NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) Names Three 2025 SAIL Scholars

Washington, DC (August 6, 2025) — The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) announced today that three exceptional second-year law students have been awarded SAIL Scholarships for their outstanding professional promise and leadership potential:

  • Justin Chock, Yale Law School, is an editor of the Yale Law Journal and the Yale Journal on Regulation; co-chair of the Native American Association; and professional development co-chair of the Veterans Association. He received an M.Phil. in international relations from the University of Oxford, which he attended on a full scholarship, and a B.S. in political science with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy. Prior to law school, Justin served as a gunnery and ordnance officer on a U.S. Navy destroyer; chief military liaison with the U.S. Forces Japan Intelligence Directorate; and a master instructor in political science and cyber science at the U.S. Naval Academy.

  • Jason Huang, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and Watts School of Public Policy, is a joint J.D./M.P.P. student and president of the St. Thomas More Society; vice president of the Federal Bar Association; 1L rep for the Disabled Law Students Association; and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Jason has received numerous awards during law school, including the Thomas Tang Scholarship. Previously an emergency medical technician for Medstar Solutions and a combat engineer with the Army National Guard, Jason received his B.A. in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California.

  • Heajune (June) Lee, Harvard Law School, is executive vice president of the Harvard National Security & Law Association and public interest chair of the Korean Association. She has served as co-lead for the North Korea Cyber Working Group, program coordinator and research assistant with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, and a cyber policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Defense. June received her B.A. in international relations, with a minor in computer science, from Stanford University, where she received the William J. Perry Prize for excellence in policy-relevant research.

“Jason, June, and Justin exemplify academic excellence, leadership in their schools, and a deep commitment to their communities,” said NLF President Bonnie Wolf. “NLF and SAIL are proud to support their journeys toward legal careers and public service, knowing they will continue to uplift and advocate for their communities along the way.”

“We are excited to welcome Justin, Jason, and June into the sixth cohort of SAIL Scholars,” said Ivan Fong, who, with his wife Sharon, endowed the NLF SAIL Scholarship program. “Each of them shows great promise as a leader who gives generously of their time and effort to the broader community. We could not be more delighted to help them as they complete their academic work and become part of the next generation of leaders in our profession.”

Two unique aspects of the SAIL Scholarship program are that, in addition to monetary support, SAIL Scholars will also receive mentoring and leadership development from each other and from a network of legal and community leaders. “A second feature of this scholarship program,” said Sharon Fong, “is that the recipients commit to ‘paying it forward’ — by supporting each other, future SAIL Scholars, and the communities in which they will live and work.”

The 2025 NLF SAIL Scholarship selection committee was comprised of Suzan Chau, Supervising Attorney for the Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania; the Honorable Theodore Chuang, U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; Esther Lim, Partner and Chief Community Officer at Finnegan; and Caroline Tsai, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at FIS.

NLF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that carries out its work primarily by awarding scholarships and fellowships that promote the interests of the Asian Pacific American community. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships and nearly $1 million in fellowships and internships.

For more information about NLF and the SAIL Scholarship program and application process, please visit napabalawfoundation.org/scholarships.

The Model Minority Victim: Professor Elaine Chiu’s Legal Critique of Anti-Asian Hate

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, as headlines reported a spike in anti-Asian violence across the United States, legal scholar and former prosecutor Elaine Chiu found herself asking a question that few others were: was the criminal legal system actually helping Asian American victims? Her article, published in the Santa Clara Law Review in June 2025, The Model Minority Victim, emerges from this inquiry with a sobering answer. Drawing on a first-of-its-kind empirical database built by the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force (AAVTF)—a joint project of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY)—Professor Chiu followed 276 reported anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City in 2021, tracking each case from the initial police response to prosecution and sentencing. Of those cases, only 25 resulted in hate crime convictions.

Beyond its grim statistics, Professor Chiu’s article offers a powerful critique of the structural and cultural forces that render the law ineffective when it comes to anti-Asian violence. She argues that outdated hate crime statutes, high evidentiary burdens for proving motive, and deeply embedded racial stereotypes, particularly the “model minority” myth, all contribute to a system that routinely fails to see Asian Americans as worthy victims of racism. The result, she argues, is a legal system that fails to protect Asian American victims and actively reinforces racial hierarchies.

