Tag: community

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AABANY Joins 19th Annual Caren Aronowitz Unity in Diversity Celebration at the New York State Supreme Court 

On Friday, September 18, 2026, the New York State Supreme Court welcomed the legal community for the 19th Annual Caren Aronowitz Unity in Diversity event. Bar associations, court committees, and professional organizations from across the city participated in this lovely event. Among the co-sponsors was the Asian American Bar Association of New York, represented by Carrey Wong (Deputy Executive Director), Apollo Baltazar (Administrative Assistant), and legal interns Ria Punukollu, Ellyse Ramos, Divya Mukhara, and Pan Pan. 

The program began with the New York State Courts Pipes and Drums, in full Scottish attire, as they marched a circle around the inside of the courthouse, around the gathering at the Rotunda. The sound of the bagpipes and drums filled the Rotunda’s high ceilings and drew people out of hallways and toward this gathering. It was an exciting way to begin, ceremonial yet warm, and it made clear that this was a celebration and not just another day at the courthouse. 

Following the music, Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan (Justice of the New York County Supreme Court) gave opening remarks, reflecting on and honoring the legacy of the late Caren Aronowitz. Caren Aronowitz was a longtime court employee who dedicated herself to bringing cultural programming and awareness into the courthouse. Almost two decades later, this event is still built around her legacy and lasting impact on the court community. Hon. Adam Silvera (Deputy Chief Administrative Judge of the New York City Courts) spoke next, highlighting the importance of the event and how diversity fosters unity, reminding all of us that the legal community becomes stronger through it. 

Hon. Suzanne J. Adams (Administrative Judge of the New York County Supreme Court Civil Term) then presented her  welcoming remarks. She emphasized the court’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and the role that each attendee plays in making the legal community welcoming to all those they serve. 

After the speakers, the Rotunda became a shared space for food and conversation. Each co-sponsoring association and committee set up a table, and attendees walked around the Rotunda sampling dishes from different associations and cultures. Food offers a comforting way to start a conversation, and colleagues who might otherwise only cross paths in professional settings were trading recommendations and asking where each dish came from. 

AABANY’s table drew the longest line in the room and it stayed that way for the entirety of the event. A whole meal’s worth of food was shared: platters of fried rice enough for lunch, dinner, or both; pork and duck buns, dumplings of every kind, and plenty of noodles to go around. Attendees waited patiently and came back for seconds. For AABANY’s interns and staff, serving that line was a highlight and it was a proud way to share a piece of culture and tradition with the broader community. 

We thank the Gender Fairness Committee, Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County and their collaboration with the Equal Justice Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Cultural Diversity Sub Committee, Board of Justices of the 1st Judicial District, and the New York County Clerk’s Office for presenting and organizing this event, as well as their continued commitment to inclusion. We also thank every co-sponsoring association and committee for their generosity in tabling, and we honor the memory of Caren Aronowitz, whose vision brings the court and the rest of the legal community together. 

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AABANY Hosts its Annual Summer Picnic in Central Park

On August 8, 2026, AABANY held its annual picnic at Central Park’s Heckscher Playground Area, one of the oldest playgrounds in Central Park. This family-friendly picnic brings together AABANY members, family and friends. On this day, about 60 attendees joined AABANY for an afternoon of outdoor activities, delicious food, and connection. Among the attendees were AABANY’s President, Varuna Bhattacharyya, and some of the AABANY Board Directors: Beatrice Leong, Vishal Chander, and Alysha Naik. This event was organized by the Young Lawyers Committee (YLC) Co-Chairs, Alexandra Lao and Justin Lee, along with the Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Co-Chairs, Amos Kim and Willis Huynh.

The event began with families arriving throughout the morning and settling into the picnic area. On this summer afternoon, the sun shone brightly overhead as a gentle breeze swept through the park. The atmosphere was welcoming and lively as guests found comfort under the trees’ shade. Guests enjoyed a wide spread of delicious food from the Kimbob Club, a family-owned Korean restaurant located in New Jersey, with different varieties of kimbap from their special spicy squid kimbap and grilled pork kimbap. There were also hand-made sandwiches, a charcuterie board, fresh-fruit and a huge assortment of asian snacks. Over shared meals and conversations, longtime colleagues reconnected while new friendships and professional connections began to take shape.

