Thank You to Our Volunteers at the June 18th, 2025 Pro Bono Clinic in Manhattan

AABANY extends our sincerest gratitude to the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and all of our dedicated volunteers for contributing to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic on June 18th, 2025. 

During the clinic, our volunteers met with clients addressing issues ranging from housing, real property, financial, family and matrimonial matters. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters demonstrated exceptional expertise in addressing client concerns, answering legal questions, and connecting them with legal resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).

College and law student volunteers gained valuable hands-on experience that deepened their understanding of the unique legal challenges faced by underserved individuals in the Asian American and Pacific Islander  community. By shadowing the volunteer attorneys, the student volunteers assisted with client intake and helped translate the consultations. A frequent issue clients faced at this clinic were overdue rent and unexpected payment notices. Due to the linguistic barriers that many clients faced, they often struggled to understand their rights, which led to ineffective communication with landlords and housing authorities. This confusion contributed to heightened stress about their circumstances. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters played a crucial role in clarifying legal obligations and guiding clients through potential future steps. 

We are dedicated to providing services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure support for individuals who may struggle to obtain quality legal services due to linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking guidance concerning substantive laws and procedural issues.

Thank you again to all of our volunteers at the June 18 Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic:

Volunteer Attorneys

Justin Lee 
Beatrice Leong 
Lily Li
Bich-Nga Nguyen 
Cynthia Park 
Tammy Tran 
Mike Tse
Chenyi Wang
May Wong
Gary Yeung 
Jungeun “Evelyn” Yu 
Francis Chin

Interpreters/Shadowers

Sisu Chou
Katelyn Hai 
Emily Kam 
Nandar Win Kerr
Nikita Kohli
Emily Lai
Nasirn (Nienyin) Lin 
Carrie Nie 
Christine Shea 
Tianyuan Shu 
Tammy Tam
Albert Tong 
Shang Zhai
Kenny Ip

We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming pro bono clinics:

July 12 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30-2:30 pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232 

July 16 [Manhattan link here], from 6:30-8:30 pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002 

August 6th [Queens link here] from 6:30-8:30 pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355 

Thank you once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to pro bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.

We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! 

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit  probono.aabany.org.

Thank You to Our Volunteers at the June 4th Pro Bono Clinic in Queens

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and our dedicated volunteers for contributing to the success of our pro bono legal clinic in Queens on June 4, 2025. Thanks to your support, our team of volunteers was able to meet with 15 clients and provide assistance on a range of legal issues, including housing and real property, consumer debt, family and matrimonial matters, and civil litigation.

Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters demonstrated great care and expertise in addressing the concerns of our clients. They offered clear explanations and effectively connected individuals with appropriate legal resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).

We remain dedicated to providing services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure we can continue to support individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking legal guidance.

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of our volunteer attorneys at the June 4th Queens Pro Bono Clinic:

Volunteer Attorneys
Wendy (Wen-Hsien) Cheng
Kevin Hsi
Richard In
David Mou
Johnny Thach
May Wong
Gary Yeung
Jungeun Yu
Meng Zhang
Interpreters/Shadowers
Nikita Kohli
Emily Lai
Christine Shea
Albert Tong

We invite you to join us for our upcoming pro bono clinics:

  • June 18 [Manhattan link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002 
  • July 12 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
  • August 6 [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

Thank you once again for your commitment to pro bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.

We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! 

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit  probono.aabany.org.

Thank You to Our Volunteers at the November 9th Pro Bono Clinic in Brooklyn!

On Saturday, November 9th, AABANY members had the opportunity to volunteer at AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic, hosted by the Chinese-American Planning Council. The Clinic was organized by AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, staffed by a dedicated team of attorney and non-attorney volunteers, offering free thirty-minute legal consultations for community members facing pressing legal challenges. The volunteers met with 17 clients, who had questions about torts, family, matrimonial, and immigration issues.

As usual, the Clinic facilitated a positive and supportive environment; each client was paired with an attorney, who thoughtfully listened to and addressed their legal concerns. Shadowers observed the attorneys in action, taking notes and learning from these real-world interactions. Language interpreters were also available, ensuring that there were no language barriers between clients and attorneys. This collaboration reflected the Clinic’s commitment to community engagement and empowerment.

Thank you again to our volunteer attorneys: 

Volunteer Attorneys
Anna Chen
Jieman Tan
Gary Yeung
May Wong
Interpreters & Shadowers
Jaymark Hawlader
Junjie Wang
Nandar Win Kerr
Wendy Zeng

If you’re interested in making a difference in the community through future Pro Bono Clinics, we invite you to join us at the following upcoming events:

  • Wednesday, December 4, 2024 [register here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
  • Saturday, January 11, 2025 [register here], from 12:00 – 2:30pm, Tentative Location – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232 

We hope to see you there!

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.

Thank You to Our Volunteers at the Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic in August

On August 5th, 2023, AABANY held its Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Brooklyn Community Services Center. The clinic met with 25 clients, coming in with questions about housing, immigration, and family law issues. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answering questions and connecting them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).

We thank the Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee and the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) for organizing and hosting the event. Established in 1965, CPC is a social services organization dedicated to helping Asian American, immigrant, and economically disadvantaged communities within New York City to obtain equitable access to essential resources and opportunities, thus fostering Asian American success.

