Information about the 2012 Scholarships, including deadlines and application requirements.

The Asian Bar Association of Washington Student Scholarship Foundation (“ABAWSSF”) provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to students of Asian heritage currently attending law schools in the state of Washington. Applicants are required to describe their contributions to the Asian Pacific Islander (“API”) community and their plans to contribute to the API community following graduation from law school.  Applicants are also required to submit two letters of recommendation.   

The Yamashita Scholarship is named after Takuji Yamashita (1874–1959).  Mr. Yamashita was born in Japan, and emigrated to the United States in the 1890s.  He graduated from Tacoma High School in two years, graduated with a law degree from the University of Washington in 1902, and passed the state bar exam.  The WashingtonState Supreme Court issued a decision that Mr. Yamashita was not eligible to be an American, and therefore could not practice law. This decision was overturned, posthumously, nearly 100 years later on March 1, 2001.

The Sharon A. Sakamoto President's Scholarship is named after Sharon Sakamoto, who served as ABAW’s first President (and one of its founders) in 1988.  Ms. Sakamoto’s law practice at Aoki & Sakamoto emphasizes meeting clients’ general business and estate planning needs.  In addition to being active in the local and minority bar associations, she has also served on the boards of the Public Defender and Kawabe Memorial House.

The Northwest Minority Job Fair is sponsored and funded by a consortium of private and public sector employers.  The Job Fair was created in 1987, and its mission is to foster access to employment opportunities for historically underrepresented persons in the practice of law and to provide a networking forum for legal employers and minority law students. 

2011 Judge of the Year Award: The Honorable Steven C. Gonzalez

2011 Community Service Award: Washington Asian and Pacific Islander Community Services (WAPI).

2011 ABAW Student Scholarship Foundation Award Winners: The ABAW Student Scholarship Foundation awarded $14,500 in scholarships to five law students: Anthony Thach of University of Washington School of Law; Michelle So of Seattle University School of Law; Reyna Rolloazo of University of Washington School of Law; Cynthia Delostinos of Seattle University School of Law;and Andrea Louie of Seattle University School of Law.

2011 Keynote Speaker: James Sun, CEO of Pirq.