Lillian Moy, the newly-appointed Chair of the Capital District Chapter of AABANY, submits this report:
The inaugural event for AABANY’s Capital District Chapter kicked off on September 15 at a Volcano BBQ and Hotpot in Niskayuna. Our turnout exceeded expectations with more than 15 attendees gathering together to enjoy great drinks, food, and conversations.
In attendance were AAPI lawyers spanning multiple industries and experience-levels, including administrative judges and law graduates. We were honored to be joined by Tina Sodhi, candidate for Albany County Clerk Judge, who, if elected, will be the first AAPI person to serve in that role.
Between snacks, we pitched ideas for future events, both social and educational, as the warm season comes to a close. We also discussed how certain AABANY Committees – through their focused network and programming – could strengthen our relationship with APALSA members from Albany Law School.
We hope to increase AABANY membership and participation in the full range of activities that AABANY offers. We are particularly excited that Committees can offer virtual attendance via Zoom, to open the door for upstate involvement. Our group is deeply talented and believe we have much to offer to the local community and AABANY at-large.
Thanks to Lillian for stepping into this important new role, as AABANY deepens its ties to the legal and AAPI community upstate. Lillian will be joined by Kaitlyn Chopra, Associate at Barclay Damon LLP, and Steve Nguyen, Assistant Attorney General at the Office of New York State Attorney General, as Vice Chairs. Please join us in congratulating the Capital District on its kick-off event!
On the evening of September 30, the AABANY Student Outreach, Tax, and Trusts & Estates Committees, in collaboration with Cardozo Law School’s APALSA, presented a Tax and Trusts & Estates Career Panel. The program was organized as a single event divided into two parts, offering students a comprehensive look into two dynamic and specialized areas of law.
In the Tax Law portion, Eric Min of Baker McKenzie, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Tax Committee, and Hardy Zhou of Cooley, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Asia Practice Committee, discussed their career paths and the intricacies of cross-border tax practice. The session was moderated by Christine Shea, AABANY Student Outreach Committee Student Ambassador.
The Trusts & Estates portion featured Yi Stewart, Litigation Associate at Farrell Fritz and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Trusts & Estates Committee; Shu-Ping Shen, Wealth Advisor at JPMorgan Bank; George Martin, Senior Associate at ArentFox Schiff; and Bich-Nga Nguyen, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley. The panelists shared insights from their work in litigation, private practice, and wealth management, providing students with a well-rounded understanding of the field. This section was moderated by Bich-Nga Nguyen.
Throughout the evening, students gained a valuable overview of the diverse issues that tax law and trusts & estates law encompass—from corporate transactions and international matters to estate planning and fiduciary litigation. Panelists also offered practical advice on career development, networking, and coursework selection to help students distinguish themselves in the job market.
At the conclusion of the program, the panelists—joined by Trusts & Estates Committee Co-Chair Natasha Chang—networked with attendees, answering follow-up questions and sharing additional insights in an informal setting.
Special thanks go to Cardozo APALSA for hosting the event and providing catering, and to all participating committees and volunteers for making this collaborative event a success.
To learn more about the Tax Committee, click here. To learn more about the Trusts & Estates Committee, click here. To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee, click here.
On Aug. 20 Syracuse Law APALSA hosted a fireside chat with Justice Lillian Wan (NY Appellate Division, Second Department). Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes, a 2025 NAPABA Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Recipient, introduced Justice Wan. Then APALSA President Rebecca Lee moderated the chat. The in-person and on-line audience was enthralled by Justice Wan’s stories of how she learned to embrace her Asian American heritage, found her calling in law, and then after another judge mentored her, finally saw that she could become a judge.
Justice Wan’s mission is now to demystify the pathway to the judiciary. It was a fabulous evening bringing together the public and legal community. Thank you to AABANY’s co-sponsorship, along with Syracuse Law Office of Career Services, Syracuse University (SU) AAPI Faculty & Staff Association, Maxwell Executive Education, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) SU Student Chapter, SU Family Law Society, New Americans Forum, SU Asian/Asian American Studies Program, and Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) Syracuse Chapter.
On March 21, 2025, Brooklyn Law School’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) hosted its annual Alumni Dinner at the Forchelli Conference Center, celebrating the achievements of its diverse community and recognizing three distinguished alumni for their contributions to the legal profession. This year’s theme, “Empowering Journeys: Celebrating AAPI Leadership and Impact,” highlighted the dedication and service of these honorees.
Hon. Karen Lin ’95 and Kwok Kei Ng ’16, both members of AABANY, received well-deserved recognition for their commitment to public service and community advocacy. Their efforts have significantly advanced legal accessibility and mentorship within the AAPI community.
Hon. Karen Lin, judge in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Queens County, received the Public Service Award and delivered a powerful speech reflecting on the pioneering achievements of Asian American trailblazers who paved the way for future generations. As a former Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, Judge Lin has been a longtime advocate for pro bono legal services, working tirelessly to expand resources for underserved communities. Her leadership continues to inspire young legal professionals to engage in meaningful advocacy and service.