Professor Chiu has a long-standing history of leadership in the legal field. In recognition of her leadership, AABANY honored Professor Chiu with their Women’s Leadership Award in 2025, presented during the AABANY Annual Dinner, held on May 29, recognizing her illustrious career and community service, including her work with AAVTF and her role in publishing the landmark report, Endless Tide: The Continuous Struggle to Overcome Anti-Asian Hate in New York. In her acceptance speech, Professor Chiu acknowledged the profound connection between law and identity: “The law feeds and nourishes our families, but it also feeds and nourishes our beliefs about humanity, our country, and our identity as Americans.” Reflecting on her formative years and career, she spoke about her enduring desire to help people, firmly placing her hope in the rule of law. She urged the audience to hold onto that hope and to “show up, stand up, and speak up.”

Building on her belief in the interconnectedness of the law and identity, Professor Chiu’s article is grounded in her experience as a former Assistant District Attorney. When asked how her background as a former ADA and legal scholar shaped her approach, she replied, “I always knew there was a whole other story of what could happen after an arrest.” While the police often serve as the first responders, the prosecutors are the ones who shape the legal narrative. Lawyers, she noted, are uniquely positioned to “chase the string on every case,” following each story beyond the moment of arrest to ultimately deliver justice.

Together with the AAVTF, Professor Chiu advocates for reform. She supports revising hate crime laws to clarify the types of evidence that can support a bias motivation and calls for improved training so that the police and lawyers can better recognize and pursue racially motivated violence. But she also acknowledges the limits of legal reform alone. Cultural narratives, too, must shift. Stereotypes that dehumanize Asian Americans, even in their most vulnerable moments, must be actively rejected.

The creation of the AAVTF itself speaks to this dual mission of legal and cultural change. Founded in 2021, the Task Force emerged out of a collective urgency to respond to the rising tide of violence and was designed to “cover the now,” as Professor Chiu explains. While the hope was that the AAVTF would someday no longer be needed, Professor Chiu remains steadfast in her desire for the surge in Asian American advocacy not to fade into silence. “It was electric,” she says, remembering the activism that rose alongside the hate. “I hope it doesn’t [go quiet].”

In The Model Minority Victim, Professor Chiu offers more than a critique of the criminal legal system. She gives us a way to see—to understand how and why justice fails, and what must change to ensure it doesn’t continue. The article is a reminder that legal reform, if it is to be meaningful, must be paired with a broader reimagining of whose pain the system recognizes, whose voices it validates, and whose lives it protects.

If you are interested in reading the full article, Chiu, Elaine M., The Model Minority Victim, 65 Santa Clara L. Rev. 451 (2025), you can find it here.

2025 NAPABA Convention: August 5 deadline to Apply for a Scholarship

The 2025 NAPABA Convention is just 100 days away! Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to advance your legal career through dynamic programs, inspiring speakers, and unparalleled networking with fellow AANHPI legal professionals.

We know that cost can be a barrier, which is why NAPABA offers scholarships to help make attending more accessible. Scholarships—including a general scholarship and a dedicated law student scholarship—can be used to help cover registration, travel, and lodging expenses.

Apply by August 5th. As a current NAPABA member, now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity. Please note: the Law Student Scholarship application closes September 16 at 8 pm ET.

Join us in Denver this November and apply for a Convention scholarship today!

Questions

Additional resources about the Convention are on our website. For further questions, email us at convention@napaba.org.

SAIL Scholarship Program: Applications Now Being Accepted

Deadline: June 30, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. ET

The NAPABA Law Foundation is accepting applications for the prestigious SAIL Scholarship Program—a unique opportunity designed to support and empower the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.

This scholarship provides more than just financial aid—recipients receive:

  • $7,500 in financial support (split evenly between their 2L and 3L years)
  • Private mentorship from legal professionals
  • Exclusive networking opportunities with executive-level leaders

Who Should Apply? Current 1L students (rising 2Ls in Fall 2025) who demonstrate:

  • Academic excellence (undergraduate and 1L performance)
  • Leadership experience and a “pay it forward” mindset
  • Volunteerism or service in the public interest
  • Knowledge of or commitment to impacting AAPI communities

This is a rare opportunity to receive ongoing support throughout law school—both financially and professionally—while building a foundation for a legal career rooted in service and leadership.

Do you know an outstanding first year law student? Please encourage your standout 1L students to apply.

Students: Review the SAIL Scholarship FAQ to understand eligibility and expectations before submitting your application.

Let the SAIL Scholarship help launch your journey to making a meaningful impact.

Please share this great opportunity with your networks.

Meet the 2024 SAIL Scholarship Recipient | Jennifer Shim

Jennifer Shim, a second-year law student at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, was selected as the 2024 SAIL Scholar. A first-generation Korean American from New York City, Jennifer was recognized for her exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and commitment to public service.

Through the SAIL Scholarship, Jennifer is receiving mentorship, leadership development, and $7,500 to support her legal education.

