AABANY Student Outreach & IP Committees Host Panel: “What Do IP Lawyers Do?”

On May 31, 2023, AABANY’s Student Outreach and IP Committee hosted a virtual panel titled “What Do IP Lawyers Do?” The event, held on Zoom from 6:30-7:30 pm EDT, featured insightful discussions and valuable insights from industry professionals. Opening remarks were delivered by William Lee, SOC Vice Chair, setting the stage for an engaging conversation.

The panel was moderated by Chenyun Ma (Columbia Law School) and Kristen Liu (Seton Hall Law School), coordinated by Monica Shin (Fordham Law School), and featured the following distinguished panelists:

  • Gloria Tsui-Yip: Partner at Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman
  • Vivian Cheng: Principal at Fish & Richardson
  • Keala Chan: IP Counsel at Population Council

Throughout the event, a variety of topics were explored, shedding light on the nature of IP law and the responsibilities faced by IP lawyers. The panelists delved into questions such as the key tasks performed by IP lawyers, the different types of IP, and the significance of a science background in the field. They also shared their experiences handling complex cases, debunked common misconceptions about IP law, and discussed the unique aspects of practicing IP law across industries.

In addition to addressing the core aspects of the profession, the panelists also delved into career-related inquiries. They provided valuable insights into the skills and qualities necessary for success as an IP lawyer, recommended relevant courses for aspiring professionals, and examined the nuances between working at a law firm and an in-house legal department.

The virtual panel concluded with a lively Q&A session, allowing attendees to further engage with the panelists and gain additional insights. The event proved to be an invaluable opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the field and gather practical advice for their future endeavors.

AABANY extends its gratitude to the Student Outreach Committee, IP Committee, and SOC Vice Chair William Lee (Associate, Mayer Brown LLP) for their efforts in organizing this enlightening event.

To learn more about the IP Committee, click here. To learn more about the SOC,  click here. To learn more about upcoming AABANY events, click here.

AABANY Student Outreach Committee Presents – Pre-OCI Series: How to Get a Small/Mid-Sized Firm Job

On July 20, 2022, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee hosted a virtual panel discussion to provide advice on the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) process and how to get a small and mid-sized firm job. The event, part of the Student Outreach Committee’s Pre-OCI Series, ran from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Zoom. The panel was moderated by Student Outreach Committee Vice Chair Jay Hawlader (Summer Associate ‘22 – Barasch & McGarry) and featured the following panelists:

  • Carolynn Beck (Partner – Eisner, LLP)
  • Keli Liu (Senior Associate – Greenwald Doherty LLP)
  • Richard Sui (Associate – Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP)
  • James Lee (Associate – Littler Mendelson P.C.)

Panelists discussed the pros and cons of joining a small and mid-sized firm, interview tips, and advice for pivoting into big law. The main takeaways included the increased accountability and resilience built at small and mid-sized firms, networking with associates in addition to partners at law firms to better understand the firm culture, and being proactive in utilizing resources such as mock interviews and the career center. The discussion was followed by a Q&A session, where audience members asked questions about hours, which the panelists stated can vary depending on weekly workload, and recession considerations, to which the panelists mentioned that there exists a demand for a variety of legal services during a recession. 

AABANY thanks the Student Outreach Committee for organizing the event and all panelists, moderators, and students who attended. To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/121

AABANY Student Outreach Committee Presents – Pre-OCI Series: How to Navigate Biglaw Firms

On July 5, 2022, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee hosted a virtual panel discussion to provide advice for the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) process and biglaw firm recruiting. The event, part of the Student Outreach Committee’s Pre-OCI Series, ran from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm on Zoom. The panel was moderated by Student Outreach Committee Co-Chair Long Dang (Columbia Law School ‘22, Summer Associate ‘21 – Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP) and featured the following panelists:

  • Charlene Hong (Cornell Law School ‘23, Summer Associate – Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz)
  • Victor Roh (Harvard Law School ‘21, Consultant – Boston Consulting Group)
  • Sharon Yang (Fordham University School of Law ‘23, Summer Associate – O’Melveny & Myers LLP)

Panelists discussed strategies for structuring a successful bid list, how to ask for interview opportunities, and shared their insights on networking. The main takeaways included prioritizing individual values, building professional relationships early on, and being proactive with respect to reaching out to recruiters and upperclassmen. The discussion was followed by a Q&A session, where audience members asked questions about extracurricular activities and tips on answering common interview questions. Panelists graciously stayed after the event’s end time to answer additional questions from the engaged audience. 

AABANY thanks the Student Outreach Committee for organizing the event and all panelists, moderators, and students who attended. To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee, please visit https://www.aabany.org/page/121. Upcoming events in this series include “How to Get a Small/Mid-Sized Firm Job” on July 20, 2022, and “How to Get an In-House Job” on July 21, 2022. 

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Presents “Down A Dark Stairwell” Film Screening and Q&A Session

On June 17, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival is hosting a digital film screening and discussion for the film, Down a Dark Stairwell. Directed by Ursula Liang, the film follows the events that occurred after November 20, 2014, when a Chinese-American police officer, Peter Liang, killed an innocent, unarmed Black man, Akai Gurley. Liang became the first New York Police Department officer to be convicted of an on-duty shooting in over a decade. His sentence sparked protests in both the Asian-American and African-American communities and highlighted the systemic inequities of our criminal justice system.

Down a Dark Stairwell is available on the Human Rights Watch Film Festival’s website until June 20. On June 17, the Film Festival will host a film screening at 6:30 PM EDT and a live Q&A session at 8:00 PM EDT moderated by Gerry Johnson, Editor & Senior strategist at the Human Rights Watch, and featuring filmmaker Ursula Liang; Brandon D. Anderson, founder of Raheem.ai, a website for reporting police conduct in the United States; and Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigrant Coalition. To register for the Q&A discussion, see https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/cjjcedqp.

Chris Kwok, Chair of the Issues Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), also appears in the film and will host an online discussion about the issues it raises on June 25 at 6:00 PM. To register for this event, see https://www.aabany.org/events/event_details.asp?legacy=1&id=1391903.