Kwok Kei Ng, honored with the Community Service Award, shared an inspiring personal story of growth and the importance of passing the torch forward. As Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, Kwok has played a pivotal role in continuing and expanding AABANY’s pro bono efforts. His dedication to ensuring that legal resources reach those most in need has made an impact on both the AAPI and broader legal communities.
Jason Jia ’11, recipient of the Achievement Award, was also recognized for his contributions to the legal profession. Jason reminded attendees of the importance of adapting to and embracing AI and other emerging legal technologies, encouraging students to define success on their own terms beyond grades and law school performance.
Brooklyn Law School President and Dean David D. Meyer and Dean Joy Kanwar joined the evening’s celebration. Dean Meyer delivered encouraging remarks on APALSA’s role in building a strong, supportive community. Dean Kanwar reflected on APALSA’s humble beginnings and its growth into the thriving and impactful group it is today.
All honorees were celebrated for their leadership and commitment to service. The recognition of AABANY members Karen Lin and Kwok Kei Ng reflects their significant contributions to the legal profession, particularly in advancing pro bono work, mentorship, and community advocacy. Their work embodies the spirit of AAPI leadership, paving the way for future generations of legal professionals and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Please join AABANY in congratulating Judge Lin, Kwok, and Jason on their well-deserved recognition.
On Thursday, November 7 , Cardozo Law School’s South Asian Law Student Association (“SALSA”) hosted its annual South Asian cultural celebration called “Dhamaka.” Dhamaka, meaning “celebration” in Hindi, is a school-wide event that SALSA hosts annually to celebrate South Asian culture and promote a sense of community through diversity. The event is particularly significant to the South Asian community at Cardozo, with Cardozo’s South Asian students coming from a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds but sharing and celebrating many of the same cultural aspects of identity. By showcasing the unifying power of diversity within the South Asian community at Cardozo, SALSA hopes it encouraged other Cardozo students to share and bond over aspects of culture that are commonly enjoyed by all, regardless of background.
Key highlights of Dhamaka included a cultural presentation by the members of Cardozo’s SALSA e-board, a Bollywood dance performance, henna art, trivia, and Indian food. Over 40 students from various backgrounds participated in the celebration.
Cardozo’s SALSA extends its profound gratitude to the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) for its sponsorship of the event. This year’s Dhamaka was especially memorable, as AABANY’s generous donation allowed SALSA to provide authentic South Asian food, which everyone raved about and thoroughly enjoyed. AABANY’s support was instrumental in making this event a true celebration of South Asian culture.
AABANY has a long history, from its founding in 1989, of working closely with New York area law school student associations, and we encourage SALSA and APALSA (Asian Pacific American Law Students Association) groups in the tri-state area to connect with AABANY and get involved in our numerous activities and events, all of which are open to law students. A great way to do so is to join AABANY as member, and from now until January 31, 2025, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee and Membership Committee are running a special promotion, the Law School Group Discount, to allow groups of law students join for a 50% discount. A minimum of 20 law students is required, with a single payment to cover all participants. For more details, click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Membership Committee click here.
Francis Chin, Susan Leung, Hon. Karen Lin, Hon. Christopher Chin, Karen Kim
Brooklyn Law School’s APALSA honored 3 alumni at their annual Alumni Dinner held on March 22, 2023 at the school’s Forchelli Conference Center.
Hon. Karen Lin, Queens Civil Court Judge, received the AAPI Community Service Award. She emphasized studying unsung but pivotal Asian Pacific American cases in legal history, such as U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, and Yick Wo vs. Hopkins. Judge Lin is an AABANY member and past Co-Chair of the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee.
Hon. David K.S. Kim, U.S. Immigration Judge, received the Public Service Award. He remarked that you should think about what kind of person you want to be before thinking about what kind of career you want, and that there is always something new that you can learn every day.
Ona Lu, Product Lead Counsel at Meta, received the Achievement Award. She talked about the support she received from friends and family during the pandemic in making a career change, and in giving yourself the grace to believe in yourself. Ona is a former AABANY Legal Intern, and we congratulate her on her career achievements.
AABANY board members and Brooklyn Law alums Karen Kim, incoming President, and Francis Chin, Technology Director, joined in the celebration, which featured food from Nom Wah Tea Parlor.
Left to Right: Karen Lin, Hon. Dean Kusakabe, Francis Chin, Hon. Christopher Chin, Mary Kim
AABANY Director of Technology and Professional Development Committee Chair Francis Chin was honored with the Community Service Award at Brooklyn Law School’s Annual APALSA Alumni Dinner on April 12. The award recognized Francis’ work with Brooklyn Law School students and dedicated leadership at AABANY and AALFNY (Asian American Law Fund of New York). Francis has been active with AABANY since his days as a law student, and he has remained active for more than two decades, now serving in recent years on the Board and in important Committees. Congratulations and thank you, Francis, for all that you do!
On September 8th, Seton Hall Law School hosted a webinar entitled “Asian Americans at a Crossroads: COVID-19, #BLM, Discrimination, and Allyship,” which AABANY co-sponsored. The event, moderated by Professor Marina Lao, was a virtual conversation with Professor Frank H. Wu, President at Queens College, CUNY, who discussed the problems facing the Asian and Asian-American communities, the importance of allyship and building bridges across communities of color, and the history that surrounds both.
