PALS Presents: Opportunities and Career Paths of U.S. Attorneys
You Are Invited to Attend a Career Panel & Networking Reception
Opportunities and Career Paths of U.S. Attorneys
Thursday, March 6, 2014
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sponsored By:
Eleven Times Square
(Eighth Avenue & 41st Street)
New York, NY 10036
This panel will provide insight on the recruitment and selection process of Assistant United States Attorneys. The panel will also explore the skills gained and the benefits of practicing as a Federal Prosecutor.
Panelists:
The Honorable Margo K. Brodie
United States District Court Judge
Eastern District of New York
The Honorable Pamela K. Chen
United States District Court Judge
Eastern District of New York
Alphonzo Grant, Jr.
Executive Director
Morgan Stanley
Keisha-Ann Gray
Partner
Proskauer Rose, LLP
Moderator:
Orelia Merchant
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of New York
Click HERE to RSVP
Registration ends on March 4, 2014
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PALS Mission Statement:
PALS is dedicated to enhancing the skills and careers of minority law students and early career attorneys. PALS does this by offering customized mentoring, educational and professional development opportunities. PALS provides resources to augment the law school and employer training of, respectively, minority law students and beginning lawyers, and will continue to offer its services free of charge.
PALS is a 501©(3) not-for-profit organization
Providing Mentoring, Career and Skills Development for Minorities in the Legal Profession Since 1984
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At the 2013 NAPABA Northeast Regional/AABANY Fall Conference hosted by Weil Gotshal, a plenary session was held during the luncheon to explore the recent United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.
The luncheon was sponsored by Kobre & Kim. Welcome remarks were given by Mike Huang, President of AABANY, Fred Green, Management Committee Member, Mergers & Acquisitions Partner and Sponsor to the Asian Attorney Affinity Group at Weil, and Wendy Shiba, President of NAPABA. Board member and past AABANY President Robert Leung presented brief remarks about AABANY’s newest committee, the Career Placement Committee, and invited broad participation in it.
The Program Chair for the plenary session was Sarah Seo, Co-Chair of the Academic Committee. She introduced the Hon. Pamela K. Chen, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, moderator of the panel.
Panelists included Khin Mai Aung, Director of the Educational Equity Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), who submitted an amicus brief in the Fisher case, and Hemmie Chang, Partner at Foley Hoag, who led her firm’s efforts in supporting AALDEF’s amicus filing in Fisher. Also on the panel were Michael Park, Partner at Dechert, and William Consovoy, Partner at Wiley Rein, who submitted briefs on Fisher’s side of the case before the Supreme Court.
The room was filled to capacity and many of the attendees had to go to the overflow room next door to watch the panel discussion on video.
The panel took several thoughtful and pointed questions from the audience during the Q&A portion.
Thanks to our Key Sponsor Hudson Court Reporting and Video for taking video and transcription of the plenary session.
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On June 19, 2013, the AABANY Prosecutors’ Committee celebrated its fifth year anniversary at NYCLA with over 130 people in attendance. US Attorney Preet Bharara (SDNY), District Attorneys Robert Johnson (Bronx), Daniel Donovan (Richmond), Kathleen Rice (Nassau), Cyrus Vance, Jr. (New York), and Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan (New York) were on hand to join in the festivities at which trailblazing judges the Hon. Lorna Schofield (SDNY) and the Hon. Pamela Chen (EDNY) were also honored. The Committee is comprised of current and former state and federal prosecutors. This highly successful event was co-sponsored with the Federal Courts Committee of NYCLA.
AABANY WELCOMES AND APPLAUDS THE CONFIRMATION OF PAMELA K. CHEN TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NEW YORK – March 5, 2013 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) welcomes and applauds the confirmation of Pamela K. Chen to serve as a federal district court judge in the Eastern District of New York. On March 4, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Pamela Chen by a voice vote to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. “AABANY is delighted to learn that Pamela Chen has been confirmed to serve on the Eastern District of New York bench,” said Mike Huang, President of AABANY. “Ms. Chen is the first Chinese-American female Article III judge outside of California and the second-ever Chinese-American female federal judge in U.S. history, continuing to add to the rich legacy of the Second Circuit and New York State. AABANY applauds President Obama and Senator Schumer for their continued commitment to diversifying the Federal Judiciary.”
