Tag: law students

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AABANY Co-Sponsors Dhamaka 2024, Cardozo Law’s SALSA Celebration of South Asian Culture and Community through Diversity

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.

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IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Charoen Krung

On July 22, the IP Committee met for a tasty Thai dinner at Charoen Krung in Manhattan.  Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of classic Thai dishes.  The dinner welcomed many new faces into the community, from law students to interns, to experienced private practice and in-house attorneys.  Attendees shared about how they were spending their summers, as well as about projects they were tackling at work.  The dinner ended with delicious Thai desserts including mango sticky rice.     

Thank you to everyone who joined!  The IP Committee always welcomes new members to its events!

To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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AABANY’s Litigation Committee Hosts Quarterly Dinner at Hwa Yuan Szechuan in Chinatown

On August 14, 2024, the AABANY Litigation Committee came together for their second quarterly dinner, this time held at Hwa Yuan Szechuan in Chinatown. AABANY’s Litigation Committee is “dedicated to attorneys and law students who are interested in litigation [and] provides a forum and resources for networking and learning, and sponsors events that are of interest to its members.”

At the dinner, lively chatter filled the air, as attendees enjoyed banquet-style dining where dishes were served one at a time, with vegetarian and vegan options available. Vegetable dumplings, Peking duck, sweet eggplant, tofu, and fish were among the dishes served. 

Attendees talked about their litigation experiences, strengthened relationships in their network, and met new litigators to add to their roster of contacts. Discussions ranged from providing legal career advice to law students and aspiring litigators to banter over how spicy the food was.

Thank you to the Litigation Committee for organizing this event and to all of those who attended. 

The Litigation Committee is open to hearing suggestions for future events. To learn more about the Committee, how to get more involved, and how to contact the Committee Co-Chairs to share your ideas, please click here.

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NAPABA and NLF Announce a Milestone Agreement

For Immediate Release: Date: August 9, 2024Contact:
Priya Purandare, Executive Director

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) are proud to announce a milestone agreement that not only bolsters the services that NLF delivers to our community, but also advances the mission of both organizations to strengthen the representation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) in the legal profession. The agreement draws on the talents of NAPABA to support the pivotal work of NLF and its impact on the next generation of lawyers.

For three decades, NLF has encouraged, inspired, and supported generations of law students as they pursued careers and opportunities in public interest law, including work on behalf of vulnerable AANHPI communities. NLF has awarded $1.8 million in scholarships, fellowships, and internships, and it has built lasting educational and community partnerships throughout the country.

The programs run by the NLF support the next generation of AANHPI lawyers and foster education and awareness about issues impacting AANHPI lawyers.

The shared-services agreement between NAPABA and NLF will reinforce NLF’s administrative, financial, fundraising, and programmatic activities.

“This is a game changer for NLF and our ability to grow and inspire law students and young lawyers,” said Nimesh Patel, President of NLF. “With NAPABA’s support, we can broaden our outreach and ensure the continued success of landmark programs such as the Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition, and we can reach more students for the various scholarships, internships, and fellowships offered by the NLF.”

“My introduction to NAPABA ran through NLF early in my career,” said NAPABA Executive Director Priya Purandare. “I have witnessed first-hand the strong shared history between NAPABA and NLF, and their commitment to fostering the next generations of young AANHPI lawyers. Optimizing the relationship with NLF has long been envisioned as a part of NAPABA’s Strategic Plan, and as our AANHPI legal community continues to expand, I am thrilled that through our partnership, we can meet the growing needs of students and young attorneys to better serve all.

Learn more about NLF

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interest of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.

The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) promotes the development, advancement, leadership, and public service of Asian Pacific Americans in the legal profession through fellowships, scholarships, education, and community partnerships. NLF serves as an incubator of thoughtful leaders in the Asian Pacific Americans legal community.

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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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AALFNY 2024 Public Interest Scholarships – Applications Due April 15

The Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) is pleased to announce that recipients of its 2024 Public Interest Scholarships will now be entitled to receive up to $6000. Awards are given each year to up to 3 law students with a demonstrated commitment to serving the Asian American community in New York State and the greater New York metropolitan area.

The online application is available at https://www.asianamericanlawfund.org/public-interest-scholarship-online-application/. Applicants should include a description of their proposed summer public service project, if applicable, and the name, email address and phone number of a supervisor at the public service organization or other organization that the AALFNY Scholarship Committee may contact. Confirmation of the public service project is not required at the time of the application but will be required before the award of the scholarship. Applicants are responsible for arranging their own projects.  A list of organizations that have hosted students in the past is on our website https://www.asianamericanlawfund.org/prior-community-scholarship-recipients/. The list is only provided as an example and no guarantee is made that the organizations will continue to host students in 2024 or that volunteering at one of these organizations entitles the applicant to a Scholarship.  Each student is expected to volunteer at least 8 weeks, 35 hours per week, during the summer of 2024 at such project and to apply the award to the payment of law school tuition.

The purpose of the award is to assist law students with their tuition while encouraging them to use their legal knowledge and training to benefit the Asian American community in New York and to foster commitment by law students to public service in New York.  Since 1997, AALFNY has funded more than 60 public interest scholarships to law students.