Professor Wu began the discussion by talking about how he got interested in studying Asian American history in college, when he wanted to write a paper on Asian American issues and civil rights and found not a single book written on the subject. He then realized that United States racial history was taught in a black and white paradigm: it treated everyone as falling into these two supposedly “opposite” categories. In doing so, history has taught Asian Americans that they have three options: they must aspire to be “honorary white people,” fall into the supposedly “lesser” category as people of color, or accept that they will never fit into the body politic.
He then recounted his upbringing in Detroit, where people assumed that he belonged halfway around the world and bullied him with racist slurs. They ingrained in him a perpetual foreigner syndrome, which has recently become more common and intensified with the association of all Asians with COVID-19. Only after the murder of Vincent Chin did Professor Wu realize that these weren’t just harmless jokes. In 1982 Detroit, Chin, a working class Chinese citizen, was harassed with racial slurs and bludgeoned to death by two automobile workers; they saw Chin as a foreigner, as someone who stole their jobs and thus must be punished. The killers got a fine and probation for three years, which Professor Wu revisited in 2012 when he co-wrote the AABANY Trial Reenactment of the Murder of Vincent Chin.
During this horrific incident in 1982, Professor Wu first learned the importance of bridge building and forming coalitions. He realized that in America, all Asians have to come together to form one Asian-American culture in order to emphasize that they are Americans. He then realized he needed to better understand the Black struggle. He followed the path of W.E.B. DuBois, who situated the fight for Black liberation in the importance of cooperation and coalition.
He concluded by discussing the importance of Asian Americans supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. He discussed the dangers of the model minority myth, and how it was designed to enforce anti-Black/Latinx racism. He explained how in this moment, Asian Americans have to try to understand other people’s sufferings, which can be more severe than ours. Asian Americans are at a crossroads: do we aspire to the silent norms and enforce them? Or do we proudly affirm our status as people of color and stand in solidarity and fight for the liberation of other races? The lives of Asian Americans can only be truly secure and protected when people who look different also feel that their place is secure too.
Professor Wu’s conversation highlights some of the many unique changes and challenges that Asian Americans are experiencing this year. Now more than ever, it is incredibly important to not only understand Asian American history and its ties to Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other racial and ethnic histories, but also — and more importantly — learn from those triumphs and mistakes of the past. In order to create a history we are proud of, we must look behind us and strive forward, together.
Thank you to the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) at Seton Hall Law School for hosting and organizing the event. To view the full recording of the conversation on YouTube, click the link above.
On Wednesday, March 3rd, AABANY’s Student Outreach committee collaborated with Cardozo Law School’s Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) to host a panel on “How to Network.” The panelists included Margaret Ling, Senior Counsel at Big Apple Abstract Corp., Tiffany Ma, Partner at Young & Ma LLP, and Jeff Ikejiri, Vice President of Legal and Business Services at UnitedLex. The moderator was Aakruti Vakharia, Associate at Garwin Gerstein & Fisher LLP and Co-Chair of the Student Outreach Committee.
Tiffany Ma spoke about her journey from a mid-tier law school to her lateral move to Morrison & Foerster, advising Cardozo law students to take advantage of their location in New York to build their networks and make themselves more competitive. She believes that “the best marketing is sincerity” and she shared her personal technique of establishing three points of commonality with new connections to help others remember her when she follows up with them afterwards.
Margaret Ling also shared a tip to have different business cards—company, personal, school, etc.—so that students can present the best side of themselves in different contexts. Margaret emphasized the importance of doing one’s homework and being aware of social cultural etiquette, always staying as humble as possible throughout the process.
Jeff Ikejiri advised students to think of networking as making friends. He told the story of how he got his current job through someone he met in line for refreshments during a break at a convention years ago. He encouraged students to be similarly outgoing and open to making new connections as well as being proactive in following up with potential connections.
Cardozo law students of all years came to hear insights and tips from the experienced practitioners. Those in attendance found the discussion thoughtful and engaging.
Thanks to Cardozo’s APALSA for co-hosting the event and providing food for the attendees. We hope to host many similar events in the future as AABANY continues to extend its outreach to students in law schools across New York.
On October 16, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee presented a resume review workshop at New York University School of Law. Practicing attorneys from various fields attended the event to review the resumes of 30 students from NYU’s APALSA group and provide the students with useful substantive feedback on their resumes. The attorneys also offered 1-on-1 advice about networking, job hunting, how to succeed in the legal profession, and answered questions about their respective practice areas.
Thanks to all the NYU APALSA members who attended. A special thanks to all of the attorneys including Christopher Bae, Ming Cheung, Eunkyong Choi, William Hao, Jonathan Li, Daniel Ng, Aakruti Vakharia, Sahng-Ah Yoo, and Alice Zhang who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the event and be a resource for the students. We look forward to seeing NYU APALSA members taking part in upcoming AABANY events.
