We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and our dedicated volunteers for contributing to the success of our pro bono legal clinic in Queens on August 6th, 2025.
The clinic began with an orientation by Gary Yeung, Co-Chair of the PBCS committee, where volunteers were instructed on how to fill out intake forms and interact professionally with the clients.
At the clinic, our volunteers offered essential support to clients facing challenges in housing, worker’s compensation, finance, and immigration. Seasoned volunteer attorneys, along with student observers and interpreters, helped alleviate client stress by providing legal insights, language assistance, and access to a broad range of legal resources including referrals to AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law students gained legal knowledge and experience through shadowing, notetaking, and asking intake questions. Many clients had limited proficiency in English, and volunteers who spoke Mandarin and Cantonese aided both attorneys and clients by acting as interpreters.
Clients most frequently encountered housing-related issues and immigration issues. These included problems such as co‑op boards neglecting to hold their required annual shareholder meetings and landlords breaching leases. Clients also brought concerns about their loved ones’ immigration status, for example, asking if they would be let back into the country if they were to travel outside the United States. Volunteers helped clients understand their circumstances and outlined general next steps should they choose to pursue further legal action.
Many volunteers stayed afterwards to connect. Law students were able to converse with experienced lawyers about the types of problems encountered during the client consultations and asked them further questions about their various legal fields. Afterwards, some remaining volunteers went to grab dessert at Yuan Yang, located on Prince Street nearby.
We thank again all the volunteers at the August 6th Queens Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and contribution:
Lawyers
Wendy Cheng
Richard In
Lord Chester So
Wendell Y. Tong
May Wong
Meng Zhang
Shadowers
Katelyn Hai
Cindy Huang
Nikita Kohli
Haau-Yi Li
Zhibiao Peng
Albert Tong
Shang Zhai
Haoyue Wang
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
August 20th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 17th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 20th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Thanks once again to all our volunteers for attending the Pro Bono Clinic.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted their Summer Reception at FTI Consulting in mid-town Manhattan. The reception also recognized the 2025 AALFNY Public Interest Scholarship recipients. The event featured Judge Denny Chin, Co-Director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School, as the event’s distinguished guest speaker.
Sylvia Chin, President of AALFNY and Chair of the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force delivered opening remarks and invited AALFNY’s directors onstage, where they introduced themselves.
Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President, introduced AABANY, recognized Fordham Law’s Center on Asian Americans and the Law, and urged professionals and students to join AABANY to strengthen the AAPI legal community. Ben also highlighted AALFNY’s public interest scholarships, emphasizing their role in fostering the next generation of legal professionals.
Next, AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Co-Chairs Beatrice Leong and Gary Yeung presented on AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics. Gary explained that they take place in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The Clinics provide culturally and linguistically competent attorneys and interpreters for individualized legal assistance, offering free consultations to the community. AABANY is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of its Pro Bono Clinics and is expecting to host a fundraiser soon. Beatrice thanked all the volunteers who contributed to making the Pro Bono Clinics successful. Gary encouraged people to volunteer at clinics, especially in Queens, where there is a greater need for volunteers to assist the large AAPI and immigrant population in that part of Queens.
Lori Giargias, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging Legal Services for the Elderly in Queens, aims to assist individuals at risk of losing their homes.
Jiaqi Huang, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit to support efforts serving the Asian American community.
Issalina Sagad, CUNY School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with Catholic Charities Community Services, will learn how legal aid can be made more accessible.
Eqra Muhammad, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project’s Immigration Team, working to support survivors of domestic violence.
AALFNY annually grants Public Interest Scholarships to law students who have demonstrated a strong dedication to serving the community. Since 1997, AALFNY has awarded over 60 scholarships, supporting deserving law students financially while motivating them to apply their legal education to benefit the Asian American community in New York. The scholarship aims to encourage law students to have a lasting commitment to public service in New York.
Rocky Chin, NYC Human Rights Commissioner and AALFNY Board Member, discussed the history of the Center on Asian Americans and Law and thanked its founders: Judge Denny Chin and Professor Thomas H. Lee. Thomas H. Lee, Co-Director of the Center on Asian American and the Law, proceeded to talk about the inspiration behind AABANY’s reenactments, whose scripts can be requested from the AABANY Trial Reenactments website. The trial reenactments cover landmark cases involving Asian Americans and have been performed all over the country by other bar associations, law schools, and community groups.
