The Chander Law Firm’s Managing Attorney, Vishal Chander, moderated “Rising Up to Serve: Leveraging Bar Associations for Community-Centered Lawyering” at the AABANY 2026 Fall Conference at Fordham University School of Law.
The panel included Rachel Lee, President and General Counsel of Stand with Asian Americans; Shivani Parikh, an attorney with Queens Legal Services; Jack Hsia, Senior Attorney with the Chinese-American Planning Council; and Beatrice Leong, a private practitioner and bar-association leader. Lee discussed advocacy and recurring issues affecting Asian American communities. Parikh addressed housing work, cultural competency, language access, and the overlapping legal needs clients often face. Hsia spoke about community-based legal services and referral relationships. Leong discussed pro bono service and the role bar associations can play in connecting attorneys with community needs.
The panel focused on the important role bar associations can play in strengthening community-centered legal services. Bar associations can connect private attorneys, legal-services organizations, nonprofits, and community groups; create referral and pro bono networks; provide training and mentorship; and help lawyers translate professional relationships into meaningful community service. 20260730_Timed Agenda and Index…
The discussion also examined how affinity bar associations can create pathways for lawyers who want to engage in community-facing work, including attorneys whose day-to-day practices may not otherwise provide that opportunity. Panelists discussed the importance of training, supervision, institutional support, and leadership development in building sustainable pro bono and community partnerships.
The program highlighted a central point: bar associations can be more than professional networking organizations. They can serve as infrastructure for lawyers to respond collectively to community needs, expand access to legal services, and develop the next generation of community-focused legal leaders.
