potential power of the law to deliver a modicum of integrity to those that can’t find it anywhere else.” Bijal Vakil, the executive partner in charge of White &


Case’s Silicon Valley office, states, “My decision to become a lawyer was a combination of destiny (my last name literally means “lawyer”) and my familial background. My great- grandparents were trained as lawyers in India, but given the


ences in their careers, much of which involved pro bono services and activities. Bijal Vakil recalls, “I was on a team of lawyers from several


“ WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO FIND


WAYS TO GET MORE APAS IN PROMINENT NON-STEREOTYPICAL ROLES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED AN APA IN THE WHITE HOUSE.” – MICHAEL LEE


significant racial divide, they weren’t afforded the opportu- nity to practice law at the same level as English lawyers.” Some family encouragement into the legal field was not so


subtle. Alice Wong, corporate counsel for Nordstrom, shares, “Te idea to become a lawyer was planted by my parents when I was in third grade: ‘Alice, you will be the lawyer in our family.’ I pursued my education with this end-goal in mind, not closing any other options that may have arisen. As it turned out, the law courses I took in college piqued my interest, and I continued on the path. I’m glad I did, because I love my work.”


INSPIRATIONAL WORK Many of this year’s awardees share Wong’s love for the law


and enthusiastically recounted their most rewarding experi- MCCA.COM


law firms that submitted an amicus brief to the California Supreme Court on behalf of the successful parties in the consolidated Marriage Cases. We were engaged by a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School to author briefs in support of those people who were denied the right to marry someone of the same sex. Tis followed the Appellate Court’s decision to invalidate the City of San Francisco’s law permitting same-sex marriages. I felt such a strong sense of injustice that I had to get involved— when one group is persecuted, it opens the door to further persecution of other groups and individuals, and I couldn’t


stand by and allow that to happen.” Kevin Chung, director of corporate compliance/employ-


ment law at Sony Computer Entertainment America (PlayStation), finds that coaching the mock trial team at South San Francisco High School is especially fulfilling. “I can see how badly the students want to learn about the law, and they count on me to teach it to them. Much like me, these kids come from modest backgrounds and don’t know many, if any, lawyers. Last year, the team surpassed everyone’s expectations (except their own) and made it to the county finals. Regardless, these kids will always be winners in my book.” For Patsy Yung Micale, associate counsel for the U.S.


Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services, her most memorable moments include


JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 DIVERSITY & THE BAR®


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