Asian Pacific Americans (“APA”) are significantly under-represented in the Federal Judiciary, including in New York State. In fact, according to the 2010 Census, approximately 8.3% of the population of New York State and 14.0% of the population of New York City consists of Asian Americans, and the APA percentage continues to grow at a rate that outpaces all other ethnic groups in the State. In the Eastern District of New York, Ms. Chen joins Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto as the two Article III judges of APA descent in a district that serves the growing APA communities of Flushing, Queens and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
“With her confirmation, Ms. Chen joins the growing number of Asian Americans who have been recognized for distinguished service on the federal courts,” said Theodore K. Cheng, Co-chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee. “Although Asian Americans remain under-represented at all levels in the Federal Judiciary, President Obama and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand ought to be commended for their tireless dedication to increasing diversity on the federal bench.”
After spending the first five years of her career in the private sector, Ms. Chen began a dedicated and much longer career in public service, with a distinct focus on civil rights work. Ms. Chen served as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She then moved to New York City in 1998 and became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (“USAO EDNY”). There, she was promoted to Chief of Civil Rights Litigation, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, and then finally to Chief of the Civil Rights Section. Ms. Chen held that last position since July 2006 except for a brief period of time in 2008 when she accepted an opportunity to serve as the Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement in the New York State Division of Human Rights. She soon returned to the USAO EDNY and has remained there ever since.
AABANY thanks President Obama for nominating Ms. Chen and Senator Charles E. Schumer for recommending her to the President.
For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students. The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian-Americans in the legal profession.
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NAPABA and AAJC Applaud Confirmation of Pamela K.M. Chen to the Eastern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2013NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555
AAJC Contact: Kimberly Goulart (202) 499-7027NAPABA and AAJC Applaud Confirmation of
Pamela K.M. Chen to the Eastern District of New YorkWASHINGTON – Today, the Senate confirmed Pamela K.M. Chen by a voice vote to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She becomes the first openly gay Asian Pacific American to serve on the federal judiciary.
“NAPABA congratulates Pam Chen on her historic nomination and confirmation and is proud to have supported her in the nomination and confirmation process along with the LGBT community,” said Wendy Shiba, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “We applaud President Obama and Senator Schumer for their continued commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary.”
For almost 14 years, Judge Chen has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where she has served as chief of the Civil Rights Section for more than eight years, and previously as a deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division. She also served as a deputy commissioner for enforcement at the New York State Division of Human Rights, as a trial attorney in the Justice Department in Washington D.C., and in private practice. Judge Chen has won numerous awards for her work, particularly in addressing human trafficking.
“Judge Chen’s confirmation is a step in the right direction,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. “There are more than 40 federal District Court judges in New York City. Judge Chen will become the third Asian Pacific American, bringing APA representation on the bench more in line with our 14 percent share of the city’s population.”
Judge Chen’s confirmation increases the number of active Asian Pacific American Article III judges to 18 nationwide: two federal Appellate Court judges and 16 federal District Court judges. President Obama nominated a record 17 Asian Pacific American to the Article III courts. Three more Asian Pacific American Article III nominees are pending in the Senate: Sri Srinivasan, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the D.C. Circuit; Raymond T. Chen, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Federal Circuit; and Derrick Kahala Watson, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. NAPABA and AAJC urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm these individuals, who are highly qualified for the federal bench.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 62 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.
The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice (www.advancingjustice.org), works closely with the other Advancing Justice members – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco (www.asianlawcaucus.org) and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles (www.apalc.org) – to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.
AABANY’S ANNUAL DINNER ATTRACTS MORE THAN 750 GUESTS
NEW YORK – February 28, 2013 – On Wednesday, February 27, 2013, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) held its 24th annual dinner at Cipriani Wall Street. The annual dinner has consistently attracted more than 500 attendees from the New York legal community and guests have included prominent federal and state judges, elected officials and dignitaries, and attorneys from large and small law firms, corporate law departments, prosecutors’ offices and government agencies. This year’s annual dinner was the largest in AABANY’s history, attracting more than 750 attendees and sponsorships from more than 60 law firms and corporations to celebrate the occasion.
