The Asian Bar Association of Washington

Benefits of Membership

ABAW was formed in 1987, and our membership includes over 500 APA attorneys, judges, professors, and law students in a wide-range of practice areas and locations. We invite you to join ABAW. Paid membership in ABAW provides the following benefits:

Earning CLE credits (including ethics credits) through our informative, quarterly lunchtime CLEs (one in 2011 will be held in Spokane). ABAW members who have paid their membership dues for 2011 will be able to attend the CLEs at reduced member rates.
Speaking at our quarterly CLEs.
Receiving email announcements of job postings and opportunities for involvement in the community and various bar association events.
Posting your profile on our attorney directory on our website www.abaw.org The directory lists members’ contact information, practice areas and language skills.
Promoting your accomplishments within our ABAW membership and on our website www.abaw.org and on Facebook page.
Attending our quarterly general membership meetings, including our year-end Holiday Social party.
Attending networking opportunities at our bi-monthly Mix ‘N’ Mingles.
Attending networking opportunities organized jointly with other minority bar associations, including Korean American Bar Association of Washington and Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington.
Serving on the various subcommittees contained within our Annual Banquet Committee. The Banquet Committee, along with the ABAW Student Scholarship Foundation, plans and coordinates the Annual Banquet. At the Annual Banquet, student scholarships are awarded, and judges and community organizations are recognized. The Committee is responsible for determining the banquet theme, venue, entertainment, program, and keynote speaker. The Committee is also responsible for researching candidates and recommending recipients for the Judge of the Year Award and Community Service Award
Contributing back to the community through our various community involvement events, including the Annual Asian Counseling and Referral Services’ Walk for Rice.
Working toward increasing diversity in the legal profession by serving as the ABAW representative on various committees, including the Law Firm Diversity Survey and the Statewide Diversity Conference.
Learning from a senior practitioner or serving as a mentor to a junior practitioner or law student through our Mentorship Program.
Voting on the nominated candidates for the positions of officers and board of directors.
Participating in the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee, which evaluates individuals seeking either appointment or election to judicial office.
Membership in ABAW includes membership in the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) (a $50 value). NAPABA membership benefits include:

A subscription to the NAPABA Lawyer newsletter, updating you with current happenings, events and programs.
Opportunities and contacts for professional and personal Networking! Networking! Networking! Networking!
Access to recent job postings.
Discounts to NAPABA events including the annual Convention and continuing legal education programs.
Membership in NAPABA Professional Development Forums, providing numerous opportunities for business development and professional growth.
Participation in NAPABA committee activities.
A guide to NAPABA affiliated organizations.

Having the knowledge and satisfaction that your membership helps to sustain ABAW’s vital programs and its efforts in advocating for the Asian Pacific American community in Washington state and in fostering the professional development of Asian Pacific American lawyers, law students, judges and professors in Washington state.

Any individual who is duly admitted to practice law in the State of Washington or another state, and who is in good standing, is eligible to join. For 2011, we have reduced the fees for Public Sector Attorneys (government attorneys, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, assistant attorneys general, legal services attorneys and attorneys for non-profit groups which qualify as 501(c)(3) organizations) from $65 to $50, and we have added a new category for Solo/Small Firm Attorneys (5 attorneys or less) at the $50 level.
Membership is always free for currently-enrolled law students of any US accredited law school.