Tag: Law School

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AABANY Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee Shares How to Succeed as a First Generation Lawyer

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, AABANY’s Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee held a panel on how to thrive as a first generation lawyer. Moderated by Committee Co-Chair Yen-Yi Anderson, panelists Michelle Yang, Jasper Wong, Karen Eng, and Minyao Wang shared their experiences in choosing law school, preparing for the LSAT and bar exams, as well as detailing the struggles and victories that arose from their individual circumstances. 

Before the panel discussion began, guests enjoyed delicious complimentary Korean food and various beverages.  

When discussing how they first dreamed of becoming attorneys, panelists’ answers varied from as simple as wanting to make their parents––who often held grueling jobs with long hours and little pay––understand that their sacrifice was indeed worth it, to as lighthearted as having really enjoyed Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a law video game. Mr. Wang mentioned the stability he hoped being a lawyer would bring, and both he and Ms. Eng discussed having explored related subjects like history, government, international relations, and social sciences that eventually led them to pursuing law. Despite all of the panelists’ shared identity as first-generation lawyers, the variety of motivations, choices, and experiences that inspired each of them to enter the industry was most striking.

When answering how to succeed in studying for the LSAT and within law school after it, panelists were admirably honest and treated the guests, mostly college students or recent college graduates, to a real picture of what their future could be. The panelists generally agreed that law school had been difficult in a way they had each never experienced, especially during 1L, and how they had to change their habits to succeed. Ms. Yang and Mr. Wang began to study independently without peers and friends, while Mr. Wong altered his time management and developed new skills to focus and study, and Ms. Eng recommended taking classes where students would have a high level of motivation and passion.

The panel then ended with a short Q & A with guests. Asked about the pressure of being part of a family adjusting to a new country, Ms. Eng and Mr. Wong agreed that their parents’ determination and steadfast intent had been integral in instilling a certain grit that helped them persevere through the challenges of law school and the legal profession. During the Q & A, Ms. Yang recommended investing in paid tutoring for LSAT and bar exams, though Mr. Wang shared that it was indeed possible to self-study given enough time and focus. Ms. Yang and Mr. Wong had both attended law school for periods during the Covid pandemic and discussed how it had been incredibly isolating, and Ms. Eng mentioned the feelings of imposter syndrome that developed during times of struggle in law school, each emphasizing to the attendees that these feelings were valid and common.

Thank you to the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee for organizing this event, Ms. Anderson for moderating, and thank you to all the panelists for their wonderful insight and candor. To learn more about AABANY’s Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee please click here.

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2024 Scholarship Opportunity – NAPABA Law Foundation Invites Eligible Students to Apply for the 2024 SAIL Scholarship (Deadline: July 1st, 2024)

SAIL Scholarship Now Accepting Applications! Deadline: July 1, 2024

NAPABA Law Foundation invites eligible students to apply for the 2024 SAIL Scholarship, made possible due to the generosity of Sharon and Ivan Fong.

The SAIL Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to an individual who will be a 2L student starting in the 2024 Fall Semester (current 1L students should apply) who has outstanding professional promise and leadership potential. Applicants will be evaluated for (a) academic excellence in their undergraduate school years and first year of law school, (b) leadership experience, (c) volunteerism or service in the public interest, (d) knowledge of social and cultural issues of any one or more AANHPI communities or commitment to making a significant impact on issues affecting one or more AANHPI communities, or both, and (e) commitment to “pay it forward.”

Award Amount: The NAPABA Law Foundation will award from the SAIL Scholarship Fund at least one $7,500 scholarship each year, half of which would be distributed to the recipient in his or her second year of law school and the remainder of which would be distributed to the recipient in his or her third year of law school, subject to the Scholar’s continued (i) strong academic performance and good character; and (ii) dedication to the concepts set forth in scholarship.

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AABANY Congratulates Member Rose Cuison-Villazor on Her Appointment as the First Filipina-American Dean of an American Law School

AABANY has learned that Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor will be serving as interim co-dean of Rutgers Law School, becoming the first Asian-American female dean at Rutgers Law and the first Filipina-American dean of an American law school. Since July 2019, she has served as the vice dean of Rutgers Law School (https://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj/rutgers-law-school-dean-trailblazes-asian-american-women).

AABANY is proud to recognize Dean Cuison-Villazor among its membership and congratulates her on this historic appointment, just one among many of her trailblazing accomplishments. An expert in immigration and citizenship law, she is a founding director of the Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice at Rutgers Law School. According to Rutgers Law’s own announcement:

Cuison-Villazor teaches, researches and writes in the areas of immigration and citizenship law, property law, Asian Americans and the law, equal protection law and critical race theory. She teaches Property Law, Immigration Law, Critical Race Theory, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and the Law, Estates in Land, and Introduction to U.S. Law and recently testified before a Congressional committee on land rights. She earned her LLM from Columbia Law School, JD from American University and BA from the University of Texas.

Dean Cuison-Villazor’s scholarship regarding immigration and citizenship law has been notable, highlighting previously neglected legal history concerning property and race. Dean Cuison-Villazor’s 2010 law review article “Rediscovering Oyama v. California: At the Intersection of Property, Race, and Citizenship” inspired AABANY’s own Oyama v. California trial reenactment. Oyama v. California overturned the California Alien Land Laws which prohibited “aliens ineligible for citizenship,” i.e., Asian Americans, from owning property. The case established legal precedent for future civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education. Read more about the trial reenactment here.

