WE Blog @ AABANY

July 10, 2012

Ozawa/Thind Re-enactment Video

Thanks to our friends at Cadwalader, we have video highlights from the Ozawa/Thind re-enactment performed by AABANY members at Cadwalader on February 28, 2012. Click on the title to see the video. Below is the description of the event provided by Cadwalader:

As two Asian-Americans sought to become U.S. citizens, the U.S. Supreme Court considered issues of race, color, and citizenship. The petitioner in the first case was represented by George Wickersham, and both cases were heard by the Supreme Court when William Howard Taft (the brother of former Cadwalader partner Henry W. Taft) was Chief Justice. This program was presented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association 2011 Convention by members of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, including several Cadwalader attorneys, with the Honorable Denny Chin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit serving as moderator. Please join us to see this same team reprise their fascinating performance, sharing the stories of the petitioners through narration, reenactment of court proceedings, and historic photographs.

July 10, 2012

DA VANCE ANNOUNCES GUILTY PLEA OF NEPALESE WOMAN WHO DEFRAUDED FELLOW IMMIGRANTS

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the guilty plea of HIT SHRESTHA, 44, a Nepalese national, for systematically defrauding other Nepalese nationals of thousands of dollars. The defendant pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree for falsely promising her victims that she would arrange for their family members from Nepal to immigrate to the United States, and for charging her victims large fees for the promised service.

Congratulations to the NY County DA’s Immigrant Affairs Program and its co-director Rosemary Yu for this victory. ADA Yu is a member of AABANY and its Prosecutors’ Committee, which she co-founded.

Read the rest of the press release here

July 10, 2012December 4, 2018

July 10, 2012

AALDEF Announces Free Legal Clinics for Undocumented Youth on Obama’s New Immigration Policy

July 10, 2012 – On June 15, 2012, the Obama administration announced that it would grant “deferred action” status to undocumented youth who qualify for administrative relief. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will hold a series of legal clinics to provide free legal advice and representation to young people who qualify under this directive. These clinics will help to support the work of AALDEF’s undocumented Asian American youth group.

The first legal clinic will be at AALDEF’s office on Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 3pm – 7pm. Additional clinics will be scheduled in upcoming weeks.

“This new directive is a good first step,” said Bethany Li, staff attorney at AALDEF. “But for this policy to make any difference, undocumented Asian American youth need to understand its effect and continue to be at the forefront in asserting their rights. These legal clinics combined with the youth group will help to push the discussion around our immigration policy forward.”

AALDEF is also providing resources for undocumented youth on its website, including an in-depth set of FAQs on deferred action eligibility, which explains who qualifies for deferred action, and how this policy affects removal proceedings and encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

AALDEF is seeking pro bono assistance to staff our free legal clinics for undocumented youth. For more information, please contact staff attorney Bethany Li at 212 966-5932 ext 213 or [email protected].

The legal clinics are only open to youth who potentially qualify for deferred action status and are seeking legal advice. They are not open to the press.

July 10, 2012

NAPABA Scholarship Opportunity: 2012 NAPABA Convention Scholarship Application

NAPABA strives to keep the Convention affordable for our members and offers one of the best values among legal education conferences. NAPABA also maintains a scholarship fund to help further defray costs for attendees through full or partial registration waivers, travel stipends, and lodging stipends.

Scholarship applications for the 2012 Convention are due July 31! Apply today if you need assistance with travel and registration costs. We look forward to seeing you in DC on November 15-18.

Please fill out the online form by clicking https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFoyZ0stXzRyRFlTY3daYmZtVE81N2c6MQ.

July 9, 2012

Informational Sessions on Deferred Action for DREAMers

The New York Immigration Coalition will provide several informational sessions on President Obama’s June 15^th announcement about Deferred Action for certain young people who were brought into the United States through no fault of their own.

Come get the latest news on Deferred Action. Learn what Deferred Action is and who is eligible for it under this program.

