The Newsletter of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
Volume XVI, No. 3, August/September 2000
Events | Announcements | Professional Opportunities
As Fall approaches, AALAM is busy welcoming new law students to Boston. For example, on August 22, AALAM President Perry Wu spoke to incoming minority law students at a panel discussion held by Boston University School of Law as part of its annual orientation program. AALAM is also gearing up for its Mentor/Mentee Program and is seeking members to serve as mentors to area law students. Please complete the attached Mentor Questionnaire and return it as soon as possible. (See below)
In keeping with the upcoming season, AALAM is hosting a Fall Reception on September 21. The event will feature a tribute to Paul Lee, a Partner at Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, who will receive a NAPABA Trailblazer Award next month at the 12th Annual NAPABA Convention, and a presentation by special guest Karen Narasaki, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC), who will update us on current issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. (See below) We look forward to seeing you on the 21st.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AALAM Fall Reception
AALAM will kick off the 2000-2001 membership year with a reception for all of its members and friends, lawyers and law students alike. The event will take place on Thursday, September 21, 2000, from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m., at Choate, Hall & Stewart, Exchange Place, Boston. The reception will honor Paul W. Lee, a Partner at Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP and AALAM's very first President, for his countless contributions, at both the local and national levels, to the Asian Pacific American community, and for his recent selection as a recipient of a National Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Trailblazer Award. The reception will also feature a special presentation by Karen K. Narasaki, Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC), on the key legal issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community today. To RSVP for this kick-off event, please call Cathy at (617) 526-6051 by the close of business on Tuesday, September 19, 2000.
2000 NAPABA National Convention
NAPABA is holding its 2000 NAPABA National Convention, AFreedom, Equality and Justice: Reaffirming Our Commitment,@ October 12-14, 2000 in Washington, DC at the Capital Hilton Hotel. The convention will include numerous panels and seminars, as well as featured speakers such as Attorney General Janet Reno; and Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh. In addition, AALAM=s Paul Lee will receive one of the NAPABA Trailblazer Awards. All AALAM members should have received a convention brochure in the mail. For more information, go to www.napaba.org/conv.html or contact Mark Keam at (202) 205-6926 or amkeam@earthlink.net.
Women's Bar Association Gala
The Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts (WBA) will hold its annual Gala Dinner on October 5, 2000 at the Copley Marriott. Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers will be the keynote speaker. Martha Coakley, District Attorney of Middlesex County; and Mary Bonauto, Director of the Civil Rights Project G.L.A.D., will each receive the Lelia J. Robinson Award. Tickets are $150.00 each, $75 for solos, government, and legal services. For tickets, visit www.womensbar.org or write to 6 Beacon Street, Suite 915, Boston, MA 02108. Call (617) 973-6666 for more information.
New England Burma Round Table and Burma Border Projects Fundraiser Dinner
The New England Burma Round Table and Burma Border Projects, a charitable foundation established to assist Burmese refugees living along the Thai-Burma border, is holding its Annual Fundraiser Dinner on Friday, September 14, 2000, from 7-9 p.m. at the Harvard Faculty Club, 20 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Guest speakers will include State Representative Byron Rushing and Sandra Krause, Director of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. An auction will be held for roundtrip tickets to anywhere in Asia. For more information, call Michael Forhan at (508) 987-3187.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AALAM Joins Amicus Brief
On August 9, 2000, AALAM -- together with the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys, the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys, and a number of other organizations -- signed on to an amicus brief previously filed by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association in the pending appeal captioned Commonwealth v. Clerk of the Boston Juvenile Court, Supreme Judicial Court Docket No. SJC-08096. In that appeal, the SJC had asked interested parties to submit amicus briefs on the issue of whether a clerk-magistrate infringes upon Executive authority by declining to grant or deny an application for a criminal complaint and instead holding the application "open" pending compliance by the accused with certain conditions. This issue arises from the situation in which clerk-magistrates have refused to act on complaints of hate crimes violations and have instead left the complaints Aopen@ without addressing the issue of whether the alleged perpetrator of the hate crime had violated the law. The Lawyers' Committee's brief argues that a clerk-magistrate must issue a decision on the complaint before him or her unless the victim agrees to an alternative resolution. First, the Standards of Judicial Practice for clerk-magistrate hearings instruct the magistrate to rule on a victim's application for criminal charges if the victim so chooses. Second, the magistrate's decision to hold "open" the victim's complaint for one year was an unreasonable delay and an abuse of discretion. Third, the unique characteristics of hate crimes (here, a 1998 anti-Semitic incident) require that clerk-magistrates conduct hearings in a manner which affords victims the greatest access to the courts and which facilitates the aggressive prosecution of such crimes. The case is scheduled to be argued before the full SJC on Monday, September 11, 2000. If you have any questions, please call AALAM President Perry Wu at (617) 526-6141.
