2013 Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition
The following opportunity may be of interest to Law Students
The City Bar Committee on Minorities in the Profession is now accepting applications for the 2013 Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition. Monetary awards will be made to 3 candidates on the basis of their essay and their having demonstrated significant personal achievements and strong community involvement. The first place winner will receive an award in the amount of $1,500, second place will be $1,000, and the third place winner will receive $500.
The deadline for the submission/receipt of all materials is
May 31, 2013. Prize winners will be notified in July 2013.
The Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition was established in honor of Michael Oshima, an individual who dedicated much of his legal career to ensuring that our profession remains diverse and open to all people no matter their race, ethnic or national origin, sex or sexual orientation. Michael contributed countless hours to the betterment of the legal profession and he served on a number of bar committees, including as Chair of the Committee on Minorities in the Profession of the New York City Bar Association. The Committee on Minorities in the Profession is sponsoring this scholarship to honor the life and memory of such a worthy man.
Before his untimely passing, Michael was Deputy General Counsel at Safe Horizon Inc., an organization that provides support, prevents violence, and promotes justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities. Prior to joining Safe Horizons, he served for six years as the Administrative Partner for the New York office of Arnold & Porter LLP. At Arnold & Porter, Michael counseled corporate officers and foreign governments in Latin America and around the world in securities offerings, lending transactions, loan restructurings and corporate governance matters. Michael was also very active in pro bono work and, for example, helped a battered woman who was not a citizen of the U.S. obtain a self-petition to remain in this country under the Violence Against Women Act. In addition, Michael championed initiatives to increase diversity at Arnold & Porter. During his tenure as Administrative Partner, the New York office twice received (in 2003 and 2005) the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award, which recognizes law firms’ efforts to improve diversity.
Born on April 4, 1957, Michael was raised in Kona, Hawaii and was a graduate of Brown and Harvard universities. Michael received his J.D. in 1987 from New York University School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Annual Survey of American Law. Michael was also active as a Board member of the Asian American Arts Alliance, Inc. and the Japanese American National Museum. In his biography, Michael described himself as an experienced leader and attorney with strong interpersonal skills, a sense of humor and a grace under fire. He could not have said it any better. The legal community suffered a great loss when Michael passed away suddenly on July 11, 2008.
NY City Bar: Talent Night 2013!
The Entertainment Committee of The City Bar
We welcome all talent!
Korea-US FTA and Its Impact on IP Rights and Protection
From our friends at KALAGNY:
KALAGNY member Sean Kim has organized a talk at the NYC Bar Association entitled, “Korea-US FTA and Its Impact on IP Rights and Protection.”Details:Wednesday, February 27, 2013 from 6-7:30 p.m. Event Location: New York City Bar, 42 West 44th St. (bet. 5th & 6th Ave.)
This roundtable discussion will focus on Intellectual Property rights, protection, and client counseling in light of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. Speakers include: Kenneth Cho, Senior Foreign Counsel, Kim & Chang;Charles Eloshway,Office of Intellectual Property Policy and Enforcement at the United States Patent and Trademark Office; and Consul Sungyeol Kim, Trade Commissioner of Korea. Email Sean Kim at sean.kim@law.cardozo.yu.edu to rsvp.

ASAFE Securities and Finance Law Seminar Series
New York City Bar and the Alliance of Securities and Financial Educators (ASAFE)
Securities and Finance Law Seminar Series 2013
A Six-Part Seminar Series for Diverse Second and Third Year Students from New York
& New Jersey Law Schools with Leading Legal and Compliance Practitioners in the Financial Services Industry
The New York City Bar Association and the Alliance of Securities and Financial Educators (ASAFE) will conduct a six-part Seminar Series on Securities and Finance Law beginning in January 2013 for diverse students attending New York City area law schools. The sessions will be presented by leading legal and compliance practitioners (including former and current regulators). Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the nuts and bolts and cutting edge issues in securities and finance law, explore careers in securities and finance law, and develop professional networks by meeting legal and compliance practitioners.
This ASAFE and New York City Bar seminar series is designed to enhance diversity and inclusion in the securities and finance industries of traditionally underrepresented groups. This includes the following categories: Black or African American, Latino or Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Two or More Races, Women, LGBT Students, Veterans, Economically Disadvantaged Students and Students with Disabilities.
Seminar Series Dates
* January 25th – Overview of Securities and Finance
* February 1st – Corporation Finance (federal)
* February 8th – Enforcement (federal, state and local)
* March 22nd – Investment Management (federal, state and local)
* March 29th – A Career as a Compliance Professional
* April 5th – Consumer Protection (federal)
All seminar dates fall on a Friday and will be conducted from 4pm-7pm at the New York City Bar Association, located at 42 West 44th Street in New York City. Participants are expected to attend all seminars.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Students selected to be a part of the seminar series must attend one of the following 13 institutions for consideration: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Brooklyn Law School, Columbia Law School, CUNY School of Law, Fordham Law School, Hofstra University School of Law, New York Law School, New York University School of Law, Pace Law School, Rutgers School of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law, St. John’s University School of Law or Touro Law Center.
2. Only second-year and third-year law students are eligible to participate in this series.
3. Students must submit an application and resume for consideration. Students are also required to submit a typewritten statement of interest.
Application
Interested students must submit an application and resume for consideration. See flyer for further details. The application deadline is December 31st.
For more information, please contact Gabrielle Lyse Brown, Director of Diversity Pipeline Initiatives at the New York City Bar at gbrown@nycbar.org
NY City Bar: 2011 Law Firm Diversity Benchmarking Report Released
NY City Bar: 2011 Law Firm Diversity Benchmarking Report Released

The New York City Bar has released its 2011 Diversity Benchmarking Study. Click on the title of this entry to read the post from the City Bar’s blog. Here’s an excerpt from the report about Asian attorneys:
Asian attorneys represent the majority of minority attorneys accounting for 53.1% of minority attorneys and 54.2% of minority associates. A curious ongoing trend is the decline for Asian attorneys – vis-à-vis Black and Hispanic attorneys – as they rise to leadership positions at signatory firms declining from over half of minority associates to 45.4% of partners and 34.8% of practice group heads.
To read the report, go to http://www.nycbar.org/images/stories/pdfs/diversity/2011_law_firm_diversity_benchmarking_report.pdf
Don Liu Joins NY City Bar Task Force on Young Lawyers
Don Liu Joins NY City Bar Task Force on Young Lawyers
The New York City Bar’s 44th Street Blog reported on July 16 that it has formed a new Task Force on New Lawyers in a Changing Profession to address what City Bar president Carey Dunn has described as “the plight of young lawyers." Created in response to recent ABA statistics showing that only 55% of recent law grads found full-time legal employment, the task force has convened leaders from across the legal spectrum, from academia to private practice, as well as the corporate, government and public interest sectors.
Among the Chief In-House Counsel tapped to participate in this important task force is Don Liu, General Counsel of Xerox. Don was recently recognized as one of the New York City Bar’s Diversity and Inclusion Champions for 2012. He is also an active and valued member of AABANY and its Advisory Committee.
For more information about the task force, follow the link in the title. AABANY congratulates Don on undertaking this new role and commends the City Bar for convening this task force to study critical issues facing the new generation of lawyers.











