Rising Up to Serve: Leveraging Bar Associations for Community-Centered Lawyering

Speakers:

• Rachel S. Lee, President & General Counsel, Stand with Asian Americans, Co-chair, Issues Committee
• Jack Hsia, Senior Attorney, Community Legal Services, Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.
• Shivani Parikh, Right to Counsel, Housing Division, Queens Legal Services
• Beatrice Leong, Founder, Law Office of Beatrice Leong; Co-chair, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee

Moderator:

• Vishal Chander, Managing Attorney, The Chander Law Firm PC, Co-Chair, Issues Committee

Program Chair: Vishal Chander

This panel examines how attorneys and advocates—particularly through bar associations like AABANY—can serve as a critical bridge between legal professionals and the unique legal needs faced by AANHPI and immigrant communities in New York City. Drawing on experiences across immigration, housing, employment, and community advocacy, the program will explore how attorneys can leverage AABANY and allied bar associations to engage in community-centered lawyering, respond to emerging issues through coordinated advocacy, and build partnerships with grassroots organizations. The panel will highlight practical strategies for using bar association participation, not only for professional development but also as a vehicle for collective action, leadership development, and meaningful community impact.

The program will include practical frameworks, real-world scenarios, and actionable strategies that attorneys can apply in their own practices. Attendees will learn how to:

• Identify and address overlapping legal issues affecting immigrant clients across housing, labor, and family law contexts.
• Develop practical strategies for providing culturally competent representation, including working with clients across language, class, and cultural differences.
• Build effective partnerships with community-based organizations to expand access to legal services. Understand how to build effective partnerships with community-based organizations to expand access to legal services.
• Use bar association resources and networks to support community lawyering, pro bono initiatives, and advocacy efforts.