VABANC’s 27th Annual Gala Dinner
Mark your calendar! We are excited to announce that VABANC’s 27th Annual Gala Dinner will be on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Villa Ragusa (35 S Second St., Campbell, CA 95008).
The evening is a celebration of VABANC’s commitment to cultivating and nurturing relationships between Vietnamese American judges, legal professionals, law students, and the Vietnamese American communities of Northern California.
Our Gala Dinner will recognize recipients for the “Trailblazer,” “Community Impact,” and “Lifetime Achievement” Awards. Scholarships will be conferred to Bay Area Vietnamese American law students who demonstrate a commitment to serving the needs of the Vietnamese American community and intend on furthering their work in public interest.
Interested in Sponsoring the Gala?
Proceeds will go towards providing scholarships for future Vietnamese American law students, and ensuring critical resources are available to continue the work of promoting professional development for Vietnamese Americans in the legal community. If you are interested in becoming a Gala Sponsor, please see our packet below or the Gala Dinner page for more information.
Please email scholarshipdinner@vabanc.org for questions about our sponsorship packet.
TopGolf Mixer: August 1, 2025
Come for the swings, stay for the conversations. Whether you are a practicing attorney, legal professional, law student, or a community supporter: this is your chance to unwind, connect, and enjoy the camaraderie of the VABANC network.
Questions? Please email Ally Phan, Secretary, at secretary@vabanc.org.
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, June 4, 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, June 17 at 5:45 PM PST on Zoom.
Please email Ally Phan (secretary@vabanc.org) for the virtual meeting link and General Board Meeting calendar invitations.
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.
May Recap: NCVAA 19th Annual Conference
The National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorney (NCVAA) 19th Annual Conference was held in Washington, D.C. from May 2 to 4, 2025.
Themed “50 Years Forward,” the conference commemorated the 50-year anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. It invited both reflection and recognition of the strides Vietnamese American legal professionals have made in forging transformative pathways across various sectors.
President Thi Tran, former President Michelle Truong, and Secretary Ally Phan were among the strong showing of VABANC representatives in attendance that weekend.
May Recap: Nomikai Mixer
Renewing, reliving, and rekindling. Thanks to all who spent part of their Thursday evening at our annual Nomikai mixer on May 22. See you at the next social event!
Community News
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.
Temporary Judge Program — Training Opportunity
Led by Hon. Sunil Kulkarni and Hon. Lori Pegg, this interactive training session equips attorney volunteers with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for successful temporary judicial service. It is an essential educational opportunity for both new applicants and returning temporary judges.
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 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.
Hoover Krepelka LLP is seeking to hire a Family Law Associate Attorney position. See here for more information.
Hoover Krepelka LLP is seeking to hire a Legal Administrative Assistant position. See here for 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
vabanc.org 