We have already received reports that notarios and other unscrupulous people are trying to scam immigrants by calling this program an amnesty or a way to get your green card. That is false. The Deferred Action program is not an amnesty. Come to one of our sessions and get accurate up-to-date information about this program. These informational sessions are not legal clinics.

Where: The New York Immigration Coalition, 137-139 West 25^th Street, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10001 (Between 6^th & 7^thAvenues). The closest subway stops are 23^rd Street on #1, F, and M and 28^th Street on #1.

When: Thursday, July 5, 2012

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Time: Each session runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

These sessions are free but space is limited. Please RSVP to Jonathan Vidal to attend one of the sessions: [email protected]. For more information, please contact Jonathan at (212) 627-2227 ext. 227.

July 9, 2012

Are You Ready to Be the Change?

A National Day of Service coordinated by
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
Saturday, October 6th, 2012

What is Be the Change?

Be the Change is an annual national day of service, coordinated by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) that is held on campuses and in cities across the country. Be the Change is designed to meet Mahatma Gandhi’s inspirational challenge to “be the change you wish to see in the world” and provide opportunities for South Asian community members, advocates and allies to build community through service, develop leadership skills, and engage in social change. This year, Be the Change 2012 is on October 6th and SAALT wants you to be involved!

In 2011, over 2,500 people volunteered at over 130 service sites in 80 cities and campuses across the country. Get involved now to bring Be the Change to your community this October!

Visit the Be the Change 2012 webpage for more information!

How can I get involved now?

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 6th and join us as a campus/city planning team member or as a national partner.

Coordinate a Be the Change event on your campus

If your campus traditionally organizes a Be the Change event or if you would like to start one on your campus, please complete this form by July 6th.
Coordinate a Be the Change event in your city

Join or start a planning team in your city! Please complete this form by July 6th.
Join SAALT as a National Partner for Be the Change

National Partners assist with volunteer outreach, commit to participating in a Be the Change event, provide a Be the Change service site and/or contribute in-kind or financial donations to Be the Change. National Partner logos appear on national materials, including the website, flyer, and t-shirt. If your organization, business, professional association, or community group would like to partner with SAALT to support Be the Change 2012, please email us at [email protected].

What does it mean to be part of a BTC planning team?

As a member of the planning team, you will be coordinating service events, recruiting volunteers and connecting with other planning teams around the country. SAALT will send you a planning guide and provide you with support from the national level.

Main roles/responsibilities of each planning team

Organize a kick-off ceremony with one or more inspirational guest speakers
Secure local service projects for your event volunteers
Recruit volunteers to participate in your Be the Change event
Coordinate logistical planning for your Be the Change event, including finding a kick-off venue, obtaining in-kind food donations, arranging for speakers, maintaining the budget, etc
Communicate regularly with SAALT

Are you ready for Be the Change 2012?

If you have any questions or inquiries, contact [email protected].

July 2, 2012December 4, 2018

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On Wednesday, June 27, AABANY’s In-House Counsel and Corporate Law Committees held the 5th Annual Winetasting and Networking Reception at the Aicon Gallery in downtown Manhattan. We had 120 attendees including in-house attorneys from 46 companies or organizations. We were delighted that the following GCs were able to attend:

Vernon G. Chu, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc.
Pearl Hou, Sen Yu International Holdings, Inc.
Charles Kwak, GE Capital Real Estate – Global Investment Management
Carol Lee, Taconic Capital Advisors LP
Parkin Lee, The Rockefeller Group
Bobby Liu, MD Sass Investors Services, Inc.
Don Liu, Xerox Corporation
Sonia Low, Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.
Joseph Yi, Lam Group

We thank Gail Inaba,Managing Director and Associate General Counsel in the Legal Department of J.P. Morgan, for addressing the attendees at the event. Gail is currently the Global Group Practice head for the securities financing and prime brokerage business in the Investment Bank.

