NATIONAL NAPABA ASIAN PACIFIC NAPABA AMERICAN BAR LAWYERLAWYER ASSOCIATION Volume XVIII No. 2 Spring 2008 NAPABA Law Foundation: IN THIS ISSUE Expanding Our Vision NAPABA Law Foundation: he NAPABA Law Expanding Our Vision 1 Foundation (NFL), a 501(c)(3) sister organization of the President’s Message 2 TNational Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Introducing Our New was formed in 1994 to serve Executive Director: and educate APA lawyers and the APA community. Tina R. Matsuoka 4 It has grown to effectuate its mission through the NAPABA Gains CBAC’s Support implementation of various for Court Interpreter Funding 4 professional development, scholarship and fellowship programs. These efforts NAPABA Welcomes Oldest and include the NAPABA and NLF Board Members at 2007 NAPABA Largest South Asian Bar NLF diversity Symposia, internationally Convention. Left to right: Mike Chu, Jeannie Association As A New Affiliate 6 recognized Thomas Tang Moot Court Lin and Al Wong Competition, the NLF Scholarship programs, the NAPABA Partners and Regional News 8 this diversity initiative. NLF plans to In-House Counsel Community Law continue its law firm diversity project Fellowship. with a working report that will highlight People in the News 15 the next steps for law firms, APA lawyers Diversity Symposium on APA Attorneys in these firms, APA partners, NAPABA NLF began this year exploring and the NLF. uncharted territories by hosting its first reward APA law students for their com- bi-coastal Diversity Symposia. These NLF Scholarship Programs mitment to the community. In recogni- symposia focused on issues unique to NLF has recognized law students tion of monetary constraints preventing the APA community, highlighting the who have demonstrated leadership in many law students from entering public disproportionate lack of APA partners in and commitment to the APA community. interest service, NLF established a loan large law firms relative to the number of Through the generosity of its numerous repayment program. Diane Yu, a long APA associates. The symposia attracted donors and sponsors, NLF’s scholarships time supporter of NAPABA and NLF, over 250 attorneys from over 50 of the are wide-ranging, providing many oppor- donated funds to start this program to nation’s largest law firms. Many of these tunities for awards to APA law students. assist recent law graduates who are work- attorneys were senior partners at leading Scholarships are chosen by committee and ing in APA legal service organizations to law firms, the target audience for these are given to students who demonstrate repay a portion of their student loans. programs. Bruce Ishimatsu, chair of the outstanding leadership potential to serve These and many other scholarships allow NAPABA Partners committee and an NLF the APA community, students who were NLF to continue its efforts to encourage board member, commented that “The the first in their family to attend law young APA law students to engage and symposia were important and effective school, and students who demonstrate a take pride in their community as well as to bring awareness to law firms about the strong commitment to civil rights and their profession. dearth of APA partners at these firms equality. These various scholarships are given the number of APA associates. As a provided by the support of sponsors such NAPABA Partners and In-House Counsel first-time effort to address this issue, NLF as Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., the Community Law Fellowship is proud of the success of this event and United Parcel Service Foundation, the Many law students enter law school will continue to craft new ways to educate Coca-Cola Foundation, the Lim, Ruger interested in pursuing a career that will and serve the APA community.” & Kim law firm, and benefactors such as benefit their community, further civil A grant from the Minority Corporate the Chris Nakamura family and Judge rights and better serve the public interest. Counsel Association’s (MCCA) Diversity Robert Takasugi. Recognizing that many obstacles prevent Dollars Grant Program allowed NLF to NLF also engages in other efforts to these law students from actually begin- hire a part-time staffer solely focused on continued on page 5 191 President's Helen B. KimMessage • Resolution on the Voter Access Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Protection Act of 2007 (proposed took place May 2-3, 2008 in Norwalk, by HNBA) Connecticut. NAPABA’s first ever 2008 Central Regional Conference, hosted by • Resolution in support of the Civil Dear NAPABA Members and Friends, APABA-Minnesota, took place June 13-14, Rights Act of 2008 and the Ledbetter It is hard to believe that we are already 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And our Fair Pay Act (proposed by HNBA past the midpoint of the 2007-2008 term. 2008 California Regional Conference, and NBA) In the past quarter, we have attended to hosted by the Asian/Pacific Bar both recurring and new matters. • Resolution in support of S. 2136 – The Association of Sacramento, took place In May of every year, NAPABA meets Helping Families Save Their Homes in June 20-21, 2008 in Sacramento, California. in Washington, D.C. with its sister bar Bankruptcy Act of 2007 (proposed by All four regional conferences put on associations, the Hispanic National Bar HNBA and NBA) informative, valuable panels that featured Association, the National Bar Association top-notch speakers. I thank all four • Resolution supporting H.R. 460 – and the Native American Bar Association, affiliates, their boards and volunteers The Crack-Cocaine Equitable which comprise the Coalition of Bar for their excellent job and hard work. Sentencing Act of 2007 (proposed Associations of Color (“CBAC”). I am In this issue, we are also proud to by NBA) pleased to report that, at this year’s CBAC highlight one of our newest affiliates, the meetings, the NAPABA Board voted to • Resolution supporting sentence South Asian Bar Association of Northern support 11 resolutions, which were the mitigation for youth offenders California. subject of meetings on Capitol Hill with (proposed by NBA) Finally, we are very excited to relevant members of Congress: introduce Tina Matsuoka, who will • Resolution supporting State Court become NAPABA’s new Executive Interpreter Grant Program Act • Resolution to increase the 2009 funds Director in August 2008. I look forward (proposed by NAPABA) provided to the Legal Services to formally introducing Tina to the Corporation (proposed by HNBA) • Resolution supporting acceptance NAPABA membership in person in of tribal governmental ID cards for • Resolution supporting the reauthoriza- Seattle, Washington at our annual all official purposes (proposed by tion of the Higher Education Act of Convention in November 2008. In the NNABA) 1965 (proposed by HNBA) meantime, however, as you will see from • Resolution supporting examination of the article on Tina, NAPABA is very Indian law on state bar examinations fortunate to have her come on board. NAPABA LAWYER (proposed by NNABA) I want to thank the other members of NAPABA’s Personnel Committee, com- Vol. 18 No. 2 Spring 2008 • Resolution urging Congress to prised of John Yang (Chair), Michael P. © National Asian Pacific reauthorize the Indian Health Care American Bar Association Chu and Nimesh Patel for conducting a Improvement Act (proposed by successful search for our new Executive EDITOR NNABA) Director and screening all of the candi- Alexander C. Chae dates. I also want to thank the NAPABA As the national voice for the Asian EDITORIAL BOARD Board, which interviewed the final Pacific American legal profession whose candidates and made such an excellent Lisa Westergaard • Alexander Lee aim is to promote justice, equity and choice. And many thanks to the NAPABA Jennie Shi • Alex Sun opportunity for all Asian Pacific members who responded to our call to Koji Fukumura Americans, I hope that NAPABA will help find our next Executive Director. Letters to the Editor (250 words of less), continue to support federal legislation I’m not sure we would have found Tina newsletter articles (500 words or less), consistent with the interests of the APA without our member support. Announcements (100 words or less) community and other minority communi- I hope NAPABA is serving you and and change of address, may be emailed ties. I also want to thank NAPABA’s your affiliates well and that you will let to [email protected]. Policy Director, Aleli Samson, who us know how we can serve you even The opinions expressed in the worked tirelessly in the weeks prior to better. If you’re not already involved NAPABA LAWYER are those of the authors and during the CBAC meetings and pre- with NAPABA or one of our 55 affiliates, and do not necessarily reflect NAPABA pared excellent and thorough analysis of please get involved, stay involved and policy or editorial concurrence. Publication of any written or graphical material the various resolutions considered and stay in touch! or advertisement does not approved by the NAPABA Board. constitute an endorsement. The editors I am also pleased to report that Best regards, reserve the right to edit, accept or reject NAPABA and its affiliates have put on prospective materials or advertisements in four regional conferences this year – accordance with their editorial judgment. a record. The 2008 Southeast Regional NAPABA retains the copyright to this Conference, hosted by the Georgia Asian publication and its contents, unless otherwise indicated. Please contact Pacific American Bar Association, took NAPABA for permission to reproduce place April 18-19, 2008 in Atlanta, any of its contents. Georgia. The 2008 Northeast Regional Helen B. Kim Conference, hosted by the Connecticut 192 Working together to make a difference. We are proud to partner with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association to advance diversity and promote excellence in the legal profession. ©2008 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 3 Introducing Our New Executive Director: Tina R.