As the afternoon continued, guests spread out across the grass on picnic blankets soaking in the sunshine. Guests also participated in outdoor activities such as badminton, card games, and toss-and-catch on the lawn. The most memorable part of the afternoon was how naturally professional connections became personal ones and a simple introduction turned into a discussion about travel, hobbies, and shared experiences. Overall, the AABANY picnic provided a welcoming and inclusive opportunity for law students, attorneys and friends to spend time together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s picnic a memorable afternoon. We look forward to continuing this summer tradition and creating more opportunities for our AABANY community to come together and make wonderful memories!

To learn more about the Young Lawyers Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/123. 

To learn more about the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/444. 

To see the album of photos, go here. 

– Written by Alexandra Lao, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Young Lawyers Committee

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In the News: Law 360 Covers  AABANY Women’s Committee’s Dumpling-Making Class

On September 10, 2026, Law 360 published an article about the Dumpling Making class organized by the AABANY Women’s Committee on September 3.  The Women’s Committee planned and held an evening of dumpling-making, community-building, and cultural connection in Chinatown, hosted by The Dumpling Circle and Welcome to Chinatown.  The event was generously sponsored by Ashurst Perkins Coie. 

Attendees at the event learned to make dumplings completely from scratch and were assigned random seats to foster new friendships. The evening emphasized family traditions of making dumplings and eating them together, as well as the importance of building community and meaningful connections.

To read the full article by Law 360, click here (subscription required).

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In the News: World Journal Reports on AABANY’s Outstanding Pro Bono and Community Service Committee

Reporter Hu Shengqiao for the World Journal, the largest Chinese-language newspaper in the United States, recently featured AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee , highlighting its more than a decade of dedicated service to the community. What began as a single consultation site at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Manhattan has since expanded to Queens and Brooklyn.

Over the past decade, hundreds of pro bono lawyers and law students have served more than 3,000 Asian American residents across the three boroughs, with consultations covering housing, immigration, family law, inheritance, employment, and workers’ compensation. Most clients speak Mandarin or Cantonese, and many of them face systemic hurdles in the U.S. legal system. Each 30-minute session gives a volunteer attorney time to offer legal advice, review documents, and refer clients to more specialized services when needed.

The article showcases the three attorneys who coordinate the Pro Bono Clinics: Beatrice Leong, who manages the Manhattan clinic and specializes in family and divorce law; Kwok Kei Ng, a Court Attorney who manages the Brooklyn Clinic; and Gary Yeung, an attorney at McDermott Will & Schulte, who manages the Queens Clinic. They remarked that when they offered free legal advice, the people sitting across from them often reminded them of their own families—parents and elders who didn’t speak English facing difficulties with nowhere to turn.

Among the cases they recalled memorably was a nine-month-old girl with an inoperable brain tumor, who they helped by connecting with Yen-Yi Anderson, whose firm Anderson and Associates, P.C., provided the family with pro-bono services and established a trust fund for the girl.  PBCS has also held more than ten “Know Your Rights” and community legal education sessions over the years. The Committee currently partners with local elected representatives and various nonprofit organizations, including the Chinese-American Planning Council in Brooklyn (CPC) and the Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) in Manhattan and Flushing.

To read the full article, click here (in Chinese).

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Crafting Connections with AABANY’s Student Outreach and Government Service & Public Interest Committees 

On July 31, 2026, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee and Government Service & Public Interest Committee partnered to host Crafting Connections, a friendship bracelet-creating event. This event celebrated International Friendship Day and took place at On Lab in New York’s Lower East Side. While making bracelets, AABANY members conversed, connected, and crafted over a variety of food and drink. This event drew numerous attendees, with registration filling up very quickly after the event was announced.  

The Crafting Connections event featured a beautiful selection of beads, string, and crafting templates spread across multiple tables in the cafe. Upon arrival, attendees were able to choose from a large selection of beads and charms, as well as their desired string type. They then chose their seat and began an evening of crafting, laughter, and connections. Law students had the opportunity to connect with a variety of legal professionals, including practicing attorneys and a law professor. 