This year AABANY was pleased to honor: Gary Lynch, Global General Counsel and Head of Compliance and Regulatory Relations of Bank of America, who received the 2013 Diversity Leadership Award and delivered the keynote speech; Stuart Alderoty, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of HSBC North America Holdings Inc., who received the 2013 Corporate Counsel Leadership Award; and Pamela Chen, Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York, Chief of the Civil Rights Section of the Criminal Division, who received the 2013 Women’s Leadership Award. Richard Lui, of MSNBC, was the Master of Ceremonies. AABANY’s event featured a premium silent auction and a festive post-party in the venue’s mezzanine.
For more information about AABANY, or this event, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students. The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.
Celebrate APA Heritage Month with AABANY
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and AABANY is celebrating in a variety of ways:
- May 9 – Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Meeting at Perlman and Perlman, starting at 7 pm.
- May 11 – Society of Asian Federal Officers 21st Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet at Jing Fong, starting at 6 pm; AABANY member Pamela Chen, Chief, Civil Rights Section, Criminal Division, US Attorney’s Office, Easter District of New York, being honored as Prosecutor of the Year.
- May 12 – 33rd Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Festival at DUMBO, starting at 11 am. AABANY and KALAGNY will have a table at the event. It is a free, family-friendly event and the weather is supposed to be great this weekend, so come out and join us.
- May 14 – APA Heritage Month Celebration at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office co-sponsored by AABANY.
- May 14 – Hon. Jeffrey K. Oing, Justice of the Supreme Court, State of New York (and long-time AABANY member), will be speaking at Kramer Levin’s APA Heritage Month Celebration, at Kramer Levin’s midtown Manhattan office. RSVP required by May 10.
- May 16 – MOCA Community of Heroes Celebration at Golden Unicorn, starting at 6 pm. AABANY is taking seats there, and if you’d like to join us at a 50% subsidized rate, contact [email protected].
- May 17 – AABANY’s IP Committee presents: Intellectual Property Ethics for In-House Counsel CLE, starting at 7 pm at Kalow & Springut; free for AABANY members, 1.5 ethics credits available.
- May 18 – Asian American Journalists Association of New York hosts a Trivia Bowl, at ABC News Studios, starting at 6 pm. Juju Chang will be the MC, and AABANY is fielding a team. Sitting New York APA judges will be serving as judges for the event.
- May 18-20 – NYSBA Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Spring Meeting, in association with the Young Lawyers Section, at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. Past President and current Judiciary Committee Co-Chair James Chou will be speaking on Sunday morning on the panel entitled, “Your Path Through the Court and to the Bench: What You Need to Know to Get Through a Day in Court.”
- May 22, Asian American Arts Alliance (a4), Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) and AABANY present: “Revisiting Vincent: The Legacy of the Vincent Chin Case 30 Years Later,” a re-enactment of the Vincent Chin trial, with introduction and talkback led by Hon. Denny Chin and Dean Frank Wu, at New York Law School, starting at 6:30 pm. Tickets now available for purchase in advance.
- May 23 – AABANY’s Government and Public Sector Committee presents a CLE program entitled “Everyday Ethics for the Government & Public Sector Attorney,” to be held at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman, starting at 6 pm. Free for AABANY members with 2.0 ethics CLE credits available.
- May 24 – AABANY’s Litigation Committee hosts a Happy Hour at the Hill on 29th and Third Ave., starting at 6:30 pm. Meet and mingle with members of the Litigation Committee.
- May 24 – AALDEF’s Young Professionals Committee and Cadwalder Wickersham & Taft host a screening of the documentary “Sing Your Song,” about Harry Belafonte and his role in fighting for civil rights for all Americans. AALDEF Staff Attorney Jerry Vattamala will take part in a Q&A after the screening and discuss the legacy of Harry Belafonte’s activism and its meaning for today’s generation.
- May 30 – AABANY joins the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) in hosting the Annual Summer Reception, open to the legal community and law students. It will take place at Edwards Wildman Palmer starting at 6 pm, and there is no cost to attend but RSVP is required by May 25.
- May 31 – June 2: NAPABA Eastern Super Regional Conference, hosted by APALA-NJ at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Many AABANY members and leaders will be there, speaking on panels and reconnecting with NAPABA friends. Registration now open.
It’s another event-filled APA Heritage Month. We hope to see you at one or more of the great programs listed above!