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The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) is a diverse coalition of Asian Canadian legal professionals working to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the wider community.

Founded in 2011, FACL BC is the largest equity-seeking bar association in British Columbia with over 850 members ranging from judges, partners, associates, in-house counsel, academics and law students and is affiliated with other FACL chapters across Canada and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) in the United States, which represents over 80,000 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander lawyers.

In 2024, FACL BC became the second organization to receive the Canadian Bar Association Touchstone Award as a result of our contributions relating to race and gender, and for promoting equality in the legal profession, the judiciary, and the legal community in all of Canada. That same year, FACL BC also received the NAPABA Affiliate of the Year Award, recognized out of 75 organizations for its best practices and accomplishments in the local community, becoming the first Canadian organization to receive this recognition.

FACL BC was also the winner of the 2022 Clawbies award for Best Podcast and the 2021 Clawbies award for Best Innovative Project for our ground-breaking documentary, “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, which captures stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by members of the Pan-Asian legal community. Our documentary was screened at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival in 2022 and continues to serve as an educational resource for Canadian and US law firms and law schools, including the BC Professional Legal Training Course.

Allies are welcome and can support our mission by joining as a Supporting Member. Supporting Members do not need to identify as pan-Asian or as a legal professional. Learn more here. 


Events

  • Write On: September Edition

    • 14 Sep 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Last year, we hosted in-person journaling sessions that brought our community together in meaningful ways. By popular demand, we’re excited to bring back virtual sessions so members across BC can join us from the comfort of home. (Don’t worry - in-person sessions will also return in the near future!)

    Are you ready to unlock the many benefits of journaling? Join FACL BC for a weekend writing session on Zoom, where we’ll explore self-discovery, creativity, and empowerment through guided journaling.

    Afterwards, participants will have the chance to share reflections from their writing (if they’d like!) and connect with others in a supportive space.

    Bring a coffee or tea, grab your pen and paper, and let’s start journaling together.

    Moderated by:

    - Jenny Huang, Associate at Blakes | Advisory Director

    - Amy Xu | Membership Volunteer

    Show details

  • Social Skills and Networking in the Modern World

    • 18 Sep 2025
    • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
    • Bennett Jones, #2500 - 666 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8
    • 44
    Register

    Want to learn and practice your networking skills with legal professionals?

    This year, FACL BC and the Asia Pacific Law Club (APLC) at UBC are partnering once again to host an exciting event designed to help students learn the art of networking. The event will start off with a presentation by Steven Ngo (past president of FACL BC and founder of Beyond the A) and Baron Hsueh (past co-president of APLC) who will share strategies for building meaningful connections and approaching networking in an authentic, effective way.

    Following this presentation, you’ll have the chance to put these lessons into practice with lawyers in a low-stakes, low-pressure environment. Awkward moments and mistakes are expected (and welcomed) as part of the learning process!

    Food and refreshments will be provided.

    Register by Saturday, September 13, 2025 to secure your spot as the event will also be first-come, first-served.

    Please note that this event is open only to APLC or FACL BC student members. If you are not a FACL BC student member, you may sign up for a membership here. Membership is free for students.

    Dress code: Business casual

    This event is kindly sponsored by Bennett Jones LLP.

    About our speakers:

    Steven Ngo is a past president of FACL BC and the founder of Beyond the A. He was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and was recently named Best Under 40 by National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

    He works as Sr. Counsel at Rivian where he drives the company’s global legal strategy for AI tech transactions and previously worked at Osler (Calgary) and Linklaters (Vietnam/Singapore). Steven is also part of the faculty at the Peter A. Allard School of Law where he is an adjunct professor and he is also guest lecturer at UC Berkeley.

    Outside of law, Steven is the host of 2 Dads 1 Car, a podcast that explores modern fatherhood and the unspoken truths of parenting. Connect with Steven on LinkedIn here.

    Baron Hsueh is a current 3L student at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, and incoming Articling Student at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Prior to law school, Baron received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at UBC, where he graduated with High Distinction. During law school, Baron served as a 1L representative and co-president of the Asia-Pacific Law Club, and an editor of the UBC Law Review. Baron is also heavily involved with FACL BC, where he co-leads the FACL BC Podcast, and previously served on FACL BC’s board of directors as a student director (UBC).

    Baron has worked as a legal intern at the British Columbia Securities Commission, a Mandarin interpreter at a national law firm, and a summer associate at a corporate law firm in Taipei. Connect with Baron on LinkedIn here.

    While this event is complimentary, we kindly request that you inform us of any changes to your RSVP as a courtesy to Bennett Jones as our sponsor and also to others who may wish to have attended the event. Timely notification of any changes ensures efficient planning and helps us maintain the quality of our events. Please note that unexplained absences or repeated no-shows to FACL BC events may affect your ability to attend future complimentary events.

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    By attending this event, you agree to abide by the FACL BC Event Code of Conduct.

    If you have any questions about the Code of Conduct, please email info@faclbc.ca.

    Show details


Statements


Our Podcast

    


Documentary



President's Message

It is with great honour and humility that I lead FACL BC as its President for 2025-2026.

FACL BC enters its 14th year stronger than ever. We launched the first issue of our journal, Silk Threads, highlighting voices and perspectives on EDI that are generally not prioritized in the legal profession. The annual gala, held annually in November, continues to be one of the Vancouver bar’s most anticipated events. Flagship events and initiatives such as the Mentorship program, Leadership Academy, and Hometown Eats continue to bring the community together. Two of our newest committees, the In-House Committee and NCA/LLM committee, are thriving, encouraging a truly diverse makeup for our membership. And last, but certainly not least, the Law Foundation of BC’s generous grant is allowing us to deepen our community outreach and legal advocacy. 

The key to FACL BC’s success has always been its members, including your openness and dedication to FACL BC and what it can do. Because of you, FACL BC is a diverse and welcoming community that is driven by its values. It is brimming with dynamism and new ideas to innovate and aid others in need. Indeed, your support paved the way for me, a first-generation and working-class Filipina immigrant and junior lawyer, to continue leading the charge. 

With your help, I know we can continue to make an impact, and leave the legal profession better than we experienced it.  Whether it's attending our events, sponsoring a new initiative, or volunteering for a committee, it all builds up to impactful change. Join me, and 750+ of your peers, in this fruitful journey. 

Like you, I believe in and I seek to advance FACL BC’s mandate. While the mandate seems more ambitious than ever nowadays, I hope that you are up for the challenge. Together, we are unstoppable. 

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President. I look forward to working with you! 

Jennine Punzalan
President
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC
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The FACL BC registered office is situated on the unceded, traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ə (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We acknowledge the significance of the land for the Indigenous peoples who have lived here and acted as stewards since time immemorial, as well as the historical and ongoing injustices they still face. We are committed to working towards decolonial solidarity and the full realization of Indigenous rights.   Read our full land acknowledgement here.

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