In 1996, a small group of attorneys met informally to discuss forming a Vietnamese American bar association. A steering committee was formed to organize and build interest and support. In January 1998, the Vietnamese Bar Association of Northern California (VABANC) inaugurated its first officers, with Jacqueline Duong as president.
During its first year, the Association hosted a luncheon with the Hon. James Chang, a picnic, a student mixer sponsored by the international law firm Baker & McKenzie, an informational booth at the Tet Festival, and a Tet Installation dinner.
VABANC also began its tradition of community service. One of its officers, Candice Nguyen, led an effort to assist Vietnamese Americans who had problems with public housing in San Francisco. VABANC participated in a public censure of a Morgan Hill City Council member who made a racial remark against a fellow Council member. The Bar Association, along with other Vietnamese American groups, held a candidates' forum to familiarize Vietnamese American voters with the candidates and to educate candidates on the concerns of Vietnamese Americans.
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court Ming Chin swore in the officers of the second term, led by president Henry H. Liem. VABANC hosted annual summer picnics, a seminar on immigration law, a luncheon with California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and a forum for candidates running for public office.
VABANC welcomed its third set of officers with Rose-Claire Chapuis as president. Ms. Van Hoang Tran led a legal seminar designed to assist Vietnamese American small businesses. VABANC continued its presence at the Tet Festival in Santa Clara County and other community events. Ms. Chapuis began a popular series of informal lunches and social gatherings and hosted a student mixer in San Francisco.
In 2002, Paul Bick Nguyen became VABANC's fourth president. The organization launched its annual Scholarship Dinner to recognize outstanding Bay Area law students. The Hon. Thang Barrett delivered the first keynote address in 2003, while United States Magistrate Judge Tu Pham (W.D.Tenn.), the first Vietnamese American federal
magistrate judge, addressed the 2004 event. These dinners attracted judges, elected officials, sponsorships by major law firms and legal organizations, and hundreds of supporters from the community.
Duy Thai became president in late 2004. During this time,
VABANC increased its outreach to the Vietnamese American legal
community throughout the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco and
the East Bay - and beyond. Duy was VABANC's first president
from outside of San Jose and, at the Annual Scholarship Dinner, Wendy
Duong, a law professor from the University of Denver and believed to
be the first Vietnamese American to hold a judicial post when she
was a municipal judge in Houston in the early 1990's, gave the
keynote address. VABANC also launched its website, raised its
profile among other Vietnamese American community organizations and
events, and increased participation among law students and
major law firms.
Candice Nguyen Hamant's tenure as president in 2006 saw some
remarkable developments. Foremost, VABANC successfully hosted the
first ever National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys in
San Jose. Originally conceived as a statewide conference, its
lead organizer Jacqueline My-Le Duong was persuaded by the
enthusiasm and dedication of many tireless VABANC volunteers to go
all the way and make it national. We were deeply inspired
in welcoming Vietnamese American attorneys from throughout the United
States and in seeing, gathered in one panel, every Vietnamese
American judge in the country. We greatly enjoyed our formal
collaboration with the Vietnamese American Bar Association of
Southern California, who was a co-sponsor of the conference.
This national involvement continued during Minh T. Hoang's presidency in 2007,
when VABANC member and future president Mai D. Phan organized a
legal aid clinic for Vietnamese Americans in the Gulf Region
impacted by Hurricane Katrina. VABANC also collaborated with VABA-Southern
California in organizing the second National Conference of
Vietnamese American Attorneys, convened in Orange County, and
produced a series of Vietnamese language radio programs on legal
issues. We continued to expand VABANC's reach among lawyers of all
practice backgrounds. Minh and
Candice Hamant before her were the first VABANC presidents to
balance responsibilities to the organization with the
demands of large law firm careers.
VABANC members and officers continue to make an impact outside
the organization. In 2007, Jacqui Duong was appointed by Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Santa Clara County Superior Court
bench. In addition, long-time VABANC board members Andrew Vu and
Thanh Ngo became presidents of the Asian Pacific Bar
Association of Silicon Valley in 2005 and 2007.
This brief and incomplete history cannot capture all the efforts of individuals who participated in VABANC's formation and growth. We wish to thank everyone who has contributed to this organization and provided support and encouragement. In particular, we are grateful for the support of the members of the judiciary. |
