Bilingual Legal Volunteers Needed Volunteer remotely during early voting and on Election Day to help ensure voters can access election information in their preferred language.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC are recruiting bilingual volunteers with legal backgrounds to support the 888-API-VOTE Asian Language Voter Hotline for the 2026 Election.
Volunteer service hours may be eligible to satisfy pro bono requirements for legal professionals. Eligibility is subject to the rules of your jurisdiction and/or employer. Please consult the applicable requirements for more information.
Languages Needed
Bengali
Cantonese
Hindi
Urdu
Korean
Mandarin
Punjabi
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Volunteer Responsibilities As a hotline volunteer, you will:
Answer live calls from voters during early voting and on Election Day
Help voters locate polling places and access election resources
Document calls in the hotline tracking system
Report emerging issues to hotline captains
Receive support from experienced hotline captains throughout every shift
No previous hotline experience is required. Training is available on demand after you register, and all volunteers—including returning volunteers—must complete the training and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct before serving.
The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) is calling for volunteers for its annual Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court (TTMC) Competition. This competition was founded in 1993 and is named in honor of the late Honorable Thomas Tang, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for more than eighteen years. In honor of Judge Tang and his wife Dr. Pearl Tang, this appellate advocacy competition aims to help law students develop advocacy skills and to foster legal talent of the future.
The in-person regional round will take place at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City on October 9, 2026. The online regional round will take place on October 17, 2026. Top teams from both regional rounds will advance to the National Competition, held at the NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles, CA, on November 13-14, 2026.
The New York State Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) is an initiative by the New York State Unified Court System, enthusiastically supported by Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, that is aimed at promoting pro bono civil legal service by senior attorneys.
Despite New York’s significant commitment of resources to support civil legal services, a gap persists between the need for and availability of civil legal services across the state. AEP volunteer attorneys play a crucial role in providing access to justice for New Yorkers with low and moderate incomes who cannot afford counsel.
Any attorney aged 55 or older, whether retired or active, with at least 10 years of experience, who is in good standing can make a significant difference by enrolling as an Attorney Emeritus and signing up on the AEP website. Volunteers must commit to 60 hours of pro bono service over two years.
Emeritus volunteers who register as active can earn up to 15 CLE credits and receive special recognition from Chief Judge Wilson and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson.
Stop AAPI Hate Action’s AAPI House Calls is a nationwide phonebanking effort that aims to reach AAPI voters in 12 competitive congressional districts where their votes could make a real difference this November. Volunteers set their own schedule, receive training, and use an easy-to-learn calling platform to have meaningful conversations with voters. As of this coming Tuesday, August 4, America is just 13 weeks from Election Day. If you’ve been looking for a concrete way to make a difference, consider joining and volunteering for a shift.
New Yorkers can participate to help reach voters in out-of-state districts where strong AAPI civil engagement does not exists, and where AAPI voters can still be decisive.
Consider joining an upcoming phonebank session. To learn more about AAPI House Calls, click here. To see their upcoming phonebank session calendar, click here.
On June 16th, 2026, the Immigration Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) held its first meeting of the year on Zoom. Nicole Fink, Chair of the Immigration Law Committee, used this occasion as an opportunity to reconnect with fellow immigration attorneys and to gauge interest in potential events later this year.
At the start of the meeting, Yang Chen, the Executive Director of AABANY, sought applications for AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Services (LRIS) program. Currently, the LRIS program is looking for experienced lawyers to join its panel due to high demand for qualified immigration lawyers.
Next, the meeting focused on plans for the Immigration Law Committee’s growth and potential topics of interest for the near future. Nicole Fink made a request for more participation in AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, especially from immigration lawyers. The Pro Bono Clinics take place in community settings, to create a more welcoming environment for those seeking legal advice. Lawyers serving in the Clinic provide limited scope representation and would only give brief advice and refer clients to legal resources, and are thus not committed to representing any client after the consultation at the Clinic ends. As an incentive, Fink offered to buy a free meal for any lawyers on the call who volunteered at the Clinic.
The meeting also covered continued legal education (CLE) programs. After AABANY’s well received training on habeas corpus on June 4th, meeting attendees expressed interest in more CLE opportunities on immigration-related issues and other topics, such as AI usage in the legal field. The discussion also focused on overlapping areas such as matrimonial law and legal issues affecting juveniles. The group talked about the need to connect lawyers with different areas of expertise, and who may be able, for example, to aid conditional residence cases or special immigrant juvenile status cases.
The meeting concluded with a reminder about the 2026 Fall Conference on Saturday, September 26th, in which the Immigration Law Committee is presenting a panel on AI and data analytics in the immigration field, “Beyond Forms & Filings: How Tomorrow’s Immigration Attorneys Build Power Through Tech, Data, and Storytelling.” The meeting attendees also brainstormed on possible wellness opportunities for immigration lawyers, to combat the tough legal environment they operate in by offering more relaxing options to connect and refresh. Committee members were encouraged to reach out in the weeks ahead with additional ideas or interest in getting involved with Pro Bono Clinics, wellness opportunities, or networking across practice areas.
The presentation discussed the importance of habeas corpus as the federal government expands immigration detention. The program provided an overview of the statutory framework governing civil immigration detention and discussed the constitutional limits on civil detention, underscoring that immigration detention remains subject to procedural and substantive due process.
