South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
June 2012 Newsletter |
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SABA-NC Sponsored Events
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June 20, 2012
SABA-NC South Bay Monthly Lunch
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Arka Restaurant, 725 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Future 2012 Dates: July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19
Please RSVP to suchitra.narayen@oracle.com.
June 20, 2012
Monthly Mixer - Meet the New SABA-NC Board!
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Cigar Bar, San Francisco (850 Montgomery Street)
Meet the incoming SABA board members, catch up with continuing board members and send off the outgoing board members with a thank you while networking, mixing and mingling with SABA members. Appetizers will be provided. We will also be raffling off a prize for SABA Members.
View the Facebook invite here.
July 15, 2012
Looking for a few good walkers to join the SABA-NC/SABA Foundation team at the 2012 Sevathon!
Location: Baylands Park, Sunnyvale
SABA-NC and the SABA Foundation will participate as partners in the 2012 Sevathon, a community-wide walkathon dedicated to "Seva" or "Service" to local non-profits. This year's Sevathon is on Sunday, July 15th, at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale. We need a few dedicated volunteers and their families and friends to participate in the walkathon to support SABA-NC and the SABA Foundation.Please contact suchitra.narayen@oracle.com as soon as possible if you are interested in supporting the SABA-NC/SABA Foundation team by participating in the Sevathon--and start training!Once the registration link is up, please support the SABA-NC/SABA Foundation team with your pledges and donations. Look for the links in the mid-June newsletter.
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SABA-NC Co-sponsored Events
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June 9, 2012
Civil Rights Outreach Project Training
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Asian Law Caucus, 55 Columbus Ave., San Francisco
The Civil Rights Outreach Project ("CROP") is a collaborative venture between the Asian Law Caucus and participating law schools and bar associations. Attorneys, staff, and volunteers from ALC work in collaboration with law students and attorneys to outreach to monolingual, low-income, or otherwise undeserved communities impacted by post 9/11 profiling, and discrimination, with a particular emphasis on African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities. CROP aims to assist these communities with their legal needs, educate them about their legal rights, and empower them on their own behalf.
Each Project chooses a local community center, house of worship, or other gathering space frequented by the populations the clinic wishes to serve. ALC staff then conducts a Know Your Rights presentation that is tailored to the concerns of that particular community, but which always includes a significant portion on civil rights. After the presentation, CROP volunteers, like you, will conduct general intakes for community members seeking legal advice.
For pro bono attorneys, volunteering at a CROP clinic allows you to gain experience in civil rights law, obtain pro bono hours, network, and give back to the community. NOTE: All pro bono attorneys are covered by ALC's malpractice insurance.
June 23, 2012
Vincent Chin 30: Standing Up Then and Now, A Bay Area Conversation
Time: 10:45 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Ninth Street Independent Film Center, 145 9th Street, San Francisco
Tickets: $10
Please RSVP here
Join a lively discussion and Q&A with leaders of local civil rights organizations (Vincent Pan - CAA, Ling Woo Liu - Korematsu Institute, Zahra Billoo - CAIR SFBA, Angela Chan - Asian Law Caucus) moderated by R.J. Lozada from APEX Express.
In 1982, Vincent Chin was the victim of a hate crime murder in Detroit. Thirty years later, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to face discrimination and bullying. In light of recent tragedies like the extreme hazing and subsequent death of Pvt. Danny Chen and the continuing effects of 9/11, what can Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do to stand up against racism and discrimination?
SCHEDULE
12:00 pm: LUNCH and refreshments available in lobby.
12:15 pm - 12:55pm: FILM SCREENING: "Vincent Who?"
1:00 - 3:00pm: LIVE DISCUSSION and Q&A with Bay Area Civil Rights Leaders: Hate Crimes and Bullying
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| Other Events |
June 6-July 25, 2012
Summer Public Interest Intern Mixer/Happy Hours
San Francisco and Oakland
Come mix and mingle with Bay Area public interest attorneys and law clerks/interns! Find out what other attorneys and students are working on this summer and have fun getting to know new friends and allies. Participating orgs include:
ACLU, Alliance for Justice, Asian Law Caucus, Bay Area Legal Aid, East Bay Community Law Center, Employment Law Center, Equal Justice Society, Equal Rights Advocates, Impact Fund, La Raza Centro Legal, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Legal Aid Association of California,National Center for Youth Law, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Lawyers Guild, Public Advocates, and many more.
