SBS Radio recently interviewed Reynah Tang, Kerry Truong and Daniel Nguyen in Cantonese in relation to the development of the AALA. To listen to the Cantonese interview, please click here.

The Diversity Council of Australia has recently published a blog post on Harmony Day 2016 and the need to crack the cultural ceiling. 

To read more, please click here. 

AALA NSW NETWORKING EVENT
WITH BENJAMIN LAW

The NSW branch of the AALA is proud to present its first ever networking event, featuring special guest speaker Benjamin Law.

Join the AALA NSW Committee, fellow members and Benjamin in a discussion about diversity, in particular Asian cultural and LGBTIQ identity, in Australia.

Refreshments are provided. Please RSVP as limited places are available.

Wednesday, 6 April 2016
6.00pm - 7.45pm

Venue
King & Wood Mallesons
Governor Phillip Tower
Level 61, 1 Farrer Place
Sydney

Cost
FREE - RSVP required

GUEST SPEAKER:
Benjamin Law
Benjamin Law is an author and journalist. He is best known for his books The Family Law, a family memoir published in 2010 (now a popular TV series), and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East, a journalistic exploration of LGBTIQ life in Asia.

As a journalist, he has contributed to publications including Frankie, The Australian Financial Review, The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, The Courier-Mail and its Qweekend supplement, Griffith Review, Fairfax Media's Good Weekend magazine, The Big Issue and Crikey.

CO-HOSTS:
Katrina Rathie
Partner in Charge, King & Wood Mallesons, Sydney

Kingsley Liu 
President, AALA NSW

Register

An article by Jing Zhu and Helen Tung, executive committee members of the AALA, has recently been published in The Bulletin, the journal of the Law Society of South Australia. 

To read the article, please click here. The article appears on pages 22-23 of the journal. 

If you are a legal practitioner in South Australia and would like to get involved with the AALA, please contact us at info@aala.org.au. 

Event invitation

Dear Members,

Join internationally renowned arbitrator, Neil Kaplan CBE QC SBS as he explores - the history of international arbitration - advantages and disadvantages of the procedures involved - the UNCITRAL Model Law, the basis of arbitration law in countries around the world, including Australia. 

This event is not hosted by the AALA, but AALA members are warmly invited to attend. 

Date and time
Wednesday 16 March 
5.30pm Registration & networking 
6.00pm Commencement 
7.30pm Close

Venue
Holman Fenwick Willan 
Level 41, Bourke Place 
600 Bourke Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000

To register for the event, please click here. 

The AALA is teaming up with John Leung – Barrister, ukulele enthusiast, soccer goalie and comedian – to bring you special discounted tickets to his first ever solo show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – “John Leung: 8 Things You Don't Know About Me”. AALA members save $7 on the normal ticket price (from $22 to $15), and will also have the opportunity to join John and fellow members for drinks after the show. Only 20 spots available – first in, best dressed! Best regards, The Asian Australian Lawyers Association

Tuesday, 12 April 9.45pm (50 minutes) Venue The Downstairs Lounge @ The Swanston Hotel Melbourne Grand Mercure 195 Swanston Street Melbourne Cost $15.00 for AALA members Please do not book through the MICF website, Trybooking or at the door as you will not receive the discounted price. Optional pre-show dinner and post-show drinks (pay on the night) – details to be advised. Register

The Victorian Women Lawyers is now seeking new members to join its Cultural Diversity Committee.

The Committee works to improve access to the law for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD backgrounds), by:

• researching the areas of law in which CALD women may face difficulties obtaining information or assistance;
  
• undertaking projects to inform women from CALD backgrounds about their legal rights; and
  
• working with and in support of other organisations that deliver legal services and assistance to women from CALD backgrounds.
  

If you are interested in joining the Committee, please get in touch with the Committee's Co-Chairs, Julia Wang (julia.r.wang@gmail.com) and Elva Zhang (elva.j.zhang@gmail.com).

This month's Law Institute Journal (March 2016) features several articles on the topic of cultural diversity. In particular, two of those articles refer to the AALA, highlighting the AALA's continuing advocacy for diversity in the legal profession. 

To read more, please click on the links below:

Cultural Diversity Essential for Survival

Opinion - Challenge and Opportunity

Dear Members, 

The Hellenic Lawyers Association is hosting a panel discussion on 16 March 2016 on "Health and Wellbeing in the Legal Profession".

For more information and registration details, please click here to view the event flyer. 

AALA President Reynah Tang recently took part in a discussion on diversity in the legal industry with other high-profile members of the profession.

To read the article, please click here.