Judge Denny Chin notably said, “In doing reenactments, I fell in love with Asian American history.” He presented slides depicting the Center’s events and activities, including past Fall Symposiums, screenings, teaching workshops, and reenactments. Currently, teaching materials from the Center are being used at 14 law schools: Albany, Columbia, Cornell, CUNY, Fordham, Harvard, Rutgers-Newark, SMU, Stanford, St. John’s, Touro, UC San Francisco, University of Virginia, and Yale.
Judge Chin opened the floor for questions after the presentation, during which he discussed the concept of doing trial reenactments of AAPI cases was inspired by historical trial reenactments that had previously been done at the Federal Bar Council. Judge Chin also emphasized how AABANY’s Reenactments about trials involving Asian Americans are becoming increasingly relevant to modern day issues.
Next, Sylvia recognized the dignitaries present and thanked everyone for their attendance. Rocky encouraged people to take the informative materials available detailing the Center on Asian Americans and Law and the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. He also urged people to continue to work together and to partner with more Asian American community organizations.
Guests had the opportunity to mingle during the reception afterward, where attendees, from law students to seasoned attorneys, built new connections. Thank you to FTI Consulting for generously providing the space for this event.
We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic in Manhattan on July 16th, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers provided invaluable assistance to clients with issues ranging from housing, personal injury, finance, and immigration. The experienced volunteer attorneys, shadowers, and interpreters assisted each client in reducing their stress by offering legal insight, language assistance, and a diverse pool of legal resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law students contributed significantly by gathering valuable legal knowledge and experience through shadowing and notetaking. They also provided much-needed linguistic and translational support as interpreters. Numerous clients had difficulty communicating fluently in English, and the Mandarin and Cantonese speaking students offered substantial assistance to their attorneys and clients.
The most frequently-raised issues during this clinic involved housing (such as retroactively-raised rents) and personal injuries (such as high medical expenses). Many clients struggled to understand their rights and legal documents (especially those involving transactions) due to inexperience in legal matters and limited English proficiency. We provided each client with satisfactory, step-by-step legal and personal guidance to ensure that they fully understood their case and if needed, connect them with lawyers for potential litigation.
Many volunteers stayed after to celebrate another successful Pro Bono Clinic. Both the attorneys and students enjoyed this time to network and connect with each other.
We thank again all the volunteers at the July 16th Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic for their time, professionalism, and contribution:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Marcus Cheung
Beatrice Leong
Mike Tse
Yilan Wang
Anthony Wong
Shadowers/Interpreters:
Sisu Chou
Katelyn Hai
Kenny Ip
Emily Lai
Dazhen Lu
Priyanka Mukhara
Carrie Nie
Tammy Tam
Albert Tong
Jennifer Juang-Korol
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
August 6th [Queens link here] from 6:30-8:30 pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
August 20th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 20th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Thanks once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to Pro Bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
AABANY extends our sincerest gratitude to the Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), CPC Brooklyn Community Center, and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic on July 12, 2025. We also express our heartfelt appreciation to our distinguished guest speakers, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro and Lydia Li, Senior Manager of Community Outreach at MOIA, for their support and valuable participation.
Lydia Li, Senior Manager of Community Outreach at MOIA, spoke passionately about the agency’s mission to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, have access to city resources and services. MOIA plays a vital role in serving New York City’s 3.1 million immigrants, comprising 38% of the city’s population, by connecting immigrant communities to essential resources for navigating the city’s complex system—all while protecting their privacy, including their immigration status. MOIA’s multilingual team, proficient in over eight different languages, provides diverse language assistance to those with limited English proficiency.
