Social: Nomikai Mixer
Join us for our annual Nomikai Mixer! The event will be held at Nomikai (48 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113) on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
This is an intended evening of drinks, community, and connection. Whether you’re a seasoned attorney, law student, or community ally, this is the perfect chance to unwind and build meaningful relationships with others in the VABANC network. We look forward to seeing you there!
VABANC Co-Sponsors NAPABA’s Amicus Brief
VABANC joins the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and over 40 other affiliate bar associations from around the country in an amicus brief to defend the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.
This case concerns Executive Order 14160, which seeks to limit birthright citizenship in the United States to only the children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, excluding the children of legal visa-holders, asylum seekers, and undocumented immigrants, among other groups. A copy of the brief can be found here.
Request: Headshots Sponsor Needed
VABANC is looking for firms, corporate sponsors, or individuals to sponsor a headshot event for members of VABANC. If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact Thi Tran at president@vabanc.org.
April MCLE Event Recap
From our MCLE Chair Nicholas Nguyen:
On behalf of VABANC, thank you to everyone who attended the CLE on civility. We are incredibly grateful for your engagement with a topic that is foundational to the practice of law yet often overlooked.
Civility is more than just a professional ideal; it’s a practice that shapes how we advocate, collaborate, and serve our communities. Your willingness to reflect on these values and share your own experiences truly made the program meaningful. We hope the conversation provided practical insights and reminders of how we can all foster a culture of respect even when facing the pressures and challenges inherent in our profession.
Thank you once more for your participation and dedication to promoting civility within the legal community. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with you in the future.
VABANC Legal Clinic — Calling for Volunteers!
Every first Wednesday evening of the month, VABANC Legal Clinic is hosted from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Vietnamese American Service Center (2410 Senter Rd., San Jose, CA 95111), fully operated by volunteer availability. Our next clinic is on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
In collaboration with the Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC), VABANC invites attorneys and law students to volunteer at our legal clinics. Since 2016, our dedicated VABANC volunteers have been the backbone of our mission.
The San Jose Vietnamese community needs your support more than ever. We are particularly seeking volunteer attorneys with experience in housing, immigration, employment, and family law.
Non-attorneys, law students, and community members are also welcome to volunteer and engage directly with clients through intake consultations or Vietnamese translation assistance. Your support make a significant difference!
If interested, please complete our Volunteer Sign-Up sheet to join our volunteer list.
Join us at our next General Board Meeting!
Our next General Board Meeting is Tuesday, May 20 at 5:45 PM PST on Zoom.
VABANC would like to welcome you to join our leadership team! Sign-up for a committee using this form. It is not too late to join and help make our 2025 goals become reality.
Questions? Email Ally Phan (secretary@vabanc.org) for the Zoom link and General Board Meeting calendar invitations.
Community News
AIDS Legal Referral Panel Spring 2025 MCLE Series
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) provides free and low-cost legal services to people with HIV/AIDS in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their virtual Zoom MCLE trainings are open to all and free to attend. Following the training, attendees are encouraged to join and support ALRP’s mission by accepting two pro bono referrals annually. The trainings will take place between April 30 to May 29, 2025 and each will be worth 1.5 General CLE Credits.
- On the Edge: Spotting and Defending Clients at Risk of Deportation on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 1:30 to 3:00 PM. Click here to register.
- Medical Waivers for Naturalization, Wednesday on May 7, 2025, 1:30 to 3:00 PM. Click here to register.
- Trauma-Informed Lawyering and the Asylum Declaration on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 1:30 to 3:00 PM. Click here to register.
- Introduction to VA Disability Benefits on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Click here to register.
- SSI Benefits: Navigating Changes to Benefits on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Click here to register.
- The Changing Immigration Landscape: Know Your Rights! on Thursday, May 29, 2025, 2:30 to 4:00 PM. Click here to register.
Eth-Noh-Tec: Strong Like Bamboo
Eth-Noh-Tec’s “Strong Like Bamboo” May 22nd (6pm) & May 25th (2pm) at the SF Main Library will unite Asian and LatinX communities through community dialogue to rally against anti-immigration trends. May 22 will offer food, cultural sharing, and resources on keeping safe! May 25 will be performances and resource sharing. Free!
To RSVP, please click here.
2025-2026 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Application
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara is pleased to announce that the recruitment for the 2025-26 Civil Grand Jury is underway. Linked here is the application. Visit here for more information.
The Court will be accepting applications until Friday, March 28, 2025.
2025 State Bar of California Committee Application
The State Bar’s 2025 committee appointments application is now open for nonattorney public members, attorneys, and former judicial officers with interest in helping the State Bar advance its important statutory mission.