The environment fostered a relaxed atmosphere that encouraged a range of conversations between new people and long-time AABANY members alike.  Topics of conversation included attendees sharing their own legal paths and laid-back discussions on upcoming vacations or bonding over connections made by pet owners. Attendees helped others choose charms and beads, and even made bracelets for each other, truly embracing the spirit of International Friendship Day. 

The event concluded with new bracelets, full stomachs, and most importantly, new connections. 

The photos from this event capture the joyful nature of the evening. To see the full photo album, click here. 

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AABANY Book Club’s Reflection on Nora Ephron’s “I Feel Bad About My Neck”

On August 4, 2026, a group of dedicated AABANY Book Club members gathered to share their insightful thoughts on this month’s book club selection.  This month, the group decided to read Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman. This monthly book club meeting was hosted by AABANY Book Club organizers Yen-Yi Anderson and Yan Sin, and was held at the offices of Anderson and Associates Law, P.C.

The members discussed a plethora of topics relating to this book and its author: from how “New York” this book is, aging, career reflections, maintaining success while thriving through changes brought on by womanhood, to the Chinese dishes mentioned in the book. The members could relate to Ephron’s reflections on being a passionate city dweller and mother. They also shared their thoughts about the author’s many other notable and engaging works such as the movies Julie and Julia, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, and You’ve Got Mail. As the attendees conversed and deliberated on their reviews, they enjoyed cabbage strudel, a dish mentioned in Ephron’s  book.

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman brings candor, humor, and comfort to the dialogue of aging, reflection, and maintenance as a woman. Through this book, Ephron strips the shame from the inevitable process of aging. She encourages women to find beauty in more than their skin and physical appearance and to take pride in their growth as people. Ephron’s witty advice, thoughtful reflections, and fresh perspectives on getting older brings attention to the fact that women are so much more than their physical appearance. She urges the readers to instead focus on the daily joys and bittersweet moments life has to offer—to be present in life. 

This book evoked a mix of serious, humorous, and insightful conversations from our Book Club members. This gathering reminded us that reading is a way to reflect, grow, and build a stronger community within AABANY. Whether you’re here for the books or for the engaging conversation, we would love to have you join us for our next Book Club meeting!

–Written by Constance Tu, Intern at Anderson & Associates

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AABANY Solo & Small Firm Committee Members Meet to Share Advice on the Administrative Side of Running a Law Firm

On Thursday, July 16, 2026, the AABANY Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee hosted another popular virtual networking event for solo and small firm practitioners to connect. The meeting, intentionally informal and freeform, gave attendees an opportunity to discuss any topics at hand. After brief introductions and a couple of minutes for colleagues to catch up with one another, the topic of office practicalities was brought up. 

Yen-Yi Anderson, Principal at Anderson and Associates Law, PC and Co-Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee, asked attendees about what printers, time management systems, and invoice systems they used in the office. Many of the attorneys in the call described their printers to be fault-prone, often requiring costly repairs. Recognizing that  most clients prefer an electronic copy of documents, most attendees recommended a leased Brother printer for any hard copy needs.

From there, the conversation moved on to invoicing systems. Programs like Bill4Time, MyCase, Clio, and PracticePanther were described as relatively reliable systems, but attendees described each program having its own issues. However, this judgement could only be made after fully investing into one system, making inefficient invoicing systems a large inconvenience for small firms. Additionally, small or solo firms often lack the staff to delegate invoicing tasks to associates or paralegals, leaving less time to manage these systems effectively.

This topic then transitioned into billing. Methods such as Zelle, Stripe, or direct wiring were most commonly used. Given that various fields of law have different retainers and billing rates, there was no consensus on which billing method was the most efficient. Attendees also described using various bank accounts to receive and access funds. Although there were quite a few differences in the actual billing process, most attendees agreed that tracking billable hours manually was far better than any automatic tracking software. Despite rapid developments in technology, “old-fashioned” methods were often the most reliable. 

The virtual networking hour concluded with many more topics being suggested for discussion at the next event. The vibrant community among the members of  the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee was evident, with each member helping to uplift the other through practical tips about how to run a law firm. To learn more about the Committee and get involved, visit the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee page.

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Applications for Fall Internship at Karis Consulting Group Now Open!

Karis Consulting Group is now hiring for their Fall Internship Program. This program will run from September 8, 2026, to November 25, 2026. 

Karis Consulting Group empowers community voices and organizational capacity by providing community organizing, strategic advising, and coalition-building support for leaders and organizations within Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color.

Interns will provide support for client work in a variety of sectors, gaining valuable community organizing skills and building relationships with top leaders in the nonprofit and government sectors. Other benefits include working with a small, collaborative team and flexible hours.

High school graduates, college students, and graduate students of all ethnicities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be based in the United States. This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates located in New York or Washington, D.C., where occasional in-person collaboration opportunities are available. This is a paid internship.

For more details, please see the flyer below.

Interested parties can apply at Karis Consulting Group’s website by August 7, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact [email protected].

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Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees Host Summer Karaoke Social, Sponsored by McGill and Partners and PNC Bank

On July 9, 2026, AABANY’s Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees hosted a vibrant Summer Karaoke Social at Rewind Karaoke Lounge in Long Island City, Queens. The event brought together corporate attorneys and in-house lawyers for an evening of conversation, connection and community. Attendees reconnected with familiar faces, cultivated new relationships and engaged with one another in a lively environment that blended professional networking with a relaxed social setting.

The event reflected the Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees’ shared commitment to creating welcoming spaces where legal professionals can connect across practices, industries and career stages. Attendees first enjoyed mingling in the lounge space and connected with each other over fun cocktails and delicious food. Later into the evening, some continued to carry on conversations in the lounge while others sang songs in the private karaoke room.

The Corporate Law Committee is spearheaded by Co-Chairs Keli Huang, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ashley Wong, Associate Corporate Counsel at Amazon, along with Vice-Chairs Kyle Zhu, Senior Associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Judy Lin, Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. The In-House Counsel Committee is spearheaded by Co-Chairs David Sohn, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Peter Wei, Head of Legal at Mercuryo, Jack Chen, Deputy General Counsel at Public.com and Michelle Lee, General Counsel at MediaCo Holding Inc.. Their dedication and leadership continue to strengthen the AABANY community.

The Corporate Law and In-House Counsel Committees extend their gratitude to their generous co-sponsors, McGill and Partners and PNC Bank, for helping make the Summer Karaoke Social possible.

– Written by Judy Lin, Vice Chair of AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee

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AABANY Members and Friends Bring the Energy to Citi Field for Mets Outing

On Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026, 21 AABANY members and guests gathered at Citi Field for our Membership Committee outing to watch the New York Mets. This time, they hosted the Chicago Cubs. It was a fantastic night of baseball, community, and great seats down on the Field Level!

Beyond the action on the field, our group took full advantage of the stadium’s “Five Dollar Tuesdays,” enjoying an endless rotation of $5 hot dogs, beers, sodas, pretzels, and popcorn. The members who arrived early received a free Mets necklace, which was that evening’s giveaway.

The highlight of the evening was seeing a special welcome message to AABANY flash across the giant Citi Field scoreboard for the entire stadium to see! The beautiful summer weather and high-energy atmosphere in the stands made it a truly memorable night out for everyone in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer, eat, and catch up with fellow members. Although the New York Mets lost 9-6 to the Chicago Cubs, it was an exciting game to watch, with Francisco Alvarez driving the first three runs in for the Mets, through a two-run single and a solo homer.

Thanks to the IP Committee for co-hosting this event and Ecoscribe Court Reporters for their sponsorship! Email Cynthia Kaplan [email protected] or check out ecoscribesolutions.com if you need Court Reporters, translations, and transcriptions.

Missed the Mets Game? Don’t worry—we are heading to the Bronx next. Join AABANY for our upcoming outing to see the Yankees on August 11, 2026, as they take on the Seattle Mariners! You can register now by clicking here to submit your registration and payment, locking in your spot before seats fill up. You won’t want to miss it!

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