“Jennifer shows great promise as a leader who gives generously of her time and effort to the broader community. We could not be more delighted to help her as she completes her academic work and becomes part of the next generation of leaders in our profession,” said Ivan Fong, who, with his wife Sharon, endowed the NLF SAIL Scholarship Program.

American Arbitration Association Now Accepting Applications to the 2024 Diverse Student ADR Summit

The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) is now accepting applications to the 2024 Diverse Student ADR Summit in New York City on November 9-10, 2024. This program provides an in-depth look at careers in arbitration and mediation. 

Presenters will include experienced ADR professionals, litigators, and in-house counsel from various backgrounds who will outline a successful career path as an arbitrator or mediator and discuss how to avoid potential pitfalls along the way. Attendees will learn the importance of focusing on a specific industry, networking, connecting with mentors, gaining relevant experience, and building a good reputation in the field.

The program is open to 2nd and 3rd-year law students who identify as members of groups historically underrepresented in the ADR field. Accepted students will receive a scholarship of up to $2,000 to cover round-trip travel to and hotel expenses in New York.

TO APPLY, click here to submit the following items:

  • Resume
  • Statement of Interest
  • One faculty or professional recommendation
  • An essay on the future of ADR (350-500 words)

Application Deadline: September 25, 2024

Location
American Arbitration Association
150 East 42nd Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10017

To learn more about the program, please click here. Should any questions arise, feel free to contact the organizer at AAAStudentADRSummit@adr.org.

2024 NAPABA Convention: Punchlines and Punditry: Acclaimed Comedian and Keynote Zarna Garg and Gala Host Katie Phang are AANHPI Women Lawyers who are Scripting their own Headlines

Gala Keynote Speaker | Zarna Garg

NAPABA is thrilled to announce that our keynote speaker for the 2024 NAPABA Convention will be Zarna Garg.

A comedy trailblazing Indian immigrant mom from New York City, she masterfully infuses humor, wit, and fearless social commentary into her comedy special for Amazon Prime, “One in a Billion,” and her insightful podcast, “The Zarna Garg Family Show,” dissecting modern family dynamics. She headlined her sold-out Practical People Win tour and is the opener for comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on their Restless Leg Tour. Zarna has also crossed over to the film world, starring in “A Nice Indian Boy.” Her comedy has been praised by The New York Times and Variety, and with appearances at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Tour and Netflix is a Joke Festival.

Zarna has firmly established herself as a staple in the comedy world. Boasting a devoted social media following of 2M+, she passionately advocates for change and representation in comedy.

Register for the 2024 NAPABA Convention and add the Gala, available for purchase a la carte!

Host | Katie Phang

We’re also excited to announce the dynamic MSNBC’s Katie Phang will be joining us as our Gala Host!

The host of “The Katie Phang Show” on MSNBC, she also serves as a Legal Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC, leveraging her significant trial experience to provide analysis and commentary on the latest legal issues across the globe. “The Katie Phang Show” sheds light on the intersection of law, politics and culture on the local and national levels.

She recently hosted MSNBC’s “The Culture Is: AAPI Women,” featuring a thought-provoking roundtable dialogue with seven Asian American and Pacific Islander women who are shaping American culture. She also writes columns for MSNBC Daily and previously co-hosted CNBC’s primetime show, “Money Court.”

She was a trial attorney and media relations/crisis management consultant who received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law after earning her B.A. in Political Science (with an International Relations concentration) from Yale University. As a Miami-based trial attorney, Phang was the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Phang & Feldman and she practiced law focusing on commercial litigation, family law, real estate litigation, hospitality litigation, and criminal defense & special investigations. Katie has been awarded the AV-Preeminent Rating in Litigation, Bankruptcy, Criminal Law, & Family Law, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top Lawyer in Corporate and Business Law for several years.

AABANY and AALFNY Celebrate Recipients of the 2024 Public Interest Scholarship at FTI Consulting

On Monday, June 24,  the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) gathered with members of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) to celebrate the recipients of AALFNY’s 2024 Public Interest Scholarships at the AALFNY-AABANY Summer Reception at FTI Consulting, held at their offices at 1166 Avenue of the Americas.

Upon arrival, attendees chatted with one another, enjoying a grazing table, pizza, and drinks. The program began with the sound of clinking bottles, drawing everyone’s attention to Sylvia Chin, President of AALFNY. Sylvia presented introductory remarks about AALFNY and thanked Jason Sabot, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, for generously providing the venue for the gathering. Yang Chen, Executive Director of AABANY, also spoke, touching on the origins of AALFNY and its prior incarnation as the AABANY Foundation, the charitable arm of AABANY. He reminded the lawyers present of their shared ethical and moral obligations to perform pro bono legal services and emphasized the importance of good works done by AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, highlighting the significance of giving back to the community. 