AALFNY was established in 1993 by the Asian American Bar Association of New York to create and support non-profit and charitable efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to defend human and civil rights.

Donations to AALFNY may be made at asianamericanlawfund.org/donate.

A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained from AALFNY at P.O. Box 161, 41 Purdy Ave., Rye NY 10580 or from the NY Attorney General’s Charities Bureau website www.charitiesnys.com. Information may also be obtained from AALFNY at [email protected] or the NYS Attorney General at 212-416-8686.

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Intellectual Property Committee Hosts Dinner at Barn Joo Nomad

On Wednesday, March 6th, the AABANY IP Committee gathered once again to enjoy a delightful evening of Korean cuisine at Barn Joo Nomad near Koreatown. The spacious table, accommodating 20 attendees, sparked meaningful conversation accompanied by an array of family-style Korean dishes. Dinner commenced, accompanied by yuzu and sesame-infused drinks, beers, and more. As conversation flowed, a variety of dishes filled the table, featuring spicy fried chicken, dumplings, squid ink pasta, kimbap, and salads.

The dinner sparked connections beyond intellectual property law, as law students, recent graduates, and attorneys specializing in various disciplines engaged in discussions ranging from building their law firms to pursuing careers in government-related IP roles. Beyond the topic of law, committee members took the opportunity to share personal endeavors and shared insights with the younger generation on navigating their careers.

The IP Committee continues to welcome new faces and nurture connections with existing members through casual dinners and other activities. If you are interested in IP law or wish to bond over Asian delicacies and shared professional experiences, please be on the lookout for future events from this committee!

To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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All Rise! An Appeal for Moot Court Judges

The ABA Law Student Division would like to invite you to judge the National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) in Brooklyn on February 22-24, 2024, at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Register Here

You be the judge, literally!
Spend a few hours as a Supreme Court Justice without the confirmation hearings! All rounds take place in a courtroom and robes are provided for all competition judges.

Give back and mentor law students
This opportunity will fulfill your need to impart wisdom onto the next generation of lawyers. We are looking for lawyers and judges to sit on the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments and provide feedback on the advocacy skills of each team.

CLE Information
Attorneys acting as judges in moot court competitions may self-report their participation to claim CLE credit. Rules, calculations, and limits vary by state.

Make a day of it. Sign up for one, two, or more rounds. Or invite your colleagues and register as a group. Register Here

The rounds are scheduled as follows:
Round 1: Thursday, February 22 (3:30 pm-7:45 pm)
Round 2: Friday, February 23 (3:30 pm-7:45 pm)
Round 3: Saturday, February 24 (8:30 am-12:45 pm)
Round 4: Saturday, February 24 (1:00 pm-3:30 pm)
Round 5: Saturday, February 24 (3:30 pm-6:00 pm)

For your colleagues across the country, there are also regionals in Boston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco!

Direct any questions to:

Erica M. Zepeda
American Bar Association
Program Manager, Early Career Strategy
Law Student Division
321 N. Clark, Chicago, IL  60654
T: 312.988.5671
[email protected]

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Student Outreach Committee (SOC) Reaches Out to the Community with its Fall 2023 Postering Campaign

On Saturday, November 4, 2023, the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s (AABANY) Student Outreach Committee (SOC) held its Fall 2023 Postering Campaign in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The event was co-sponsored by Mayer Brown LLP and AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee.

Volunteers and law students from the Greater New York area donated their valuable time on a Saturday morning to distribute flyers and promote AABANY’s pro bono legal resources to local businesses and residents in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Our volunteers covered areas from East Broadway to Kenmare Street. Some volunteers reported that small business owners and residents were ecstatic to learn about our Pro Bono Clinics and are “grateful such a service exists for the Asian American community.”

After the postering campaign, our Executive Director, Yang Chen, invited the volunteers and law students to a complimentary group lunch at Deluxe Green Bo, a small Shanghainese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Our volunteers and law students enjoyed some tasty soup dumplings, seafood casseroles, pan-fried noodles, and yellow fish with dry seaweed.

AABANY would like to thank Mayer Brown for their support with the printed flyers and supplies. 

We also express our sincere gratitude to the volunteers and law students below for their time, leadership, and overall commitment to giving back to the community.

Volunteers

Charlene Hong 
Emily Kong, Esq. (Mayer Brown)
Justin Lee
Vivian Lee
William Lee, Esq. (Mayer Brown)
Jameson Xu
Sharon Yang
Kelly Yao

Law Student Volunteers

Brooklyn Law

Kyle Hogan
Michael Qian

Cardozo Law

Gabrielle Capulong
Kimberly Cheung
Justina Chen
Isaac Kim
Edwin Liu
Angela Zhao

Columbia Law

Woohyeong Cho
Melodie Han

Cornell Law

Sage Park

Fordham Law

Amanda Dai
Yuanyuan Li
Stephen Park

NYU Law

Dai An Jiang
Zachery Lee
Gina Tan
Chris Wong
Haixin Xie
Jinge (Evelyne) Yang
Hanyi Yu

Pace Law

Alexandra Lao

Touro Law

Damian Jhagroo

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