AALAM Committees Seek Members and Mentors
AALAM is seeking interested members to join its Communications Committee. The Communications Committee is responsible for production of the newsletter and will focus its efforts on developing electronic means of disseminating information to AALAM members, including establishment of an e-mail distribution network and an AALAM website. For more information, contact AALAM Secretary Theodore Chuang at (617) 748-3173 or theodore.chuang @usdoj.gov.
The AALAM Law Student Outreach/Scholarship Committee is seeking Law Student Mentors. We would like to pair law students with AALAM attorney members for the 2000-2001 academic year. Please share your experiences, insights, and time with Asian American law students. To participate in the Mentor/Mentee Program, just fill out the Mentor Questionnaire attached to this newsletter and send it to AALAM Director Sherry Mulloy, as indicated on the form.
SJC Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services Solicits Survey Responses
The Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services of the Supreme Judicial Court is preparing a report to the SJC in which it seeks to provide a snapshot of the range and diversity of pro bono efforts and services in Massachusetts. To assist in this effort, the Committee is seeking responses to a short survey, a copy of which is attached to this newsletter. At your convenience, please complete the survey and mail it back. You may also respond on-line by visiting www.massbar.org; www.bostonbar.org; or www.lawyersweekly.com. For more information, contact Laurence S. Moss at (617) 728-4949.
Bill Lann Lee Appointed Assistant Attorney General
After serving as Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights since December 1997, Bill Lann Lee was formally appointed as Assistant Attorney General by President Clinton on August 3. As the head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, Lee directs the enforcement of federal civil rights laws relating to hate crimes, housing discrimination, voting rights, disability rights, education, public accommodations, and employment discrimination. Lee previously served as Western Regional Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Law Clerk, Probate and Family Court:
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court is hiring law clerks for the 2001-2002 term. Law clerks work simultaneously with several Justices and under the direct supervision of the Chief Justice and the Chief Law Clerk. Law clerks conduct research, write legal memoranda, and draft judgments, orders, findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Court is seeking law students graduating in Spring 2001, or recent law school graduates, who have excellent research, writing, and communication skills. Prior judicial clerkships, or course work, internships/co-ops, or employment in the area of probate and family law are viewed favorably, but are not a prerequisite. Salary is $39,377.40, plus benefits. For an application, visit the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court at 24 New Chardon Street, 6th Floor, Boston; call (617) 788-6600 to order an application by mail; or contact any local law school career office. Deadline: September 22, 2000. For further info, call 1 (800) 462-5059.
Staff Attorney, Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission:
The Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, a quasi-judicial administrative agency responsible for the administration of the Massachusetts public and private sector collective bargaining laws, is seeking a labor attorney. Duties include conducting investigations of unfair labor practice charges and representation petitions; drafting complaints and dismissal letters; conducting research and drafting memoranda of law on collective bargaining law; assisting the Commission and Hearing Officers in formal hearings and drafting decisions in appeals of Hearing Officer Decisions. Requirements: J.D., one year of legal experience, eligibility to take the Massachusetts Bar Examination. Salary: $32,685. Application: Send a resume and writing sample to Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, 399 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02108-5213, ATTN: John Cochran, Chief Counsel. Deadline: September 3, 2000.
Attorney, Pusan International Law Offices:
Pusan International Law Offices, a Korean law firm specializing in admiralty and maritime matters and international trade and foreign investment, is seeking a North American attorney to work at its offices in Pusan, South Korea. Although knowledge of Korean is a plus, the attorney=s work will be in English and will focus on U.S. law. If interested, respond to Damien Horigan at dhorigan@yahoo.com .
Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts:
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is seeking attorneys for the following positions:
Division Chief/Assistant Attorney General, Appellate Division, Criminal Bureau
Duties: Directing and managing attorneys handling approximately 750 criminal and civil cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Areas of focus include: appeals and post-conviction matters in criminal cases prosecuted at the trial level by the Assistant Attorney Generals in the Criminal Bureau; all federal habeas corpus petitions filed in the United States District Court that challenge Massachusetts convictions, and appeals therefrom to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; the defense of judges, prosecutors, and others sued civilly in state and federal court for official actions undertaken during the criminal justice process; and defense of the constitutionality of criminal statutes and challenges to rules, practices, and procedures concerning all aspects of the criminal justice system. Requirements: Exceptional writing and oral advocacy skills; significant litigation experience at all levels of the state and federal court systems; management and supervisory experience; significant experience in areas of appellate practice and procedure, criminal law and procedure, federal habeas corpus practice and federal civil rights litigation. Membership in both the Massachusetts and federal bars is required. Salary: Commensurate with experience, to be discussed at time of interview. Inquiries may be made to: Jerry Leone, Chief, Criminal Bureau, (617) 727-2200 ext. 2810.
Division Chief/Assistant Attorney General, Southeastern Massachusetts Division
Duties: Supervising an office comprised of assistant attorneys general, inspectors and support staff members; reviewing and assigning caseload; overseeing case management and reporting requirements; developing and implementing public relations and educational outreach. Requirements: Substantial litigation experience in both federal and state courts; familiarity with the region; ability to manage a diverse professional and support staff; significant experience in the management of public law offices; ability to successfully work with the public, the private bar, courts and other legal and government institutions. Minimum of 6 years legal experience preferred. Membership in the Massachusetts bar is required.
Assistant Attorney General, Counsel II, Unit 6, N.A.G.E., Fair Labor & Business Practices Division/Business & Labor Protection Bureau, Public Bidding Unit:
Duties: Enforcing the public bidding laws by (i) conducting investigations to determine bidding violations, (ii) instituting Superior Court actions to require compliance with the bidding laws, and (iii) participating in training and outreach efforts for interested industry participants; conducting hearings on prevailing wage issues; issuing written determinations. Requirements: One year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law or in a position requiring membership in the Bar. Preferred Qualifications: Experience with the consideration and resolution of the legal issues that relate to the procurement and subsequent performance of public construction contracts; strong research, writing and analytical skills; dispute resolution experience; five years of practice. Salary: $874.38 - $1,214.44 weekly. Inquiries: Daniel Field, Division Chief, (617) 727-2200 ext. 3508.
Assistant Attorney General, Counsel II, Unit 6, N.A.G.E., Business & Labor Protection Bureau/ Fair Labor and Business Practices Division (Springfield Office):
Duties: Enforcing the Massachusetts labor standards, including statutes that address non-payment of wages, overtime, minimum wage, child labor, workplace safety and public construction prevailing wages. Prosecuting violations in criminal and civil proceedings; making public presentations to employers and employees concerning the wage and hour laws. Requirements: One year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law or in a position requiring membership in the Bar. Preferred Qualifications: Five (5) years full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional legal experience including criminal litigation experience in the district and superior courts as well as Grand Jury experience; working knowledge of Massachusetts labor laws, strong research, writing and analytical skills. Salary: $874.38 -$1,214.44 weekly. Inquiries: Daniel S. Field, Division Chief, (617) 727-2200, ext. 3508
For information on these and other job opportunities at the Attorney General's Office, visit www.ago.state.ma.us. Applications should be sent to: Diana LaRochelle, Director, Human Resource Management Office, One Ashburton Place, 20th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.
If you have a prospective item for the AALAM News, please submit it to AALAM Secretary Theodore D. Chuang, U.S. Attorney's Office, United States Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200, Boston, MA 02210; Fax: (617) 748-3951; theodore.chuang@usdoj.gov. E-mail announcements preferred. Editorial discretion is reserved.
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