Press Release: AABANY Presents Kicking Glass, Video About Asian American Women Attorneys, at Annual Fall Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2015
Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206
NEW YORK – September 11, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that their 6th Annual Fall Conference: Charting New Frontiers, taking place on Saturday, September 19th at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, features Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting during the luncheon plenary session. Addressing the important question of what it means to be an Asian American female attorney, Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting is a groundbreaking follow-up program to AABANY’s video first presented twenty years ago at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) Convention in 1995.
The first Kicking Glass video in 1995 discussed the position of Asian American women in the legal profession and featured several Asian American women lawyers who discussed the hurdles they faced, the successes they achieved, and what success meant to them. Among the issues addressed in the video were the “Asian woman” stereotype, how to get recognition for one’s work, parity in the workplace, and achieving a work/life balance. Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting examines those same questions twenty years later, exploring both how far Asian American female attorneys have advanced and how much more progress needs to be made. Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting features both women from the 1995 video and other Asian American women attorneys in different stages of their legal careers.
Following the video will be a panel discussion to elaborate on the perspectives of those attorneys and identify what challenges remain. Sapna Palla, Esq., AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair and Partner, Wiggin and Dana, LLP, will moderate. Scheduled to appear as speakers for this panel are:
- Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, New York State Supreme Court Judge, Appellate Term, First Department
- Sandra Leung, General Counsel, Bristol-Myers Squibb & Co.
- Clara Ohr, Legal & Compliance Officer, LUKOIL Pan Americas LLC
- Ryan Park, Associate, Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
- Saira Haider, Associate, Axinn, Veltop & Harkrider LLP
“AABANY commends our Women’s Committee for undertaking this important project,” states William Wang, AABANY President. “It brings to the fore persistent issues affecting Asian American women lawyers in New York. While recognizing that some positive change has occurred over time, it forces us to confront the lack of progress since the first Kicking Glass video was produced over two decades ago. The serious discussion that the present video inspires may provide the first steps towards making further progress so that in the near future we can be celebrating the glass being shattered rather just being kicked.”
“The AABANY Fall Conference’s theme of charting new frontiers is the perfect backdrop for addressing how Asian American women lawyers can chart their own new frontiers,” states Sapna Palla. “We look forward to a stimulating discussion on concrete ideas for advancement so that the shattered ceiling is the norm, not the exception.”
For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).
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NEW YORK – May 28, 2015 – On May 26, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”), the Asian American Law Fund of New York, Inc., and White & Case LLP presented the New York premiere of Kicking Glass from the Boardroom to the Courtroom: Two Decades and Counting, a follow-up to a 1995 video produced by AABANY and White & Case regarding the position of Asian American women in the legal profession. The New York screening of Kicking Glass at the New York offices of White & Case LLP attracted approximately 100 attendees and was simultaneously live-broadcast to the White & Case offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami and Tampa. Click here to read the full Kicking Glass press release.
Photos by AABANY and Karen Zhou.
Check out the AABANY live-feed from the event below:
Check out the latest issue of the Advocate, hot off the presses and available at tonight’s Kicking Glass event. pic.twitter.com/UCHGNX5zKa
Thanks to @WhiteCase for hosting Kicking Glass from the Board Room to the Courtroom: Two Decades and Counting. pic.twitter.com/uYa6nrLMOt
Broadcasting Kicking Glass live to Tampa, Los Angeles, & Washington, DC! @WhiteCase pic.twitter.com/ApH45nHSDv
You’re not seeing double. That’s Judge Ling-Cohan standing in front of Judge Ling-Cohan. #KickingGlass pic.twitter.com/z53fICJLDB
The room’s filling up. Can’t wait for the New York premier of #KickingGlass to begin. pic.twitter.com/pmT5eX192T
1995: “I just don’t buy the myth that women aren’t entering the legal profession. We’ve been 30-40% of the workforce for 15 years.”