Look out for people with name tags at each bar.
Wednesday, June 6, 5:30-7:30pm: 111 Minna (111 Minna Street, San Francisco, near Montgomery BART, off 2nd Street: http://www.111minnagallery.com/about/); $3 drafts, $5 well drinks, and $6 select wines.
Thursday, June 28, 5:30-7:30pm: The Den at the Fox (1912 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, near 19th Street BART in downtown Oakland: http://www.thedenoakland.com/); $1 off draft beers and well drinks until 7pm.
Wednesday, July 11, 5:30-7:30 pm: Mr. Smiths (34 7th Street, San Francisco, near Civic Center BART: http://www.maximumproductions.com/home.html); $3 well drinks, $3 beer, $5 wine and special $5.00 cocktails of the night just for us. We will be in the VIP area overlooking the bar.
Wednesday, July 25, 5:30-7:30pm: The Layover (1517 Franklin Street, Oakland, near 19th Street BART in downtown Oakland: http://www.oaklandlayover.com/home.cfm); $1 off beers, $2 off well cocktails and wine. Look for the group in the front window area.
June 7, 2012
Pathways to In house Counsel Positions: Views from Inside
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: BASF Conference Center, 301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco,
On June 7th at 6 p.m., the Diversity Committee of the BASF Barristers Club is hosting a CLE panel of in-house women of color attorneys from diverse practice areas at Visa, Chevron, Salesforce, and Sony discussing their career paths. On-line registration is available here
June 8, 2012
Equal Rights Advocates' 38th Anniversary Luncheon
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square 333 O'Farrell Street - San Francisco
Join more than 800 ERA supporters including attorneys, business leaders, & women's rights advocates for this premiere event.
For more information, email: lisa@wongway.net
LGBT Judges Panel & Reception
Presented by Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
The LGBT Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco invites you to come meet, greet, and hear directly from six distinguished LGBT members of the Bay Area judiciary. Learn how their background impacted the route they took to the bench, and hear their advice for LGBT lawyers considering a career on the bench. Get answers to your questions on courtroom decorum, and find out ways to make your day in court run more smoothly.
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm (Panel: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Reception: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Location: BASF Conference Center, 301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco,
Cost: Free
Our panel will feature the following distinguished judges from around the Bay Area: Judge Ronald Albers (San Francisco County); Judge Christopher Bowen (Contra Costa County); Judge Angela Bradstreet (San Francisco County); Judge Donna Hitchens (Ret.) (San Francisco County); Judge Victoria Kolakowski (Alameda County); and Judge Donna Ryu (Northern District of California). June 20, 2012 Consenting to Magistrate Judges in Federal Cases: Strategic Considerations Presented by the Federal Courts Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA) Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto Cost: $65 for SCCBA members; $115 for non-members; $55 for SCCBA New Admittees (0-3 yrs in practice). RSVP: Call Tiffany Taubodo at 408-287-2557. Please join us for a highly informative seminar and a unique opportunity to hear from seven federal court judges sitting in the Northern District of California. The primary focus of this seminar will be a bench-bar discussion about consenting to magistrate judges in federal civil cases. The panel will discuss important considerations that attorneys face in deciding whether to consent to having their client's case heard by a magistrate judge, the benefits of consenting to magistrate judges, and strategies for communicating with clients about the decision. The seminar will provide an opportunity for attorneys to meet and hear from many of the newly appointed magistrate judges in the District and will feature federal court judges from the San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland courthouses (Judges Ware, Davila, Beeler, Ryu, Cousins, Corley, and Westmore). June 21, 2012
Asylum Access's 7th Annual Soiree and Auction
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Location: Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA
Please join us at Asylum Access's 7th Annual Soiree and Auction to celebrate our work helping refugees assert their fundamental rights. Asylum Access is a pioneering international nonprofit organization making refugee rights a reality in countries across Asia, Africa & Latin America, where most refugees remain.
Among the 100-150 attendees are some of the Bay Area's leading lawyers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and politicians. The Soiree is our leading fundraising and awareness-raising event to empower refugees to rebuild their lives themselves by asserting their fundamental rights to seek a safe haven, secure legal employment, send children to school, and seek protection from further injustice. You have the opportunity to help us make this event a success.