Sylvia then presented the 2024 Public Interest Scholarship award to Ranjana Venkatesh. Ranjana attends CUNY School of Law, and shared that this summer she will be interning at The Bronx Defenders’ Criminal Defense Practice under the Adolescent Defense Project. Ranjana noted that the Bronx is a historically under-represented  borough, but with The Bronx Defenders, she hopes to represent low-income residents through a holistic approach.

Jessica Chan, the other recipient of the scholarship, unfortunately could not attend the reception. Jessica, an AABANY member, attends New York Law School and will be interning with the Legal Aid Society in its Criminal Defense Practice. She is looking forward to using her experience in criminal defense work to build bridges between communities of color.

Thank you to all who attended the Summer Reception at FTI Consulting to not only celebrate the recipients of the 2024 Public Interest Scholarship, but also the value and importance of public interest work. To learn more about AALFNY, please click here.

ASIAN AMERICAN LAW FUND OF NEW YORK ANNOUNCES ITS 2024 CLASS OF PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

NEW YORK, June 24, 2024 – On Monday, June 24, 2024, at 6 PM, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) will be presenting the recipients of its 2024 Public Interest Scholarships at the AALFNY-AABANY Summer Reception at FTI Consulting, held at their offices at 1166 Avenue of the Americas.

Jessica Chan (New York Law School, Class of 2025) will be interning with the Legal Aid Society in its Criminal Defense Practice. She is looking forward to using her experience in criminal defense work to build bridges between communities of color.

Ranjana Venkatesh (City University of New York School of Law, Class of 2025) will be interning with The Bronx Defenders’ Criminal Defense Practice under the Adolescent Defense Project. She hopes her experience in the juvenile criminal defense arena will highlight the importance of holistic lawyering.

AALFNY awards Public Interest Scholarships each year to law students with a demonstrated commitment to the Asian American community. The purpose of the award is to assist law students with their tuition while encouraging them to use their legal knowledge and training to benefit the Asian American community in New York and to foster commitment by law students to public service in New York. Since 1997, AALFNY has funded more than 60 public interest scholarships to law students.

AALFNY was established in 1993 by the Asian American Bar Association of New York to create and support non-profit and charitable efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to defend human and civil rights.

Donations to AALFNY may be made at asianamericanlawfund.org/donate. A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained from AALFNY at P.O. Box 161, 41 Purdy Ave., Rye NY 10580 or from the NY Attorney General’s Charities Bureau website www.charitiesnys.com. Information may also be obtained from AALFNY at donations@AsianAmericanLawFund.org or the NYS Attorney General at 212-416-8686.

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.

AALFNY 2024 Public Interest Scholarships – Applications Due April 15

The Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) is pleased to announce that recipients of its 2024 Public Interest Scholarships will now be entitled to receive up to $6000. Awards are given each year to up to 3 law students with a demonstrated commitment to serving the Asian American community in New York State and the greater New York metropolitan area.

The online application is available at https://www.asianamericanlawfund.org/public-interest-scholarship-online-application/. Applicants should include a description of their proposed summer public service project, if applicable, and the name, email address and phone number of a supervisor at the public service organization or other organization that the AALFNY Scholarship Committee may contact. Confirmation of the public service project is not required at the time of the application but will be required before the award of the scholarship. Applicants are responsible for arranging their own projects.  A list of organizations that have hosted students in the past is on our website https://www.asianamericanlawfund.org/prior-community-scholarship-recipients/. The list is only provided as an example and no guarantee is made that the organizations will continue to host students in 2024 or that volunteering at one of these organizations entitles the applicant to a Scholarship.  Each student is expected to volunteer at least 8 weeks, 35 hours per week, during the summer of 2024 at such project and to apply the award to the payment of law school tuition.

The purpose of the award is to assist law students with their tuition while encouraging them to use their legal knowledge and training to benefit the Asian American community in New York and to foster commitment by law students to public service in New York.  Since 1997, AALFNY has funded more than 60 public interest scholarships to law students.

AALFNY was established in 1993 by the Asian American Bar Association of New York to create and support non-profit and charitable efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to defend human and civil rights.

Donations to AALFNY may be made at asianamericanlawfund.org/donate.

A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained from AALFNY at P.O. Box 161, 41 Purdy Ave., Rye NY 10580 or from the NY Attorney General’s Charities Bureau website www.charitiesnys.com. Information may also be obtained from AALFNY at donations@AsianAmericanLawFund.org or the NYS Attorney General at 212-416-8686.