As an active member of the outreach team, Lydia helps dismantle barriers by giving presentations and organizing events, webinars, and panel discussions to share the resources that MOIA offers for the immigrant community. Additionally, MOIA operates immigration legal support centers that provide free and safe legal assistance in immigrant neighborhoods. One of the key resources highlighted is the 311 hotline, which callers can use to report incidents of racial discrimination, report immigration fraud, or receive referrals for legal resources. Lydia concluded her presentation by distributing pamphlets and brochures that outline the various resources available to immigrants, including their rights if approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. To learn more about MOIA legal support centers and resources, visit their website here.
Commissioner Castro shared his personal journey as an immigrant, highlighting the challenges of arriving in the United States and growing up in Sunset Park. His experience motivated his mission to protect the rights of immigrant communities across New York City. As an advocate, he marveled at the transformative potential of immigration, stating, “[o]ne generation can go from living in an indigenous community to immigrating here and becoming practicing attorneys. It’s tremendous and we need to honor that. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing it, and I wish everyone could experience it.”
When asked what inspired him to enter government, Commissioner Castro explained how serving in the government offers him a unique perspective on the intricacies of internal operations—insights that are not typically taught in academia. He emphasized that his role as New York City Immigrant Affairs Commissioner allowed him to interact directly with a wide range of communities, which he believes reflect the city’s diversity and strength. As an advocate, he firmly believes that this is what New York City should take pride in and strive to preserve.
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Similarly, our Pro Bono Clinic shares a commitment to providing accessible legal support and critical resources to our New York communities. During the clinic, our volunteers met with clients to give consultations on various topics such as immigration, trusts and estates, housing, personal injury, family and matrimonial matters. Our volunteer attorneys, assisted by law students, listened to each client’s concerns and legal questions, provided guidance, legal information, consultations, and, if appropriate, connected them with further resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law student volunteers also shadowed volunteer attorneys and assisted with interpretation and client intake. With the help of multilingual volunteers, the clinic is able to offer language-accessible legal information, ensuring that clients can communicate their concerns clearly and receive meaningful assistance.
Thank you again to all of our volunteers at the July 12 Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Vishal Chander
Victoria Cheng
Francis Chin
Rocky Chin
Jenny (Wenjing) Dai
Megan Gao
Jack (Zixu) Hsia
Beatrice Leong
Kwok Kei Ng
Shuyao (Sherry) Wang
Carrey Wong
Gary Yeung
Interpreters/Shadowers:
Sam Chen
Eliana Jeong
Emily Kam
Nandar Win Kerr
Emily Lai
Tammy Tam
Albert Tong
Shang Zhai
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
August 6th [Queens link here] from 6:30-8:30 pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
August 20th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
September 20th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Thanks once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to Pro Bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
AABANY extends our sincerest gratitude to the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and all of our dedicated volunteers for contributing to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic on June 18th, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers met with clients addressing issues ranging from housing, real property, financial, family and matrimonial matters. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters demonstrated exceptional expertise in addressing client concerns, answering legal questions, and connecting them with legal resources through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
College and law student volunteers gained valuable hands-on experience that deepened their understanding of the unique legal challenges faced by underserved individuals in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. By shadowing the volunteer attorneys, the student volunteers assisted with client intake and helped translate the consultations. A frequent issue clients faced at this clinic were overdue rent and unexpected payment notices. Due to the linguistic barriers that many clients faced, they often struggled to understand their rights, which led to ineffective communication with landlords and housing authorities. This confusion contributed to heightened stress about their circumstances. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters played a crucial role in clarifying legal obligations and guiding clients through potential future steps.
We are dedicated to providing services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure support for individuals who may struggle to obtain quality legal services due to linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking guidance concerning substantive laws and procedural issues.