Hon. Ling-Cohan: I didn’t know any female Asian attorneys when I went to law school. There were few Asian judges when I wanted to be a judge
Hon. Chen: The solution has to be multi-faceted. [Progress] is slow, but happening. I see it when I go to the Asian bar conf. #KickingGlass
Hon. Ling-Cohan: In my first [judicial] election, people called me Chinky Chinky Chinky to my face. #KickingGlass
Clara Ohr: It’s difficult for the older generation to understand that a woman is in the room as more than a paralegal. #KickingGlass
1995: “I’d leave the practice of law for two years if I decided to have a child. Work life balance is a see-saw.” #KickingGlass
Clara Ohr: The fact that women have a uterus will probably always complicate things. #KickingGlass
Amy Wang: I am happy when law firm recruitment events do speak about work-life balance. To me, that’s progress. #KickingGlass
Grace Shim of @MinKwonCenter: I’ve been back five months after having a child. No one’s been able to give me a clear answer. #KickingGlass
Jennifer Kim: Our presence in leadership roles inspires younger women to define success in many ways, not just partnership. #KickingGlass
1995: “Partners tend to be white men, and they tend to mentor people who look like them or their sons.” #KickingGlass
Clara Ohr: We need help. We need to help each other. That’s not something that I see enough of. #KickingGlass
Saira Haider: You’ve got a seat at the table, so you’ve got to say something important that you can sit at the table again #KickingGlass
Hon. Chen: Be open to serendipity… Accept the notion that everyone makes mistakes even if they don’t admit it. #KickingGlass
Margaret Hanh-DuPont: Ultimately, in the final analysis, have you served your client well? #KickingGlass
What an incredible video presentation. Can’t wait for the panel! #KickingGlass pic.twitter.com/jAtvXsgJgJ
Sylvia Chin: I felt we needed a critical mass of female attorneys to let people know we make a difference. Cynthia Wong did not leave law!
Poojitha Rao: When I interviewed 21 or 22 years ago, I had trouble convincing employers that I had something generic to offer. #KickingGlass
Hon. Ling-Cohan: We are in a time of firsts. Despite there being so few Asian judges, we’re not considered a minority and we’re not white.
@aabany #KickingGlass video and panel discussion at White & Case. pic.twitter.com/hiW3vsuhCT
Hon. Chen: I think what holds so many Asian women back is self-doubt. It’s tough for those of us that grew up with tiger moms. #KickingGlass
Hon. Ling-Cohan: White women and Asian women walk into a room differently. Asian women like to make sure that they belong in the room.
Sapna Palla: I was a third-year associate when I had my first son. Not working was not even an option in my mind. #KickingGlass
Sapna Palla: Have a village to support you raise your child. My case was like my third child. #KickingGlass
Grace Shim, @MinKwonCenter: My husband and I came to the conclusion that you need either family or money to have a baby, and we had neither.
Hon. Chen: If a lot of people are asking to leave work at 5:30pm to see your family, it doesn’t seem so strange. #KickingGlass
Sapna Palla: If it were really equal, women wouldn’t feel scared that if they passed on an opportunity it would be held against them.
Grace Shim of @MinKwonCenter: Sometimes, as the token Asian, what you say matters; you have the opportunity to represent your interests.
Thanks to the Women’s Committee for putting together such an incredible show. Hopefully in another decade, even… http://t.co/wVfHd8Czeu
(Source: http://blog.aabany.org/)
Press Release: Kicking Glass, Video About Asian American Women Lawyers, Has New York Premiere at White & Case
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2015
Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206
NEW YORK – May 28, 2015 – On May 26, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”), the Asian American Law Fund of New York, Inc., and White & Case LLP presented the New York premiere of Kicking Glass from the Boardroom to the Courtroom: Two Decades and Counting, a follow-up to a 1995 video produced by AABANY and White & Case regarding the position of Asian American women in the legal profession. The New York screening of Kicking Glass at the New York offices of White & Case LLP attracted approximately 100 attendees and was simultaneously live-broadcast to the White & Case offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami and Tampa.
First presented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) Convention in 1995, the first Kicking Glass video explored Asian American women attorneys’ views on barriers to the highest levels of the profession, the successes they achieved, and what success meant to them. Among the issues addressed were the “Asian woman” stereotype, and how to get recognition for one’s work, parity in the workplace, and achieving a work/life balance. Headed by the AABANY Women’s Committee, the 2015 Kicking Glass video followed up on these important issues with several of the attorneys from the 1995 video as well as a new group of women and law students for their perspectives on the progress that has been made and the hurdles that remain. Following the screening, Sylvia Fung Chin, Partner at White & Case, moderated a candid panel discussion that included speakers featured in the video:
- Hon. Pamela Chen, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, Appellate Term, First Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York
- Sapna Palla, Partner, Wiggin and Dana LLP (AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair)
- Poojitha Rao, Principal, Rao Law LLC
- Grace Shim, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action
- Helen Wan, Author, The Partner Track
“The video and panel discussion illustrate that since 1995 Asian American women attorneys have come closer to breaking through the glass ceiling but there is still significant progress to be made to give Asian American women attorneys equal opportunities for success in the legal field,” Sapna Palla, AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair stated. “Nevertheless, it is clear that open discussion about these issues and the presence of important role models such as Asian American women judges, General Counsel, law firm partners and Asian American women in leadership positions in the law provide great hope and optimism for the future. AABANY is committed to continuing this discussion and supporting the efforts of Asian American women attorneys to achieve their full potential in the legal field.”
For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to[email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).
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