The next Pro Bono Clinic will be on September 6th, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, and located at AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave 2nd Floor, Queens, NY 11355. You can sign up here to volunteer. To add the date and time for this clinic to your calendar, click here. For upcoming clinics, please check AABANY’s calendar and update your email preference in your account to receive our emails.

Thank you to our volunteers for supporting the clinic. Your time and dedication is essential for delivering crucial assistance to individuals seeking legal guidance. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to:

Volunteer Attorneys:

Amber Lee
Ashley Shan
Gary Yeung
Kwok Kei Ng
May Wong

Interpreters and Observers:

I-Kai Lee
Jihyon Kim
Ruo Yang
Yini Lai

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, click here.

AABANY’s Membership Committee Hosts Inter-Bar Association Summer Family Day

On June 4, 2022, AABANY’s Membership Committee hosted an Inter-Bar Association Summer Family Day with the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) and the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY). Over fifty members and their friends and families gathered at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Brooklyn to participate in spirited sports games and enjoy snacks and refreshments. 

Three full courts were available for AABANY, KALAGNY, and SABANY to utilize, as well as many seating areas on the courts, and an upstairs conference room overlooking the courts. With the AC on high, it was a great way to escape the heat and socialize with other members.

The teams kicked off the afternoon of fun with an engaging game of half-court basketball, before some members pivoted to a lively game of volleyball. In both sports, new alliances were formed, and very quickly, the games went from competitive in nature to collaborative and centered in team building for all those involved, even spectators. Following volleyball, a rallying game of dodgeball ensued, before the afternoon wrapped up with prizes and raffles. Throughout the afternoon, AABANY, KALAGNY, and SABANY members also enjoyed sandwiches, chips, and beverages while networking in the upstairs conference room featuring a full-glass wall overlooking the exciting sports games below. What a truly spectacular way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Shoutout to the Membership Committee for organizing such a fun social event and to our sister bar associations KALAGNY and SABANY for co-sponsoring. Make sure to sign up for upcoming AABANY events at aabany.org/events.

AABANY Hosts Family Ski Trip at Shawnee Mountain over Presidents’ Day Weekend

AABANY’s 2022 ski trip took place over Presidents’ Day weekend on Sunday, February 20, at Shawnee Mountain.  Carpools left New York City Sunday morning for the hour and a half drive to the Pocono Mountains.  AABANY members, friends, family, and children enjoyed favorable ski conditions at Shawnee on a crisp and sunny winter day.  Skiers met for lunch by the hearth in the Hope Lodge at the base of the mountain.  The ski day concluded with an après-ski dinner at the Gem and Keystone Tavern on the grounds of the historic Shawnee Inn.

Thanks to AABANY President Terry Shen for organizing this family-friendly event, and thanks to everyone for taking part. If you would like to see more family-friendly outings like the ski trip, send us your ideas at main@aabany.org.

AABANY’s Annual Summer Picnic on August 17

On August 17th, AABANY members and their family, friends, and pets gathered at the Heckscher Picnic Area in Central Park for the AABANY Annual Picnic. The weather was fantastic the entire day, and everyone enjoyed mingling and connecting with old and new friends.

Attendees sampled an assortment of delicious dumplings and sandwiches from Vanessa’s Dumpling House, as well as fruit, baos, cupcakes, and pizza brought by the attendees. Various drinks and snacks were also provided for all attendees.

We occupied the picnic area from roughly 11 am until 4 pm, with most people coming between noon and 3 pm. We had to take two group photos because after we took the first photo, around 1:30 pm, more people showed up who were not part of the first photo.

Special thanks to the Young Lawyers Committee, and the co-chairs, Cynthia Lam, Darley Maw, and Ada Wang, for planning and organizing this fun event! Thanks also to the Litigation Committee for co-organizing the event. Thanks to everyone for coming and spending part of your Saturday with us at the Annual Picnic. To learn more about the Young Lawyers Committee, click here. To learn more about the Litigation Committee, click here.

AABANY’s Annual Summer Picnic

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On August 9th, AABANY members and their family and friends gathered around the Great Lawn in Central Park for the annual AABANY Summer Picnic. The weather was perfect on this Sunday afternoon for everyone to relax, toss around frisbees and baseballs, and enjoy food.

Attendees enjoyed delicious Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, catered by Saigon Sandwiches located on 369 Broome Street in Chinatown. An assortment of drinks and snacks were also provided.

Special thanks to the Young Lawyers Committee, Tax Committee, and Litigation Committee for planning and organizing this fun event!

If you were unable to attend, be sure to look out for this annual picnic next year!


Write-up & collage by Anna Chen.

From AAF: State of Asian American Children – National Report and Conference

From our friends at the Asian American Federation comes this announcement:

The Asian American Federation is preparing a first ever national report to examine changes in demographics and socioeconomic status of Asian American children. The report will help us better understand the characteristics and growth of Asian American children, identify family support, as well as financial, educational and health related needs.

A conference to discuss the report’s findings, policy implications and philanthropic responses will be held:

Thursday, March 27, 2014
Time Warner Center, New York City
8:00am breakfast & registration
8:30am program

This full day event will include continental breakfast, plenary sessions, concurrent workshops and a networking reception. Discussion topics include:

  • Early childhood development including health disparities and access to care
  • Health policy that promotes healthy children in Asian American communities
  • Social policy towards working poor families
  • Education policy to promote academic success for at-risk youth
  • Depression and suicide among adolescent females
  • Philanthropy as an advocacy tool

CONFERENCE AGENDA

FEATURED SPEAKERS

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION