In the News: AABANY Featured in NYSBA Attorney Well-Being Newsletter “The Balance”

The Asian American Bar Association of New York was recently featured in the New York State Bar Association’s Attorney Well-Being newsletter, The Balance, March/April 2026 issue, highlighting AABANY’s growing commitment to wellness and well-being in the legal profession.

Published by NYSBA’s Attorney Well-Being Program and Lawyer Assistance Program, The Balance spotlights wellness initiatives and resources available to members of the legal community. In its latest edition, NYSBA featured AABANY’s wellness efforts as part of its broader mission to foster collaboration across bar associations and legal organizations throughout New York.

The feature, written by AABANY Member Lillian Moy, recognizes AABANY’s continued investment in building a healthier and more supportive legal community through wellness-centered programming and initiatives. These efforts include AABANY’s annual Wellness Day programming and the recent launch of its Wellness Committee, led by former AABANY President Karen Kim, which aims to help members prioritize mental health and well-being while reducing stigma around these important conversations. As discussions around attorney well-being continue to grow in importance across the profession, AABANY remains committed to creating spaces for connection and support for its members and the broader legal community.

To read the full newsletter, click here. The article appears on page 4.

In recognition of AAPI Heritage and Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to attend our upcoming Wellness Retreat on May 16, 2206 at the Blue Cliff Monastery in upstate New York. Tailored for the AABANY community, this retreat offers a dedicated space to foster emotional and mental health while addressing the unique pressures of legal practice. Registration is open until May 14th or when capacity is reached.  Additionally, please save the date for our 4th annual Wellness Day on June 13, 2026 at Brooklyn Law School. As a vital component of AABANY’s mission, this event continues to strengthen our supportive network and promote a culture of well-being within the legal profession.  Registration for Wellness Day is now open until June 11, 2026.  Both events are free and open to AABANY members.

New York State Bar Association Task Force Releases Report on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law

In 2021 the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) formed the Task Force on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law to examine how structural racism permeates and influences facets of daily life leading to injustice and inequality among New Yorkers. The Task Force included six subcommittees, Criminal Justice, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Justice, Health, and Housing, and examined the key issues that cause structural racism to be entrenched and persistent. These subcommittees provided recommendations and action steps for NYSBA to take to address structural racism and effectuate meaningful societal transformation.

AABANY Member Nelson Mar served on the Task Force as co-chair of the Education Sub-Committee. Over a period of a year and a half, he helped identify and draft the issues and recommendations for the Education section of the Task Force report. We also thank and recognize past AABANY member Lillian Moy on her leadership as Co-Chair of this important NYSBA Task Force.

To read the full report, click here.

Thanks to NYSBA for issuing this report, and thanks to Nelson for his leadership on the educational issues addressed in it.

Press Release: Congratulations Lillian M. Moy, Recipient of NYSBA’S 2013 Diversity Trailblazer Award

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) applauds the selection of Lillian M. Moy, as the recipient of the 2013 New York State Bar Association (“NYSBA”) Diversity Trailblazer Award. The NYSBA Committee on Diversity presented the 2013 Diversity Trailblazer Award at an Award Presentation and Networking Reception during the 10th Annual Celebrating Diversity in the Bar Reception held on Monday, January 21, 2013 at the New York Hilton in New York City.

“We are thrilled that NYSBA has recognized Lillian with the Diversity Trailblazer Award. Her commitment and dedication to promoting diversity in the legal profession is well known to us, as she has been a constant and passionate proponent of getting AABANY and other diverse and specialty bar associations more involved with NYSBA and other mainstream bar associations. Her work has greatly improved the visibility and participation of lawyers of color in bar groups and the legal profession. We are proud to count her among our most prominent members in AABANY. Congratulations, Lillian!” said Yang Chen, Executive Director of AABANY.

To read the full text of the press release go to http://www.aabany.org/associations/6701/files/PR%20012413%20-%20Lillian%20Moy%20NYSBA.pdf.