On July 25, 2023, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) organized a successful Summer Happy Hour Mixer. Spearheaded by the Corporate Law Committee, Membership Committee, and Commercial Bankruptcy and Restructuring Committee, the mixer was sponsored by the renowned law firm, Allen & Overy. The event organization was effectively handled by Tracy Feng, a Structured Credit Partner at Paul Hastings; Ashley Wong, an M&A Associate at Sidley Austin; and Jinny Lim, a Summer Associate at Paul Hastings. Their meticulous planning resulted in a well-coordinated event that drew close to 50 attendees.
The environment encouraged the exchange of ideas and facilitated networking with experienced Partners and Associates from a variety of firms. The mixer provided a platform for attendees, which included Summer Associates from top law firms, in-house counsels, solo practitioners, and government attorneys, to engage in professional dialogues. As the event progressed, the atmosphere shifted from professional networking to shared entertainment, with karaoke serving as a fun conclusion. This shift emphasized the balance AABANY promotes between professional growth and community bonding.
The Summer Happy Hour Mixer effectively embodied AABANY’s commitment to community, professional development, and engagement. We extend our gratitude to the AABANY Committees and Allen & Overy for their contribution to this enjoyable event.
To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, please click here.
To learn more about the Membership Committee, please click here.
To learn more about the Commercial Bankruptcy and Restructuring Committee, please click here.
During June 2023, the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court hosted a lunchtime lecture series, which was organized by the Commercial Division Advisory Council for summer associates at law firms, interns working with Commercial Division Justices, as well as bar association members. The goal of the series was to educate future lawyers about the Commercial Division and commercial practice, showcase the wide variety of cases that come before the Commercial Division, and highlight the value of clerking, interning, and litigating in the Commercial Division. The series comprised four programs, each featuring a Commercial Division Justice and some of the best-known and most-respected commercial litigators in the United States as speakers. The programs were well attended, and the audience reactions were positive.
If you missed the lectures or are interested in learning more, we invite you to visit the recordings of the four programs which are available through the links below:
On June 15, 2020, the Student Outreach Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted a webinar discussing how to succeed in virtual summer programs. Moderated by James Cho, an Assistant United States Attorney with the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn and past president of AABANY, the panel featured: Luna Barrington, Partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Jeeho Lee, Hiring Partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Andrew T. Hahn, Sr., General Counsel at Hawkins, Delafield & Wood; and Irene Han, Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at JP Morgan Chase.
The panel first addressed what their current firms and organizations were offering for their summer programs, given the challenges of COVID-19. Jeeho Lee explained that the summer programs at O’Melveny & Myers LLP were shortened to six weeks and will be all virtual, but the firm guaranteed offers to all 2L summer associates, and that 1L summer associates were guaranteed positions for the summer of their second year. She emphasized that the staff wants to ensure that the summer program remains an opportunity for the firm to set up a platform for students to build a network with other lawyers. Luna Barrington’s firm, Weil, offered a 10-week program, which featured virtual social events, encouraged students to network, and extended offers to 1L and 2L summer associates. James Cho stated that all of his interns were assigned an Assistant U.S. Attorney to work with and that the program was completely virtual.
Andrew Hahn Sr., who also previously served as President of AABANY and NAPABA, encouraged summer associates and interns to have strong core competencies–reading, writing, and speaking skills–and to also practice their soft skills, especially in regards to social interactions and leadership. Luna Barrington encouraged individuals partaking in summer programs to make an extra effort to go out and meet people at the firm through virtual programs and to be proactive in seeking assignments as a way to distinguish themselves. Irene Han highlighted the importance of demonstrating a learning mindset, active engagement during virtual events (including turning on your video and microphone during meetings), and leadership. Jeeho Lee warned the audience to not take a guaranteed offer for granted, but to remain engaged and build a strong reputation. She also stressed that individuals should make relationships that expand their horizons. Finally, James Cho advised summer associates and interns to be heard, proactive, and present.
Irene Han gave the audience a few basic presentation tips, including dressing in business casual and meeting the cultural expectations of the firm. Jeeho Lee added that individuals should always try to dress professionally, even if others are dressed in casual attire.
When asked how to respond when an attorney is very busy and does not respond to emails and set hard deadlines, the panel suggested that the individual find another person that works with the assigned partner and ask through them. The panel also advised summer associates and interns not to ask to work in person unless the firm announces that it is opening up. They also encouraged individuals to schedule coffee chats with other members of the firm and attend company social events. The panel advised individuals to avoid excessively apologizing for mistakes or not knowing the answers to questions, but rather, to only apologize when it is appropriate and to be direct. Finally, the panelists explained that there may likely be many firms that do not give returning offers to many summer associates due to external factors, but that individuals should ask the HR manager or the director of the summer program for advice for the following summer.
We thank the panelists for their time and the Student Outreach Committee for organizing this informative discussion. For more information on the Student Outreach Committee, see https://www.aabany.org/page/121.