For more information and to buy tickets, please go to http://asylumaccesssoiree2012.eventbrite.com/.
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| Community Events |
Help ALC (Asian Law Caucus) Protect Voting Rights during the 2012 Elections
ALC is carrying out poll monitoring efforts during the June 5 primary election and the November 6 general election to make sure that immigrant and limited English speaking voters have adequate access to language assistance on Election Day. ALC trains volunteers and sends them to poll sites across the San Francisco Bay Area Counties to check whether voters have proper access to translated election materials and bilingual poll workers.
For the June 5th Primaries ALC will be conducting Poll Monitoring in Alameda County & Sacramento County working with local community based non-profits. In conjunction with Family Bridges, Filipino Advocates for Justice, & Lao Family Community Development, ALC will monitor for Chinese, Tagalog, & Vietnamese language assistance for voters in Alameda county. In addition, ALC will monitor for Chinese language assistance for voters in Sacramento County. On November 6th, ALC will conduct Poll Monitoring in San Francisco, Alameda, Sacramento & San Mateo County.
Poll monitors receive a two-hour training before Election Day and volunteer for three hours on the morning of Election Day. Based on the poll monitoring observations, ALC will prepare reports recommending changes to election practices to promote ballot access for immigrant and limited English proficient voters.
If you are interested in becoming a Poll Monitor for the June 5, 2012 Primary Election, join us at one of the following trainings:
SACRAMENTO TRAININGThursday May 17th, 2012 5:30pm-7:00pm
ARI Broadway Career Center
915 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818
OAKLAND TRAINING: Tuesday May 22nd 5:30pm-7:00pm
Family Bridges
168 11th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
Tuesday May 29th 6:00pm-7:30pmAsian Resource Center
310 8th Street, Room 101, Oakland, CA 94607
RSVP for a training by e-mailing VOTE@asianlawcaucus.org
BASF's Summer Diversity Receptions
All attorneys and law students are invited to attend. You can find more information and register online at www.sfbar.org/summer-receptions.
June 8-10, 2012
India Currents' Event Benefits Narika!
Time: Jun 08, 7:30 PM; Jun 09 *Sold out*; Jun 10, 5:00 PM
Location: Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 North San Pedro Street, San Jose
India Currents celebrates its 25th anniversary with three showings of the play Death in San Francisco: a dark comedy that explores what it means for an Indian to live and die in America.
July 28, 2012
Maitri Gala
Maitri presents a midsummer night's evening of music and glamor featuring a performance by Dr. Radhika Chopra. For details, please visit http://maitri.org/gala/2012/.
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SABA-NC Committee Announcements
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SABA-NC Pro Bono Fellowship
The SABA-NC Foundation is excited to sponsor a fellowship for a motivated law school student to assist SABA-NC's Pro Bono Program.
This is a funded fellowship position requiring a commitment of approximately 6.5 hours per week (approx 30 hours per month) from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. The time commitment may vary slightly from week to week based on the activities at that particular time
The SABA-NC Pro Bono Fellow's responsibilities are as follows:
Ongoing
- Monitor and manage volunteer recruitment, sign up and staffing reminders (on rolling 2- 3week basis)
- Interface with all clinic locations and associated community organizations on arrangements for legal clinics and seminars, including attending some in person meetings as requested by the SABA-NC Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs
- Ensure sufficient inventory of forms, brochures, resource materials and other clinic materials at each clinic location, including going on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to each clinic location to collect waiver forms and monitor and replenish inventory of clinic materials
- Ensure that documents, including waiver forms, are regularly collected and filed or forwarded as needed
- Update PBC webpage and internal records as required
- Respond to inquiries from the public (initial response to be within 48-72 hours of each initial inquiry) and seek guidance from SABA-NC Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs on additional steps as required
- Interface with volunteer attorneys and law students staffing the clinics as needed
- Assist with updating volunteer records and analysis of volunteer participation as needed
- Assist SABA-NC Pro-Bono Committee Co-Chairs with identifying speakers, and organizing and publicizing "Know Your Rights" and MCLE seminars
- Assist with Radio/TV/newspaper promotion of legal clinics
- Identify and implement process improvements to improve legal clinic and seminar staffing and delivery of legal services
As needed
- Assist with orientations/kickoff calls for new volunteers
- Assist with marketing/publicity for clinics and KYR/MCLE seminars and provide onsite set up and registration assistance for the seminars
- Follow up on requests for referrals or any post clinic activities
- Conduct research projects as requested by the Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs
- Support additional requirements as identified by the Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs
To apply, by June 15, 2012, please submit a copy of your resume, two references and a short statement of interest to probono@southasianbar.orgPlease include in your statement of interest the following details:(a) whether you are currently a law student in good academic standing(b) why you are interested in being a SABA Pro Bono Fellow(c) any prior or current pro bono activities(d) any other activities you are involved in at your law school or otherwise that will continue betweenJuly 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013 and the approximate time commitment.