Thanks to our sponsors for making this 5th Annual Winetasting and Networking Reception possible and thanks to everyone who attended. Congratulations to the In-House Counsel Committee and Corporate Counsel Committee on a successful event.

To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee, contact the co-chairs Duane Morikawa and Vincent Hull at [email protected] To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, contact the co-chairs John Rogers and Stephen Kim at [email protected].

July 2, 2012

AALDEF Registers Asian American Voters in NY, NJ, and PA for Independence Day

In the week leading up to July 4th, 2012, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 38-year-old civil rights organization, will conduct a series of non-partisan voter registration drives for New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania residents in anticipation of the upcoming 2012 elections. The drives will take place from Thursday, June 28th through Tuesday, July 3rd in five locations.

Asian Americans are the nation’s fastest growing minority group and now account for the largest number of immigrants to the United States.

In Queens, where the Asian American community grew 300 times faster than the rest of the borough’s population to almost half a million people, AALDEF will register voters in Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Richmond Hill, and Flushing. In New Jersey, AALDEF will register voters in East Brunswick. In Manhattan, AALDEF will register voters by the World Trade Center PATH station to reach voters in both New York and New Jersey. In Philadelphia, AALDEF will register voters in Chinatown.

Translated registration forms in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Gujarati, and Bengali, as required by the Voting Rights Act or voluntarily provided by the State, will be available, as well as bilingual volunteers to assist citizens who want to register to vote.

“What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than by registering to vote?” said Glenn D. Magpantay, Director of the Democracy Program at AALDEF. “We intend to increase the numbers of Asians Americans at the polls in 2012.” According to AALDEF’s exit poll data from the 2008 presidential election, 30% of Asian Americans were first time voters, compared to 10% of voters overall.

Only 43% of the Asian American voting age population in New York, 58% in New Jersey, and 50% in Pennsylvania are registered to vote, based on 2008 Census estimates. However, voter turnout of those registered was 83% in New York, 93% in New Jersey, and 50% in Pennsylvania.

“These voter registration drives are crucial for engaging our community in the political process,” said Chi-Ser Tran, Voting Rights Organizer at AALDEF.

New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania Voter Registration Drives Schedule

Thurs, 6/28 in Elmhurst (5-6:30 pm) – Broadway & Whitney Ave.

Thurs, 6/28 in Jackson Heights (5-6:30 pm) – 74th St., between Roosevelt Ave and 37th Ave.

Fri, 6/29 in Richmond Hill (5-6:30 pm) – 118th St. & Liberty Ave. and 120th St & Liberty Ave.

Sat, 6/30 in East Brunswick, NJ (11 am – 3 pm) – Hong Kong Supermarket (265 State Rte. 18)

Mon, 7/2 at, Philadelphia, PA (1-2 pm) – Chinatown “Friendship Arch” at 10th & Arch Streets

Mon, 7/2 at Manhattan (4:30-6 pm) – Corner of Church and Vesey Streets near the World Trade Center PATH

Tues, 7/3 in Flushing (5-6:30 pm) – Queens Library (41-17 Main St.) near bus stops

July 2, 2012

KALCA Law Panel

Monday, July 9th
7 – 8 p.m.
Location will be emailed to the attendees.

Because most seats are reserved for KALCA students, seating is very limited and only the first 10 RSVPs will be honored.
Please RSVP to [email protected].

KALCA Law Panelists
Joon Hong, Esq. – Partner, Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP

Jean Lee, Esq. – Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Liza Sohn, Esq. – Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, Special Federal Litigation Division

Jimmy Yan, Esq. – General Counsel, Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer

Michael Yim, Esq. – Partner, Lee Anav Chung LLP

Moderator
Judy Kim, Esq. – Associate Counsel, New York Liquidation Bureau, Bureau & Estates Litigation Division

The panel discussion topics will include the panelists’ reasons for choosing the legal field, day-to-day tasks and activities, likes/challenges of the job, and advice on how to succeed and network in the field.