Thank you again to all of our volunteers at the June 18 Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic:
Volunteer Attorneys
Justin Lee
Beatrice Leong
Lily Li
Bich-Nga Nguyen
Cynthia Park
Tammy Tran
Mike Tse
Chenyi Wang
May Wong
Gary Yeung
Jungeun “Evelyn” Yu
Francis Chin
Interpreters/Shadowers
Sisu Chou
Katelyn Hai
Emily Kam
Nandar Win Kerr
Nikita Kohli
Emily Lai
Nasirn (Nienyin) Lin
Carrie Nie
Christine Shea
Tianyuan Shu
Tammy Tam
Albert Tong
Shang Zhai
Kenny Ip
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming pro bono clinics:
July 12 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30-2:30 pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
July 16 [Manhattan link here], from 6:30-8:30 pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
August 6th [Queens link here] from 6:30-8:30 pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
Thank you once again to all our volunteers for their commitment to pro bono service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Volunteers, AABANY, Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, and the Chinese-American Planning Council, for your invaluable contributions to the Pro Bono Legal Clinic held in Brooklyn on May 31, 2025. Thanks to your dedication, we were able to assist 21 clients with a wide range of legal concerns, including housing, matrimonial and family law, probate, personal injury, workers’ compensation, immigration, tax, business fraud, public benefits, and civil litigation.
Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters demonstrated exceptional patience and commitment in addressing client questions, offering guidance, and connecting them with further legal support through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS). We are proud to offer our services in both Mandarin and Cantonese, allowing us to continue our mission of providing crucial support to individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers in accessing quality legal care.
Thank you to our volunteer attorneys at the May 31st Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic:
Volunteer Attorneys
Francis Chin
Jenny Dai
Kwok Ng
Shuyao Wang
Yilan Wang
May Wong
Gary Yeung
Jungeun (Evelyn) Yu
Interpreters & Shadowers
Sam Chen
Jingjuan Guo
Nandar Win Kerr
Nikita Kohli
Samuel Liu
Albert Tong
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming pro bono clinics:
June 18 [Manhattan link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
July 12 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
August 6 [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! Have a wonderful weekend!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
We extend our sincere gratitude to AABANY, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of our Pro Bono Legal Clinic in Manhattan on May 21st, 2025.
During the clinic, our volunteers provided invaluable assistance to 10 clients, addressing a range of legal matters including housing, immigration, civil litigation, and nuisance issues. Our volunteer attorneys and interpreters thoughtfully addressed client concerns, offered clarity through their answers, and facilitated connections to appropriate legal resources via AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).
We are committed to offering services in both Mandarin and Cantonese to ensure continued support for individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking guidance on substantive and procedural legal matters.
Thank you to our volunteer attorneys at the May 21st Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic:
Volunteer Attorneys
Ming Cheung
Francis Chin
Justin Lee
Beatrice Leong
Jasmine Sripa
Kenny Ip
Interpreters & Shadowers
Albert Tong
Collette Chang
Sisu Chou
Emily Kam
Kenny Ip
We invite you to join us for our upcoming pro bono clinics:
June 18 [Manhattan link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
July 12 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
August 6 [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
On March 27, 2025, the AABANY Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee marked a significant milestone: the 10th Anniversary of the Community Pro Bono Clinics. The celebration took place at House of Joy in Chinatown, bringing together nearly 50 friends, volunteers, and past and present PBCS leaders.
Guests enjoyed a full six-course Chinese banquet at one of Chinatown’s most popular and well-established restaurants. The evening concluded on a sweet note with ice cream from The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, featuring classic flavors like almond and mango.
The night was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations, and reunions as members, friends, and volunteers reconnected, caught up, and reminisced about their shared commitment to pro bono service. The atmosphere was festive and joyful, a true testament to the strong and loving community that has formed around the AABANY Pro Bono Clinics over the past decade.
On a large screen, a slideshow played, displaying nostalgic moments from clinic sessions over the years across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, showing both longtime volunteers and new faces. Familiar figures such as Beatrice Leong, Kwok Ng, and Gary Yeung were seen in many images, capturing their dedication and presence, while new volunteers continued to join, ensuring the mission carried forward.
As guests enjoyed their meal, a series of inspiring, authentic, and humorous speeches were delivered by Co-Chairs Kwok Ng, Gary Yeung, and Beatrice Leong, alongside former PBCS Committee Co-Chairs May Wong and Karen Kithan Yau, as well as Executive Director Yang Chen and President-Elect (now President) Ben Hsing. Each speaker reflected on the clinic’s journey, its impact on the community, and the dedicated volunteers who have made it all possible. More than just a community initiative, AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics represent a movement, uniting individuals through a shared purpose: to break barriers, provide legal access, and uplift the underserved.
