system or view documents through the PACER electronic public access service. Filers are directed to section 23.7 of the court’s ECF Rules & Instructions for information regarding technical issues that prevent timely filing.
This time will be used to upgrade the court’s ECF system to version 5.1.1. Notable changes include:
Changes to Nature of Suit Codes: To more accurately record the filing of civil actions, thirteen codes have been eliminated and seven new codes added. As a result, a revised civil cover sheet (form JS44C/SDNY) will be required beginning Monday, April 28, 2014. The new form will be made available beginning on April 27, 2014.
ECF Password Strength Requirement: Users accessing the ECF system after April 27, 2014 will be prompted to adopt a new, more secure password.
Details on the Nature of Suit code changes, password changes and the Release Notes detailing additional features available to the public and the bar in ECF version 5.1.1 may be found at http://nysd.uscourts.gov/ecf.php.
Meet AABANY’s New Program Associate Simone Nguyen!

Simone Nguyen is the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s first ever Program Associate. She is a recent graduate of Columbia University, where she studied English and Comparative Literature and East Asian Languages and Cultures with special interest in ethnic literature and post-war culture. Her interests include contemporary and classical music, ballroom dance, and modern literature. She looks forward to meeting as many AABANY members as possible, as well as learning all she can about the Asian American legal community and in particular the good that it does for communities of color at large.
Congratulations to Margaret Ling!

Margaret Ling, who has actively served AABANY as Co-Chair of the Real Estate Committee and as a Director on the Board, has been newly appointed as Co-Chair of the Asia Practice Committee of the New York County Lawyers’ Association. We look forward to the bond that Margaret will help foster between the two organizations. Thank you to Vincent Chang for his invitation to bring Margaret to NYCLA, a New York legal community with over 9,000 members.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Margaret for her well-deserved appointment.
From the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence: Upcoming Manhattan Family Justice Center Trainings
Upcoming Manhattan Family Justice Center Trainings:
Ø Spotting Consumer Debt Issues and Referring Survivors to Available Resources for Help
Friday, April 25th 3-5 pm
Facilitated by Feerick Center for Social Justice, Fordham Law School
- Overview of consumer debt crisis in New York City
- Impact of consumer debt on survivors
- Importance of building financial self-sufficiency
- Safety implications of credit reporting and consumer debt advocacy
- Screening for consumer credit and consumer debt issues
- Overview of consumer debt resources for domestic violence survivors
Ø How to File Family Offense Petitions Online
Monday, April 28th 12-1 pm
Tuesday, April 29th 12-1 pm
Facilitated by Urban Justice Center and Safe Horizon
- How advocates can become an approved group to have access to the Family Offense Petition program
- How to use the system most effectively to help your clients
- Legal underpinnings, language, and logistics of petitions, including how to prep client
- Types of relief, when to file a petition, what to include in the petition
Ø Elder Abuse: What You Need to Know
Wednesday, April 30th 1-4 pm
Facilitated by Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, JASA, and Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention
Featuring NYC Department for the Aging, HRA Adult Protective Services, NYC Elder Abuse Center, Council of Senior Centers & Services, Carter Burden Center for the Aging, and Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging
- How to support healthy aging within the context of family violence
- The unique features of elder abuse and how it differs from working with younger victims
- Criminal and civil remedies and the role of the District Attorney’s office in elder abuse cases
- Valuable elder abuse community resources and the types of assistance they provide
Ø Expert Dialogue on Trafficking: Improving the Identification and Support of Victims
Friday, May 2nd 1-4 pm
Facilitated by GEMS, Department of Homeland Security, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Restore, Sanctuary for Families
- How to identify human and sex trafficking: defining the law and crime, indicators, dispelling myths
- An overview of services and remedies
- Intersections of trafficking, domestic violence and abuse
- Client-centered and trauma-informed approaches, survivor engagement and leadership
- Recommendations for improved interdisciplinary collaboration and service delivery
All trainings will be held in the MFJC Training Room at 80 Centre Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10013. When you arrive in the lobby, say you are here for the Family Justice Center training. Turn left once you step off the elevators.
Congratulations to Eve Guillergan!
AABANY member Eve Guillergan was among six distinguished women honored Saturday, April 5th, at New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer’s Annual Open House Celebrating Women’s History Month.
She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves on the board of the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York. Eve received the award for her outstanding community work with bar associations, advocating for immigration reform and immigrants’ issues, and supporting non-profit social service and community agencies with legal services.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Eve Guillergan on this well-deserved recognition.
AABANY Member Lily Fan Interviewed in Woman Around Town
AABANY Member Lily Fan Interviewed in Woman Around Town
Congratulations to AABANY member Lily Fan who was recently interviewed for the online magazine Woman Around Town about her theatrical production projects. As noted in the article, Lily worked for two prominent firms as a litigator and served as counsel to the New York State Senate. Follow the link in the title to read the entire article.
Producer Lily Fan has a wonderful eye for the theater arts. A resident of New York City, she has recently produced the hit musical comedy, The Other Josh Cohen at New Jerseys Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. The show was originally staged at Soho Playhouse in 2012. The production at Paper Mill enjoyed capacity crowds and received rave reviews. But, this is not Fans first successful project. The founder of Scandobean Productions LLC, Fan made her producing debut Off Broadway with the original physical comedy show The Rotten Plaintains in 2010. Her other Broadway and touring credits include co-producing the 2012 revival of Andrew Lloyd Webers Jesus Christ Superstar. She also co-produced David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish on Broadway and the shows first international tour to Hong Kong.

