The program also reviewed common habeas claims in both pre-order and post-order detention contexts. These included statutory misclassification, unlawful revocation of release, due process challenges to prolonged mandatory detention, claims arising from statutory protections such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and post-order detention challenges where removal is not reasonably foreseeable. Attendees received practical guidance on drafting a habeas petition.
Attendees had opportunities to participate in case studies throughout the program and ask questions, showing their passion, curiosity, and dedication.
The program concluded with an invitation for attorneys and volunteers to provide pro bono habeas representation by volunteering for I-ARC and the NYU Law Immigrant Rights Clinic’s NY Habeas Project and LSNJ’s Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative. AABANY thanks the speakers and organizers for providing this important training.
To learn more about the Issues Committee, go here. To learn more about the Immigration Law Committee, go here.
– Written by Vishal Chander, Board Member and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month this year, AABANY is presenting or co-sponsoring several events this month. We hope to see you all there! Follow the links for more details, and please note the registration deadlines. This blog post will be updated throughout the month, as new events get added on, so check back for any updates.
May 2, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium
1:35pm – Yankees Stadium, 1 E. 161 E. 161st Street
This event has already occurred.
May 3, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 5-7, 2026
Asian Comedy Fest 2026: AABANY Discount Available
7pm and 9pm – Sugar Mouse NYC, 47 3rd Avenue, Lower Level, New York, NY 10003
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together
1:00 pm – Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Courtroom 2.95, 320 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Beginner’s Mahjong
6:00pm – Sparrow’s Nest Studio, 35 W. 35th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Judge Pamela K. Chen
6:00pm -Midtown location – to be emailed to registrants.
This event has already occurred.
May 9, 2026
AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11232
This event has already occurred.
May 10, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 12, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Reflections of Unity and Strength in our AANHPI Communities
12:30pm – Queens Supreme Court – Civil Term, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Ceremonial Courtroom 25, Jamaica, New York 11435
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Presents: 3rd Annual Wellness Retreat
10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Blue Cliff Monastery, 3 Mindfulness Rd, Pine Bush, New York 12566
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Asian Americans and the Law, Featuring Hon. Denny Chin
2pm – White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601
The ABA Law Student Division invites you to serve as a volunteer client for the virtual 2025-2026 Client Counseling Competition National Finals on March 20-21, 2026, held via Zoom!
We are currently seeking volunteers to participate as clients in the National Client Counseling Competition. Volunteers will receive a short client script and a short orientation to help prepare for the round. Each client will also be provided with a packet that includes instructions for participants, the consultation scenario, and a detailed confidential memorandum outlining the client’s background and concerns.
Two Opportunities to Support Your Journey to a Legal Career
2026 SAIL Scholarship Deadline to Apply: June 30, 2026
The NAPABA Law Foundation is now accepting applications for the distinguished SAIL Scholarship Program—a rare, career-shaping opportunity created to uplift and empower the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
The SAIL Scholarship offers far more than financial support. Selected scholars receive: – $7,500 in funding (distributed evenly across their 2L and 3L years) – One-on-one mentorship from seasoned legal professionals – Exclusive access to executive-level networking and leadership opportunities
Who Should Apply?
Current 1L students (rising 2Ls in Fall 2026) who demonstrate:
Strong academic achievement (undergraduate and 1L performance)
Leadership potential and a commitment to “paying it forward”
Volunteer or public service experience
Knowledge of or dedication to advancing AAPI communities
This program provides sustained support throughout law school — financially, professionally, and personally — helping recipients build a foundation for a career rooted in leadership, service, and impact.
If you know an exceptional first-year law student, please encourage them to apply.
Students: Be sure to review the SAIL Scholarship FAQ to confirm eligibility and expectations before submitting your materials.
Let the SAIL Scholarship help launch your path toward meaningful change in the legal field. To apply, click this link.
2026 NAPABA Judicial Council Summer Internships Deadline to Apply: January 15, 2026
We are pleased to announce that the NAPABA Judicial Council is offering three prestigious summer internship opportunities with distinguished federal judges for Summer 2026. Each selected intern will also receive a $1,500 scholarship stipend to support their experience.
These internships provide invaluable exposure to federal judicial work, insights into the court system, and the opportunity to learn directly from leaders in the judiciary. Each full-time internship will last approximately 4-10 weeks, with dates and times to be arranged between each intern and judge.
The City Bar is seeking attorneys (admitted 2+ years, preferably with litigation experience) to judge the Regional Rounds of the 76th National Moot Court Competition on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the New York City Bar.
Seventeen teams from the NYC area will compete for two spots in the National Rounds, held in January 2026. All Regional Round Judges are invited to a celebratory reception on January 30.
This year’s case explores key issues around Fourth Amendment protections and qualified immunity.
Please complete the Judge Volunteer Form by November 10 indicating the date(s) and time(s) you wish to participate.
If you have any difficulty accessing the form, please e-mail [email protected] indicating the date(s) you are available to judge. Shortly after we receive your form, we will email you the Record on Appeal, the confidential Bench Memorandum and the round(s) you are assigned to.
Feel free to circulate this invitation amongst colleagues admitted at least two years, preferably with a litigation background. If you have any questions about the competition or are interested in joining our Moot Court Competition Committee, please email [email protected] For general information about the competition, please visit our webpage.