AABANY’s Pro Bono Legal Clinic was launched in 2015 to provide members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, particularly those with limited English proficiency (LEP), with meaningful access to justice. Over the past ten years, PBCS has brought together AABANY members to help nearly 3,000 people in underserved AAPI communities across New York. Through its walk-in Clinics in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Downtown Flushing in Queens, and Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, AABANY has worked tirelessly to break down linguistic and cultural barriers to legal assistance. The Clinics have addressed issues such as immigration, housing, labor rights, and family law, helping to bridge the gap in legal services for underserved communities.
Donors for the 10th anniversary celebration included Board Member (and Past President) Dwight Yoo, PCBS Committee Co-Chair Lina Lee, and the following AABANY Committees:
Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS)
Labor & Employment
Military & Veterans Affairs (MVA)
Tax
Career Advancement
Student Outreach
Judiciary
Government Service & Public Interest (GSPI)
As AABANY starts its new fiscal year on April 1, 2025, the Pro Bono Clinic schedule remains as follows:
Manhattan Clinics – every third Wednesday of the month
Queens Clinics – first Wednesday of even-numbered months
Brooklyn Clinics – second Saturday of odd-numbered months
The AABANY Pro Bono Clinics have been instrumental in ensuring that underrepresented communities receive the legal support they need. By addressing barriers such as language access, financial limitations, and cultural obstacles, these clinics have provided thousands of individuals with necessary legal information, resources, and guidance that might otherwise be out of reach. The continued dedication of volunteers, attorneys, and supporters ensures that this initiative remains a pillar of advocacy and service in New York City’s AAPI and immigrant communities.
As the AABANY Pro Bono Clinics enter their next chapter, their success remains rooted in the dedication of volunteers, attorneys, and supporters. However, expanding reach and strengthening impact will remain a priority as the need for legal assistance in underrepresented communities continues to grow. Those interested in supporting the clinics can volunteer, donate using the link or QR code below, or spread the word. Together, this strong and compassionate community will continue to make justice accessible to all.
Special thanks to the dedicated volunteers from FY25, whose time and energy have made a meaningful impact in advancing the clinic’s mission:
Albert Tong
Alexandra Lao
Alice Biagini
Alicia Ding
Andrew Wu
Angela Zhao
Anna Chen
Anthony Wong
Athena Zhang
Beatrice Leong
Ben Choi
Bich-Nga Nguyen
Brandon Wong
Carrie Nie
Cecilia Yang
Chenyi Wang
Chia-Jung (Colette) Chang
Christina Seid
Chunwei “Vicky” Mao
Collin Li
Cynthia Park
Daniel Kang
Daobo Wang
David Tse
Dianna Lam
Elton Hom
Emily Kam
Eric Duan
Esther Tang
Eugene Love Kim
Eugene Seong
Eve Hongye Mao
Forrest Sung
Francis Chin
Gary Yeung
George Chin
Gigi Zhou
Hazel F. Chin
Hong (Sophia) Zhang
Jack Chen
Jadyn Tiong
Jameson Xu
Jaymark Hawlader
Jennifer Shi
Jialin Zhu
Jieman Tan
Jing Liang
Joan Martinez
Johnny Thach
Judy Lu
Juliet Romero
Junjie Wang
Justin Lee
Kaila Chen
Karen Kithan Yau
Kayla Ramos
Kenny Ip
Kevin Hsi
Kevin Louie
Kevin Yim
Kirin Moy
Kwok Kei Ng
Leo Shen
Lily Li
Lina Lee
Lingjun (Julia) Chen
Lingjun Chen
Lord Chester So
Lucy Liu
May Wong
Megan Gao
Meghan Liu
Miao Wen
Michelle Yang
Mike Tse
Ming Chu (Judy) Lee
Minkyu Park
Nandar Win Kerr
Nicholas Loh
Peter Wei
Rachel Cohen
Rachel Lee
Richard In
Rita Zheng
Ruo Yang
Sam Chen
Sam Hou
Shi Tang
Shirley Luong
Shuyao (Sherry) Wang
Shuyao Wang
Sonia Yogesh Suchak
Suzie Yu
Tiancheng “Tim” Lyu
Tiange (Tim) Chen
Victoria Cheng
Vishal Chander
Wendy Zeng
Wenhsien (Wendy) Cheng
Willis Huynh
Willow Liu
Woohyeong Cho
Wooseok Ki
Xiang Li
Xiaocen Zhang
Xing Yang
Xinran Fan
Xue Zhang
Xuxia Zhao
Yan Lian Kuang-Maoga
Yan Sin
Yen-Yi Anderson
Yi Liu
Yichun Liu
Yiming (Roselyn) Chen
Yiyang (Leo) Shen
Yuanyuan Li
Yuhan Chen
Yvette Wang
Zekai Lian
Please join us in congratulating the Pro Bono Clinic on this historic milestone and offer our gratitude for their selfless service to the AAPI and immigrant communities in New York. Please consider volunteering for an upcoming Pro Bono Clinic.