AABANY’s Academic Committee Co-Chairs Catherine Kim, Donna Lee, Elaine Chiu, and Thomas Lee extend a special congratulations to Dean Cuison-Villazor, stating:

AABANY congratulates and is extremely proud of Dean Cuison-Villazor’s appointment as interim co-dean of Rutgers Law School. She is an immigration, citizenship, and race & the law scholar with a national reputation, a gifted teacher, and a superb leader. Rutgers Law is fortunate to have Rose lead its Newark campus at this critical time, as is AABANY to claim her as a cherished colleague.

Please join AABANY in recognizing Dean Cuison-Villazor for her accomplishment. To learn more about the Academic Committee, visit https://www.aabany.org/page/352.

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Volunteer for Thomas Tang Northeast Regional Moot Court Competition

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation presents its 2018 Thomas Tang Northeast Regional Moot Court Competition, and is in need of volunteers. This competition provides a unique and memorable experience for student appellate advocates. The event allows law students to showcase their writing and oral advocacy skills, and also to compete for scholarships totaling $10,000. In summary, this year’s problem is on whether a state university has the right to impose disciplinary sanctions on a student for non-curricular expressive conduct, and if it may expel a law student for off-campus expressive activity. For more information on this year’s problem, click here. 

The event will be held on Friday, October 19, 2018, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the United States Court of International Trade, One Federal Plaza, New York, New York. NAPABA seeks volunteers for grading briefs and for day-of. Brief graders will review and score briefs submitted by the student teams before the competition, and the time commitment is flexible. Day-of volunteers are welcome to assist for either part of the event or the entire day, and will serve as bailiffs or judges for the oral argument rounds. For a complete schedule of the day’s events, click here. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Zoe Wong, the Northeast Regional Coordinator, at T[email protected]. For more information, please visit NAPABA’s website here. 

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Infinity Law Group Asian Heritage Law School Scholarship

Infinity Law Group Asian Heritage Law School Scholarship

The Asian Heritage Scholarship is open to students who will be attending an accredited US Law School in the fall of 2018 and meet all needed requirements. Candidates are asked to write a short essay describing how their background and experiences in the Asian American community influenced their choice to go to law school and how they plan to use their degree to help give back to their community.

To find out more about the eligibility and application requirements, see the link for more details. Deadline is August 1, 2018.

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Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program for College Students | St. John’s University

Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program for College Students | St. John’s University

The deadline for Prep Program Foundations has been extended to March 31, 2017. Foundations applications are considered on a rolling basis so submit your application as soon as possible.

Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program for College Students furthers the Ron Brown Center’s mission of engaging in legal studies, research, and outreach on issues affecting the lives of disadvantaged and underrepresented people; increasing racial and socioeconomic diversity in the legal profession; and educating law students to be leaders on issues of racial, economic, and social justice. To help raise the number of diverse, disadvantaged students in law schools, the Ron Brown Prep Program identifies these students in their college years and offers them early exposure to the study and practice of law.

The Ron Brown Prep Program prepares students for the challenges of law school and for the law school application process. Participants gain an edge in courses taught by Law School faculty; through internships with judges and lawyers; in a customized LSAT prep course; and with advising on all aspects of the admission process.

Click on the link in the title for more information.

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Apply for the Brooklyn Legal Pipeline Initiative

The Brooklyn Legal Pipeline Initiative (BLPI),  will be a professionally moderated program designed to give diverse students who live or attend college in Brooklyn direct instruction on how to successfully apply to and fund a law school education. The program is being jointly run by the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA), the Brooklyn Bar Association(BBA) and the Defense Association of New York (DANY). Each participant will be matched with an attorney mentor. Participants who attend all sessions will be offered an opportunity to obtain a non-paying summer internship. Stipends may be available to defray certain transportation and ancillary costs associated with the internships.

Selected students will attend five (5) two-hour classroom sessions, once a month, starting February 27, 2017 that will be moderated by Paula Edgar, an attorney, diversity and inclusion coach and former law school administrator.

Classes will be held at the Brooklyn Bar Association’s landmark building located at 123 Remsen Street in downtown Brooklyn. These classes will be held from 5:30- 7:30 PM and will address the following topics:

  • February 27, 2017 – The Legal Profession – What is a lawyer? What do they do? – Panel discussion with judges and attorneys describing the areas in which they practice.
  • March 13, 2017 – Applying to Law School – Course selection- Time management – Writing skills – IRAC – The LSAT’s – Paying for law school – Guided questions and answer session with a college career counselor and a law school admissions officer.
  • March 27, 2017 – Networking and Mentoring – Each participant will be paired with an Attorney Mentor – Developing a resume and cover letter.
  • April 24, 2017 – Internships –Interview Skills – Professionalism.
  • May 22, 2017– Mock Interviews – Each participant will participate in simulated interviews and will receive immediate constructive feedback.
  • June -August 2017 – Summer Internship Program

Application deadline is February 10. Click HERE for the brochure containing additional information.

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MCGUIREWOODS/NAPABA LAW FOUNDATION SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) is accepting applications for the McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program. The Program will support students interested in the legal profession and will help students develop a commitment to advocacy on behalf of the APA community. The Program seeks to achieve these goals by providing undergraduate and law school students with meaningful internship experiences at the Washington DC offices of NAPABA and NLF.

About the Program

Each law clerk and undergraduate intern shall be assigned projects that will further the missions of NAPABA and NLF, including:

  • Promoting justice, equity and opportunity for APAs;
  • Fostering professional development, legal scholarship, advocacy and community involvement; and
  • Developing and supporting programs to educate the legal profession and APAs about legal issues affecting those communities.

Please note the deadline to apply has been extended to March 21, 2014. Click here for more information.