To apply, please visit the State Bar’s online application portal, select your committee from the left-hand menu, and click the “Apply for membership” button in the top right corner. For more details on each committee, refer to the linked committee webpage in the profile description. The application deadline is April 3, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
For questions, please contact Appointments@calbar.ca.gov.
Santa Clara Juvenile Dependency Courts
Seeking Guardian ad Litem Contractors
The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, is seeking proposals from qualified individuals to serve as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) contractors in Juvenile Dependency Court. This critical role involves advocating for dependency participants who are mentally ill or incompetent, ensuring their legal rights are protected in court proceedings.
The Guardian ad Litem is appointed to safeguard the dependency participant’s interests, oversee litigation decisions, and provide necessary support throughout the legal process. This contract opportunity offers professionals a chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable families while assisting the Court in fulfilling its mission of providing equal justice for all.
For more information and to apply, visit: GAL Request for Proposal.
National Center for State Courts Tiny Chat:
Bullying in the Legal Profession
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism released an important study on the prevalence and impact of bullying in the Illinois legal profession, along with best practices for prevention. The study presents data from a survey of more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers and identifies several concerning trends regarding the frequency and severity of workplace bullying, which affects lawyer wellness, productivity, and retention.
The National Center for State Courts was joined by Erika N. L. Harold, Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, who shared key findings from the report and important recommendations for preventing workplace bullying.
Please click here to view the Tiny Chat webinar.
San Francisco Civil Grand Jury — Seeking Volunteers!
Temporary Judge Program — Training Opportunity
The course is open to members of the State Bar who serve as or intend to apply to serve as a court-appointed temporary judge.
Spacing is limited. The Zoom link to join will be sent once your registration is accepted.
Announcements
Seeking Job Opportunities for Law Students
Due to current economic conditions, we are reaching out to our network to support our student members. If your workplace is hiring students for summer or post-grad opportunities, please email info@vabanc.org with the job description and application process.
Seek VABANC’s Endorsement
Are you applying for a bench position or running for a prosecutorial or public defender position? Reach out to us! VABANC welcomes all applicants to seek our endorsement (irrespective of Vietnamese background). VABANC endorsements carry significant weight, particularly in the judicial application process. For more information, contact Nguyen Luu at nguyen@luulaw.com.
2025 VABANC Membership Means 2025 NAPABA Membership
Your VABANC membership gets you a complimentary membership in NAPABA. That means, along with VABANC’s local events, networking, and advocacy you get access to national resources like:
• Career Center, including NAPABA’s online national legal job board and career resources
• Networking opportunities nationwide
• Scholarships to attend NAPABA events
• Leadership development programs to boost your career
• Webinars and workshops for continued education
Click here to renew your VABANC membership today for 2025 and get your code for free NAPABA membership!
AABA/APILO Pro-Bono Legal Clinic
The AABA Community Services Committee and Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO) operate a pro bono legal clinic that is staffed by volunteer attorneys and law students. The clinic helps ensure that low-income Bay Area residents, including many mono-lingual immigrants, will receive free legal information and advice from AABA volunteers.
The APILO/AABA Clinic assists individuals in a number of areas, including immigration and family law issues. The APILO/AABA Clinics are now held virtually via Zoom, and they occur every third Wednesday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering at the clinic, please sign up for our clinic mailing list via this link.
If you would like more information, please contact AABA Community Services Committee Co-Chair Ly Ly at ly.ly@compass.com. No prior clinic training or expertise is required, and foreign language skills are in high demand (particularly Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese).
Job Opportunities
The California Appellate Project is looking for an Executive Director to oversee their operations, guide their strategic direction, and inspire their team. See here for the application and more information.
The California Appellate Project is looking for one Attorney position. See here for the application and more information.
The Oakland City Attorney’s Office is looking for a Deputy City Attorney II or III in the General Government & Finance team. See here for hiring announcement and more information.
The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) is seeking a Deputy District Attorney IV to prepare and litigate complex and serious cases (primarily felonies) before the Superior and Appellate Courts. See here for the application and more information.
Santa Clara University School of Law is looking for Semester Adjunct Lecturers. See here for the application and more information.
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco is looking for multiple Adjunct Professors in a variety of curriculums. See here for hiring announcement and more information.
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is seeking to hire a Deputy District Attorney II. See here for the application and more information.
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is seeking to hire a Deputy District Attorney III. See here for the application and more information.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is seeking a Magistrate Judge. See here for the application and more information.
Farella Braun Martel is seeking to hire multiple Associate Attorney positions. See here for the application and more information.
Membership Renewal
Have you renewed your membership this year?
You can conveniently renew online here. Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission.
#VABANC, #ProvideEncourageFoster, #ChampioningChange
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