Happy Lunar New Year! A huge thank you to AABANY, PBCS, AAFE, and all our incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise at the February 5th pro bono legal clinic in Queens. Their commitment to serving the community made a meaningful impact, providing much-needed legal assistance to those in need. Our volunteers met with 12 clients, addressing questions related to housing, matrimonial and family law, and torts.
We extend our gratitude to our special guest speaker, Vishal Chander, for delivering an insightful “Know Your Rights” training. His presentation provided attendees with crucial information on their rights when encountering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. Vishal also generously stayed to assist with complex questions regarding immigration sponsorship and divorce, further supporting our community members.
Here are some of the clients’ comments:
“Thank you for additional resources for mothers returning to the job force.” “Thank you, Shirley [Luong].”
Thank you again to our amazing volunteers:
Volunteer Attorneys
Beatrice Leong
Gary Yeung
Johnny Thach
Kevin Hsi
Lord Chester So
May Wong
Richard In
Vishal Chander
Yan Lian Kuang-Maoga
Interpreters & Shadowers
Miao Wen
Xiaocen Zhang
Xuxia Zhao
We are deeply grateful for everyone’s contributions and look forward to continuing this important work together! Please come back and join us at our upcoming clinics:
March 8, 2025 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:00 – 3:00pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
April 2, 2025 [Queens link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
On Saturday, January 11th, AABANY members had the opportunity to volunteer at AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic, hosted by the Chinese-American Planning Council. The Clinic was organized by AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee, staffed by a dedicated team of attorney and non-attorney volunteers, offering free thirty-minute legal consultations for community members facing serious legal challenges. This was the first Clinic of the year, and volunteers met with 14 clients, who asked questions about divorce, immigration, and housing.
The Clinic facilitated a supportive and inclusive space for all in attendance. Attorneys were paired one-on-one with clients to carefully address their legal concerns, while interpreters ensured smooth communication for non-English speakers. Shadowers had the opportunity to sit in on attorney-client conversations, taking notes and learning from these real-world interactions. Through this collaborative effort, the Clinic demonstrated its ongoing commitment to fostering community involvement and empowering individuals.
With the current change of presidential administration, many immigrants are uncertain what will come next. As concerned public interest organizations, we want to protect and prepare our vulnerable clients the best we can. We greatly appreciate that immigration attorneys and legal services are taking their time to keep us updated with the law and providing accessible resources for our clients to know their rights. Please check out the Immigration Coalition’s website at https://www.nyic.org/ and Asian American Legal Defense Education Fund’s website at https://www.aaldef.org/ to learn more!
Thank you to our volunteer attorneys at the January 11 Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic:
Volunteer Attorneys
Beatrice Leong
Gary Yeung
Kwok Kei Ng
May Wong
Victoria Cheng
Interpreters & Shadowers
Junjie Wang
Nandar Win Kerr
Xiaocen Zhang
Shuyao (Sherry) Wang
If you’re interested in volunteering at future AABANY Pro Bono Clinics, please consider joining us at the following upcoming events:
February 5, 2024 [register here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center,133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
February 19, 2025 [register here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center,111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
We hope to see you there and wish you a happy Lunar New Year!
To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
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