NAPABA

⏱️ The countdown is on! There’s only one week left to register for the 2026 NAPABA Convention at the Advance Discounted Rate. Prices increase by $150 after 11:59 pm ET on Monday, October 26: https://lnkd.in/ePCzG3KP    Join us November 12–14 in Los Angeles for one of the nation’s premier gatherings of AANHPI attorneys, judges, professors, and law students. With top-tier CLEs, unmatched networking, career-building opportunities, and unforgettable celebrations, you won’t want to miss this weekend of connection and inspiration.    Don’t wait. Secure your spot and the best rate today!

Help shape NAPABA's policy priorities! The 2026–2027 Policy Resolution Cycle is underway. NAPABA encourages its Affiliates, Committees, Networks, and National Associates to identify and develop policy resolutions addressing issues affecting the AANHPI community and the legal profession. Policy resolutions help guide NAPABA's advocacy and provide an opportunity for its constituent groups to elevate the issues that matter to their communities. Submissions are due January 6, 2027, at 8 pm ET. Learn more about the process and begin developing your proposal: https://lnkd.in/eJJvsMnd

At the NAPABA Convention, connections happen everywhere. With thousands of legal professionals coming together in Los Angeles, the Convention is your opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with longtime colleagues, and build relationships that last well beyond the weekend. Make time in your schedule for some of the moments designed to bring our community together: - Welcome Reception and Best Under 40 Awards Celebration: Kick off Convention, reconnect, and celebrate our Best Under 40 honorees.  - President's and Trailblazer Awards Reception: Celebrate NAPABA leaders and mingle with colleagues from across the community. - NAPABA Village: More than an exhibit hall—meet attendees and engage with the organizations that help make the NAPABA Convention possible and support your practice. - Committee & Network Receptions: Find your people through shared interests, experiences, and practice areas. Open to all.  - 4th Annual NAPABA Law Foundation Poker Night: An exciting night of poker and community! All proceeds support the NAPABA Law Foundation. Beginners welcome! You can only join if you’re registered! View the Convention schedule to find more ways to connect: https://lnkd.in/ePCzG3KP

NAPABA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Affiliate Grant Program: Civic Engagement Challenge. Created to support innovative, collaborative, and impactful initiatives across our Affiliate and National Associate network, this year’s challenge encouraged projects that expand civic participation, promote access to justice, and empower AANHPI communities. This year’s selected projects address nonpartisan voter engagement, immigration and citizenship education, legal education, and community legal access. Congratulations to all of this year’s grant recipients: Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW), Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA), GREATER ORLANDO ASIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC), and Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA).

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, NAPABA honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. We recognize their resilience, acknowledge the challenges Indigenous communities continue to face, and celebrate their enduring impact on our communities and our nation.

Election Day—November 3, 2026—is fast approaching. Now is the time to make your plan to vote. Check your voter registration, register if you haven’t already, and make sure you know how and when you’ll cast your ballot. You can also help voters from the AANHPI community make their voices heard. It’s not too late to volunteer with APIAVote and AAJC’s multilingual voter hotline or APIAVote’s voter phone banking efforts.  Visit NAPABA’s 2026 Voting Hub for voter information and volunteer opportunities: https://lnkd.in/gznD5sXm

The NAPABA President’s Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. Selected annually by the NAPABA President, the award celebrates those whose leadership and service have made a meaningful impact on our community. This year, we honor Wilson Chu and Sandra Yamate, two longtime leaders in the AANHPI legal community. Over the course of their careers, Wilson and Sandra have contributed their time and leadership to NAPABA and initiatives serving the legal profession and AANHPI community. Their decades of service reflect a longstanding commitment to supporting and uplifting others in the legal community. We are honored to celebrate Wilson and Sandra and recognize their achievements at the 2026 NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles on Friday, November 13, at the President’s & Trailblazer Awards Reception.

The 2026 NAPABA Convention features big names in law, business, literature, and entertainment. Purchase your ticket to secure a seat at these can’t-miss events: 🎙️ Friday Plenary Luncheon — An intimate lunchtime conversation with acclaimed author Min Jin Lee and Don Liu, Former Group Chief Legal Officer of Flutter Entertainment. Every attendee takes home a copy of Lee’s brand-new novel, American Hagwon. 🏆 Saturday Awards Luncheon — Enjoy lunch while celebrating the leaders and organizations shaping the legal profession. Don’t miss the conversation with our 2026 INSPIRE Award Honoree, Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU, in conversation with Jenny Yang, Partner, Outten & Golden. 🎉 Saturday Closing Celebration — Our reimagined, high-energy send-off featuring comedian and actor Ronny Chieng, a special appearance by our friend Rich Ting, and a performance by Andrew Choi and Neckwav of the Saja Boys from Kpop Demon Hunters, and live music from The Recusals (the only band with 10 federal judges)! Join us for fun, food, drinks, and community connection. These are the moments when connections deepen, careers advance, and community thrives. Add these events to your registration before October 28: https://lnkd.in/gwVfcnwz

Every child who is limited English proficient deserves a meaningful education—one that accounts for their particular needs and springboards them to future success. NAPABA has been a leader in advancing language access, whether from our groundbreaking report nearly 20 years ago to supporting the codification of key language access protections today. A proposed federal rule would require Head Start programs to deliver educational services exclusively in English. In our comment letter, NAPABA explains how such a categorical rule could undermine the government's stated goals of English proficiency for young learners and educational attainment. Nearly a third of Asian Americans are limited English proficient, and the community speaks over 100 different languages. We urged the government to address the unique language barriers facing the AANHPI community. Read our comment below.

NAPABA is now accepting recommendations for our organizational nominee for the American Bar Association’s 2027 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. The award recognizes women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession. Help us identify an outstanding woman lawyer whose career, leadership, and contributions exemplify the spirit of this prestigious award. Recommendations will be considered as NAPABA selects one candidate to nominate to the American Bar Association. Submit your recommendation by 5 pm ET on Friday, November 20, 2026: https://lnkd.in/eaqfynp7