Recent Happenings
The Executive Board met on January 10. The board discussed updates on judicial endorsements, the summer fellowship program, attending API day at the capitol, efforts to increase diversity in selecting judiciary candidates and in the legal profession, and more planning for upcoming events in 2017.
In the past month, you may have seen MNAPABA at these community events:
This month's newsletter is longer than past editions, here is a brief preview of its contents:
- Volunteer at Legal Advice Day (Feb. 22)
- Volunteer for Open Doors to Federal Courts
- Member Spotlight: Fue L. Thao
- Annual Winter Retreat - sold out!
- Law Students: Apply for an immediate NAPALSA leadership position
- Experienced Attorneys: Sign up for the NAPABA Leadership Workshop (May 24)
- Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Gala (Mar. 2)
- API Day at the Capitol (Feb. 8)
- MNAPABA Member News - new partners!
Volunteer at Legal Advice Day (Feb. 22)
Please volunteer your services at our pro bono Legal Advice Day clinic on February 22 to help refugees and immigrants access much needed legal services.
We are conducting this clinic at the Hmong American Partnership, which helps diverse people, including Hmong, Karen, Somali and Latino populations. With help from you and our colleagues at the Hmong American Bar Association and Volunteer Lawyers Network, I hope we can offer assistance to people who need it the most, especially during a time where there’s considerable uncertainty and fear in immigrant communities. Clients will be coming to the clinic seeking help in a variety of areas, including housing, immigration, small business issues, family law, criminal defense, general civil matters, etc.
All volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend the training on February 14, where we will cover basic information about the populations you’ll be helping and the general clinic process. If you’re unable to attend in person, teleconferencing is available. The training will also be videotaped.
Your help is needed. Please sign up today.
Thank you,
Summra Shariff
Volunteer for Open Doors to Federal Courts
The United States District Court—District of Minnesota's Open Doors to Federal Courts program is an annual program that encourages young people from rural and inner city areas to pursue careers in the justice system. The program usually features a mock trial and a career showcase.
Help show students how the judicial system works, and ask some questions about "Equal Justice Under Law" and talk about how laws can get changed and how systems can get changed....or how they can continue on the same path....
We have TWO mock trial scenarios in which the volunteer attorneys (you) may choose from, to present to the students; one is a civil scenario, and one is a criminal scenario. We will be holding two training sessions - the training sessions will be identical, just two separate offerings of dates; March 16, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. and March 21, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. They will be held at the U.S. District Court house in the jury assembly room. At the training session, you will receive training on cultural competence and working with youth in an engaging and meaningful way. CLE credit -Elimination of Bias is being applied for.
More details are forthcoming.
D. Minn. Community Outreach Page
Member Spotlight
Each month, we are highlighting one of our members. This is part of an ongoing effort to help MNAPABA members get-to-know one another. Read below about...
 Fue L. Thao
Assistant Ramsey County Attorney
Hamline University School of Law
Professional Experiences
Fue is an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney working in the Child Support Unit of the Human Services Division. He has been with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office since 2013. Fue is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law, and before he joined the RCAO, was a law clerk to the Hon. Gail Chang Bohr.
Community Leadership
Fue is the current president of the Hmong American Bar Association, and is the 2017 St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year Award recipient. Fue is also on the board of Urban Boatbuilders, a nonprofit organization promoting youth development through the building and use of boats.
Relationship with MNAPABA
Fue credits NAPABA, the National Asian Law Students Association (NAPALSA) and MNAPABA with expanding his network, most notably introducing him to his wife, fellow member Maisue Xiong, whom he met at the national NAPALSA convention in Boston in 2009.
(Special thanks to Melitta Dreschler for preparing this month's Member Spotlight.)
Annual Winter Retreat - Sold Out!
Law Students: Apply for an immediate NAPALSA leadership position
NAPALSA is looking for a student in the Midwest region to fill the Midwest Regional Director position on this year's NAPALSA Board. I was hoping that you may be able to reach out to any students, or the schools in Minnesota, and announce the open position.
Regional Directors are responsible for recruitment, outreach, and support of local NAPALSA Affiliates and Members. The Regional Director of each region is responsible for actively contacting every APALSA in his/her region and encouraging each APALSA to affiliate formally with NAPALSA.
Contact NAPALSA President Ali Hakusui if interested.
www.napalsa.com
Experienced Attorneys: Sign up for the NAPABA Leadership Workshop (May 24)
May 24, 2017 | Washington, D.C.
Directly following Lobby Day, NAPABA is offering lawyers — whether in-house, law firm, government, public interest, or academia — a day-long leadership training program on May 24, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
Registration Requirements: All direct NAPABA members with 5-10+ years of experience are invited to participate at a special rate of $200. The first 30 applicants who register by the deadline of April 12, 2017, at 5 p.m. EDT, or until the workshop is at capacity, will be accepted into this special pilot program.
Click here for complete workshop information and to register.
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Gala (Mar. 2)
The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association invites its members and friends to join it in celebrating the Twelfth Annual MHBA Gala! This year, Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of Enrique’s Journey, joins us as our keynote speaker for the MHBA Gala!
In addition, the MHBA is pleased to award the 2017 Manuel Guerrero Courage in Leadership Award to the Honorable Ann D. Montgomery, Sr. U.S. District Judge, District of Minnesota.
Finally, the MHBA Gala will feature live music from salsa band Tropical Zone Orchestra!
Register here.
API Day at the Capitol (Feb. 8)
The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, a MN state agency, invites you to join them at this year’s “API Day at the Capitol” on Wednesday, February 8th, 2017, from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
The Council aims to send a clear message to our policy makers that the Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities have come of age, and that we are ready to assist them in their ongoing endeavor to create public policies that are equitable and broadly impactful.
To attend this year’s API Day at the Capitol is as successful as possible, please register at: EventBrite Registration Link.
MNAPABA Member News!
Bryan Wong has been elected to be the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at HSML - the first Chinese American attorney to take on this leadership role. (bio)
Rong (Christine) Yang, patent attorney and attorney at law, has been elevated to partner at HSML. (bio)
Alexander Kim, patent attorney and attorney at law, has been elevated to partner at HSML. (bio)
Amol Kavathekar, patent attorney and attorney at law, has been elevated to partner at HSML. (bio)
Masako Yoshida, patent attorney and attorney at law, has been elevated to partner at HSML. (bio)
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Share Member Professional/Personal News
in next month's newsletter (here)
By Friday, March 3, 2017.
Questions about the Newsletter?
Contact Vincent Pham
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