Interviews will be conducted between June 15, 2012 and June 30, 2012.
SABA-NC endorses Barbara Parker for Oakland City Attorney
SABA-NC is proud to support Barbara Parker's re-election for Oakland City Attorney. Ms. Parker has served for 20 years in the Oakland City Attorney's Office, including 11 years as Chief Assistant City Attorney. She has been a strong advocate for transparency and good government and has led or supported efforts on important social justice issues, including combating human trafficking in Oakland, enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and implementing a groundbreaking anti-predatory lending ordinance. Ms. Parker is regarded as a highly qualified jurist with a strong sense of integrity and a commitment to promoting justice and fairness. More information on her candidacy can be found at http://parkerforcityattorney.com/.
Want to make a difference and meet other South Asian attorneys?
The SABA-NC Civil Rights Committee is looking for new members and volunteers! Upcoming projects include: supporting key legislative initiatives that affect South Asian communities both in the U.S. and abroad, designing voters' rights projects for 2012, creating educational opportunities around trafficking issues, and building connections with grassroots organizations. Please email civilrights@southasianbar.org by April 27th if you are interested.
Nominate Attorneys for the SABA Newsletter Spotlight!
Seeking Mentors for Law Students
Whether through a formal program or not, most of us benefited from the guidance of an experienced attorney in navigating law school and our careers. Here is your chance to give back in a meaningful way. South Asian students at virtually all of the Bay Area law schools have expressed real interest in a SABA mentorship program. These are serious students interested in the full range of practice areas and settings. This is a great development, and we would like to do all that we can to support these up and coming members of our profession. Being a mentor does not necessarily require a burdensome time commitment, and you don't need to be in your 20th year of practice. If you are out and practicing, you will undoubtedly be a great resource for students. We hope many of you will get involved. If you have any interest in mentoring one or more law students, or would like to learn more about the program, please contact Nimish Desai at nim343@gmail.com. Please include the following information in your response:Name and email address Practice area Practice setting (e.g., nonprofit, big law, medium-sized firm) Years of graduation from law school.
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NASABA Announcements
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June 28 - 30, 2012 
2012 NASABA CONVENTION!
NASABA's Annual Convention is the place for attorneys of South Asian descent and attorneys interested in issues facing South Asian-Americans and South Asia to meet, learn and network. At last year's convention in Los Angeles, attendees were treated to a line-up of stars, including the former Assistant Secretary of State, appellate litigators with more than 30 Supreme Court cases under their belts, and
two South Asian federal judges sharing their insight on the bench.
The 2012 Convention promises to deliver even more. Established leaders on the legal scene will highlight panel sessions and deliver keynote addresses. Attendees will find the networking and educational opportunities second to none.
We're looking forward to seeing you there!!
NASABA's Legal Educator's Section
Interested in pursuing a career in academia? NASABA's Legal Educator's section has nearly 50 members who are professors and administrators at law schools all over the United States. If you are interested in learning more about a career in teaching, or if you would like to be mentored by a member of the Legal Educator's section, please email profdev@southasianbar.org.
NASABA's Career Coaching Program
NASABA seeks mid-level attorneys who are interested in being coached and senior attorneys who would like to serve as coaches. If you are interested in participating, please e-mail Nimish Desai and Akshay Verma at profdev@southasianbar.org.
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Community Announcements
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT ATTORNEY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Northern District of California Federal Court is committed to providing adequate legal representation to indigent defendants pursuant to the provisions of 18 USC Section 3006A, the Criminal Justice Act ("CJA" or the "Act") and the Court's Criminal Justice Act Plan (General Order No. 2). The CJA Administration Committee, which creates and administers the policies of the CJA program, and the federal bench are proud of the high level of service provided by our Court's CJA trial and appellate panels and we want to ensure that future panels meet the same high standards.
