Announcing the 2025 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Honorees

2025 NAPABA Awards

Announcing the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award Honorees

The Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award is NAPABA’s highest honor, celebrating the outstanding achievements of lawyers whose leadership and dedication have left a profound mark on both the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. This lifetime achievement award recognizes those whose vision, courage, and commitment have opened doors and paved the way for future generations of attorneys.

Trailblazers are leaders who have not only excelled in their practice but have also made enduring contributions to advancing equity, opportunity, and justice within the legal community and beyond.

We are honored to celebrate the 2025 Trailblazer Award recipients and their extraordinary impact at this year’s NAPABA Convention in Denver.

Rose Cuison-Villazor
Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar at Rutgers Law School

Rose Cuison-Villazor is Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar at Rutgers Law School where she previously served as Interim Co-Dean (2021-2023) and Vice Dean (2019-2021). She is also Director of the Center for Immigrant Justice, which conducts publicly engaged research and policy work on progressive immigration and citizenship laws. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute.
Marvin S. C. Dang
Managing Member, Law Offices of Marvin S.C. Dang, LLLC & Partner, Nelson & Kennard, LLP

An attorney in Honolulu since 1978, Marvin Dang is the Managing Member of the Law Offices of Marvin S. C. Dang, LLLC. Separately, Marvin is also a partner in Nelson & Kennard, which is a California law firm doing business in 8 states; he co-manages the Hawaii office, which focuses on civil litigation. In 2023, he was elected ABA Secretary, the first Asian American attorney and the first Hawaii attorney to serve as an ABA officer in the organization’s history.
Daniel D. Hu
Chief, Civil Division, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas
 
Daniel David Hu is a career prosecutor who currently serves as Chief, Civil Division, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. He joined the office in 1992 and was promoted to Civil Chief in 2016. In 1995, he founded the Asian Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas and later served as the first APA minority director on the State Bar of Texas Board.
Lily Yan Hughes
Assistant Dean at Syracuse University College of Law; Former SVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Fortune 500 Arrow Electronics and S&P 500 Public Storage

Lily is Assistant Dean at Syracuse University College of Law, overseeing strategy and operations for the Admissions & Financial Aid Office, the Marketing & Communications Office, the Office of Career Services, and SU Abroad. She has also been appointed by the Chancellor as a member of the University Leadership Team. Lily is currently Chair and has served on the board of directors of DirectWomen since October 2021.
Sandra Leung
Independent Board Member/Former F500 EVP, General Counsel

Sandy Leung retired in 2025 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Sandy joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 1992 as a staff attorney in the litigation department. She began her legal career as Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City, where she was an original member of the Child Abuse Bureau. She served as NAPABA President from 2020-2022. Currently, she is on the Board of Directors of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund as well as the board of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.
Alan Tse
Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc

Alan Tse is Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at JLL. Before joining JLL, Alan was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Petco. Alan is deeply involved in the legal community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel, where he previously chaired its Advocacy Committee. He is also a co-founder and board member of the Asian American Legal Foundation, advocating for greater representation and equity in the legal profession.
Honorable Sue Pai Yang
Retired Judge of Compensation, New Jersey

The Honorable Sue Pai Yang was the first Chinese American appointed as a judge in New Jersey. She served on the Workers’ Compensation Court in Newark, where she heard cases involving workplace injuries. Her most memorable trials and decisions concerned individuals who alleged psychological disabilities due to harassment/workplace bullying. Upon retirement, Judge Yang became a founding member of the National Workplace Bullying Coalition (NWBC). She was a founding member of NAPABA and the first Asian American elected to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Bankruptcy Judgeship Opportunity, Western District of New York – United States Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit [Deadline Extended Until September 5]

August 11, 2025 – Bankruptcy Judgeship Vacancy – [Extension of application period until September 5, 2025] -The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit invites applications from qualified candidates for a 14-year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Western District of New York (Rochester). The extension deadline to submit an application is September 5, 2025.  If you applied earlier, there is no need to re-submit your application. For announcement, please click here. For application, please click here.

Bankruptcy Judgeship Opportunity, Western District of New York – United States Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit

Bankruptcy Judgeship Vacancy – The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit invites applications from qualified candidates for a 14-year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of New York. The duty station for this opportunity is in Rochester New York. For announcement click here, for application click here. The deadline to submit an application is August 7, 2025.

Bankruptcy Judgeship Opportunity, Eastern District of New York – United States Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit

Bankruptcy Judgeship Vacancy – The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit invites applications from qualified candidates for a 14-year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New York. There are two vacancies in the Eastern District of New York, one in Brooklyn and one in Central Islip. For announcement click here, for application click here. The deadline to submit an application is August 7, 2025.

Here’s Your Chance for a Complimentary #NAPABA24 Registration!

Unlock new career opportunities with our Career Center! We’re excited to announce our Resume Sweepstakes, designed to enhance your visibility to top legal employers and gain access to job openings and career resources.

