ASSOCIATION FOCUS
BY DIANNE HAYES
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHINESE
LAWYERS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS
FOR 37 YEARS, THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHINESE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (SCCLA) has been a source for networking, training, and developing well-prepared legal professionals in the Chinese and Asian American commu- nity in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Incoming president Cyndie M. Chang hopes to take
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SCCLA to the next level by continuing the fi ght for inclu- sion and increasing the ranks in corporate settings and as partners, especially for Asian women. While there are numerous gains and success stories among members, Chang said there is still work to be done. “T ere is still an important need for an organization like
ours,” says Chang, a commercial litigator and partner at Duane Morris LLP. “T ere are many reasons diversity is important. I still see the challenges for minorities to break through certain legal areas. We try to moni- tor anything that aff ects us. T ere are issues of ignorance and racism that still need to be addressed.” One of the oldest and larg-
South Asian Bar Association. T e groups regularly partner for networking and community service projects. “SCCLA’s founding may be the result of the large
number of Asian American practitioners in the Southern California area,” says Chang about the organization that is affi liated with the National Asian Pacifi c American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). T e organization is also represented in the State Bar’s Conference of Delegates. “We do have a very robust organization with so
ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS US. THERE ARE ISSUES OF IGNORANCE AND
“WE TRY TO MONITOR
est Asian bar associations, SCCLA’s goals have been to advance the professional growth and interests of Chinese
RACISM THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.” —CYNDIE M. CHANG
and Asian American lawyers, jurists and law students; and improve Chinese and Asian American community access to legal services. It also promotes the interests of the Chinese American and broader Asian Pacifi c American (APA) communities. SCCLA is one of six bar organizations in the Los
Angeles area supporting Asian American interests includ- ing the Asian Pacifi c American Bar Association, Japanese American Bar Association, Korean American Bar Association, Philippine American Bar Association, and the
DIVERSITY & THE BAR® JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
many facets,” says Chang, who will begin her term in April. “SCCLA is, has been, and continues to be a critical component for my professional development. It has helped me frame my perspective about issues that aff ect the legal profession.” She adds, “SCCLA is
defi nitely very supportive of women and works to address issues that aff ect their advancement. Personally, it has given me the confi dence needed in my own profes- sional development. It helps to have a network of other aspiring female leaders in the bar.” SCCLA training and pro-
fessional development programs include the In-House Counsel Diversity program, Lawyers Luncheon, Meet the Judges Series, and professional networking mixers. Some of the key events have included the “Phoenix Rising”—Minority Attorney Leadership Program, and a Trial Skills Workshop. Kenneth Chiu, a Los Angeles County Deputy District
Attorney, is the current SCCLA president. He credits the association for having an impact on his own development, providing him with support since law school through career development workshops, networking, and structured leadership training as a board member.
MCCA.COM
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