We recognize that there are experienced trial attorneys who practice in the Northern District of California who have exceptional advocacy skills, but who lack the requisite federal criminal experience to be considered for membership on one of our trial panels. As a result, we have created the CJA-ADP to provide select trial attorneys with the education and practical experience they will need to be considered for one of our future trial panels (San Francisco/Oakland or San Jose). The training, which will last approximately one year and begin in August, 2012, will be provided by the Federal Public Defender's Office and will include 3-4 full-day intensive seminars held over the course of several months. In addition, participants will be encouraged to attend several shorter seminars and brown bag presentations held over the course of the year. All of these training opportunities will be free of charge and CLE credit will be available. In addition to the coursework, CJA-ADP participants will be paired with an Assistant Federal Public Defender or a CJA panel attorney for roughly one year to gain actual experience with managing a case (or cases) from start to finish. Applicants from under-represented groups (women and minorities) are strongly encouraged to apply.
To be considered for the Criminal Justice Act Attorney Development Program (CJA-ADP), you must possess the following minimum requirements: 1. Significant jury trial experience as lead or co-counsel; 2. Excellent legal research and writing skills; 3. A demonstrated commitment to indigent defense; and 4. Your principle place of business is located in one of the Northern District of California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, or Sonoma. Applications are available on the CJA section of the Northern District's website (cand.uscourts.gov); the deadline for submission is June 11, 2012.
BAY AREA LEGAL AID 2013-2015 FELLOWSHIP SPONSORSHIP
Bay Area Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of the San Francisco Bay
Area region. Its mission is to provide quality legal service regardless of a client's disability, language,
or Bay-Area location. Since 2000, BayLegal has successfully sponsored one Shartsis Friese, six Equal
Justice Works and three Skadden fellowship applications.
Bay Area Legal Aid invites law students beginning their third year and recent law school
graduates to propose innovative fellowship projects for 2013-2015 for submission to the Skadden
Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works, Soros Justice Fellowship Program, and/or similar programs.
Project ideas should relate to one or more of BayLegal's substantive priority areas: affordable
housing; access to health care; family law/domestic violence and immigration relief; and access to
economic justice/public benefits.
Candidates may create their own proposal related to one or more of our priority areas or BayLegal
will also gladly assist candidates to design a project in one of our practice areas, consistent with the
candidate's own interests and the needs of our community.
Interested persons should e-mail the following materials to Jerel McCrary at fellows@baylegal.org on
or before July 1, 2012: cover letter; resume; one-page summary of your proposal, or statement concerning the priority area in which you would like to develop a project; list of three references; and writing sample.
For more information about BayLegal and our fellowship program, please visit www.baylegal.org/employment-opportunities. Volunteer at BASF President Service Days
Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) invites lawyers and legal professionals to participate in our 2012 "Service Days." The BASF Service Days are modeled on the national Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Day of Service," which mobilizes people from all backgrounds to work together to solve our most pressing problems. BASF recognizes the generous spirit of our bar which is well reflected in its longstanding commitment to service. As the larger community around us continues to struggle in these difficult times, we ask for even greater service from our BASF family.
For a listing and description of the 2012 Service Days, please visit
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SABA-NC Gala
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Thank you to everyone for supporting our 19th Anniversary Gala on Friday, March 30th! You can read more about it here and see pictures from the Gala on Facebook.
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SABA-NC Membership
| | All current SABA-NC members who have not opted-out can be located in our membership directory! See your entry here: https://www.123signup.com/directory?org=southasianbar. Renew your SABA-NC membership today! Learn more about joining SABA-NC, renewing your membership with SABA-NC and updating your member profile at this link:http://www.southasianbar.org/membership. |
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More About SABA-NC
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The South Asian Bar Association - Northern California chapter ("SABA-NC") was the first South Asian bar association in North America. Founded in 1993, SABA-NC provides a voice to Bay Area South Asian lawyers and seeks to ensure they are provided an avenue to develop professionally, network among peers, and volunteer within the South Asian community. SABA-NC also seeks to protect the rights of South Asians in the Bay Area and to educate the public on issues facing the South Asian community.
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Membership and Events
South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
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