What do you need to do? From 8/16/2024 to 9/30/2024, just upload your resume to NAPABA’s Career Center. Follow these three simple steps below:

Selected winner will be given a complimentary 2024 Seattle Convention registration or $250 Amazon gift card

Upload your resume today

THE FINE PRINT

  • The winner can choose between a complimentary Convention registration OR a $250 Amazon gift card.
  • One entry is given for each resume uploaded up to one entry per user.
  • No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win.
  • Only resumes uploaded between 08/16/2024 at 8:00am ET and 09/30/2024 at 11:59 pm ET will be counted.

Please review the official rules prior to participating. Please note that uploaded resumes are visible to potential recruiters and employers. To view how employers see an uploaded resume, click here.

2024 NAPABA Convention: Apply for a Scholarship Today!

The NAPABA Convention offers one of the best values among legal education conferences—providing direct access to our extended community and opportunities to meaningfully connect with thousands of AANHPI attorneys. Participate in a multitude of program offerings, meetings, receptions, and initiatives aimed at advancing your personal and professional goals.

NAPABA recognizes, however, that attending the Convention can pose financial challenges to many of our members. Through our Convention and law student scholarship program, we offer financial assistance and access to the transformative NAPABA Convention. This opportunity is only open to active NAPABA members, like you, and we invite you to apply!

Learn more about our scholarships and eligibility requirements here

GENERAL CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
Closes August 6 at 8 pm ET

APPLY FOR A GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP

LAW STUDENT CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
Closes September 17 at 8pm ET

APPLY FOR A LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

QUESTIONS? Contact our Meetings Team at convention@napaba.org.

REGISTER FOR CONVENTION

Haven’t registered for the Convention yet? Now’s your chance! Register before August 20 to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Rate.

REGISTER FOR #NAPABA24

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.

AABANY Members: 2024 Pro Bono Opportunity – Help Close Civil Justice Gap through New York State Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP)

AABANY encourages its members to get involved in the New York State Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) this year. The AEP is an initiative by the New York State Unified Court System, enthusiastically supported by Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, aimed at promoting pro bono civil legal service by senior attorneys.

AABANY recognizes the increasing need for civil legal services post-COVID-19, and the need for pro bono volunteers is more critical than ever. From housing to family law matters, immigration to consumer debt, AEP volunteers play a crucial role in providing access to justice for New Yorkers who are unable to afford counsel.

To volunteer, AEP seeks lawyers aged fifty-five or older, retired or still in practice, in good standing, and with ten years experience. Attorney Emeritus volunteers receive benefits, including up to 15 CLE credits and special recognition from Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Edwina G. Richardson.

For more information please click here.

The AEP team welcomes the opportunity to discuss the Program with individuals interested in learning more; please feel free to contact the AEP Coordinator by email at AEPcoordinator@fordham.edu.

AABANY Members: Pro Bono Opportunity – Help Close Civil Justice Gap through New York State Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP)

AABANY encourages its members to become involved in the New York State Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) this year. The AEP is an initiative of the New York State Unified Court System to promote pro bono civil legal service by senior attorneys. AEP, endorsed by Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, presents a substantive opportunity for AABANY members to give back and look out for its New York community.

AABANY recognizes the importance of pro bono legal services to ensure fairness in our courts and assist individuals who cannot afford lawyers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York’s civil justice gap has grown significantly, leading to increased demand for civil legal services in areas such as housing, consumer debt, unemployment benefits, and family law. Through the AEP, senior attorneys who volunteer will provide vital access to justice for New Yorkers facing essential life challenges. 

To volunteer, AEP seeks lawyers aged fifty-five or older, retired or still in practice, in good standing, and with ten years experience. Attorney Emeritus volunteers commit to performing 60 hours of pro bono work with an approved legal services organization or court program over the two-year attorney registration period. 

Attorney Emeritus volunteers also receive benefits including up to 15 CLE credits and special recognition from Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson.

More information on the AEP or to volunteer, it can be found at https://feerickcenterfordham.galaxydigital.com/

Lobby Day Registration Now Open
Deadline to Register is April 20

NAPABA invites you to join us on May 22-23 in Washington, DC for NAPABA’s 12th annual Lobby Day, taking place in-person for the first time in three years!

The NAPABA Annual Lobby Day is an opportunity for NAPABA members from across the country to educate members of Congress and Congressional staffers on issues of importance to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Lobby Day also gives members an active role in promoting NAPABA’s mission of advocating for justice, equity, and opportunity for AAPIs.

Lobby Day activities and events include:

  • 3-Part Training Event
  • Hill Visits
  • Happy Hour Debrief
  • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Congressional Reception (Open to the public. Pre-registration is required.)

Register Now

The deadline to register is April 20. Learn more about Lobby Day and bookmark the page for the latest information.