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The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society 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 760 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 lawyers.

In 2024, FACL BC received 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. 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. 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. 


  • FACL BC Membership: Rumble & Mingle

    • 15 Sep 2024
    • 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    • Rumble Boxing Studio Mount Pleasant, 168 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3J2
    Join waitlist


    Join us for an energizing class at Rumble as we kick off the FACL BC year! This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people in the FACL community, including our new Membership Committee members. Whether you're a seasoned boxer or a total beginner, this event is designed to get your heart pumping and your connections flowing.

    We thank Oyen Wiggs for graciously sponsoring FACL BC for this event.

    After we've worked up a sweat, we're excited to continue the fun with a post-workout social, generously sponsored by Oyen Wiggs. This will be a great chance to unwind, chat, and enjoy some well-deserved refreshments.

    Date: September 15, 2024

    Time: 3pm to 4:30pm

    Location: Rumble Boxing Studio Mount Pleasant, 168 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3J2

    Please have boxing hand wraps pre-purchased for class or purchase them in studio directly from Rumble. Wraps are required for safety reasons. Boxing glove rentals will be complimentary.

    Final Notes

    While this event is complimentary, we kindly request that you inform us of any changes to your RSVP as a courtesy to Oyen Wiggs 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.

    ___________________________________________________

    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

  • Social Skills and Networking in the Modern World

    • 26 Sep 2024
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Bennett Jones, 666 Burrard St #2500, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8
    Join waitlist

    Networking can often be a confusing and overwhelming experience, but don’t worry: help is on the way!

    This year, APLC is hosting an exciting event in collaboration with FACL BC to teach students how to network! Our event will begin with a presentation by Steven Ngo, Past President of FACL BC and founder of Beyond the A, to teach students effective and healthy networking approaches, and how to form meaningful connections within the legal community.

    Following this presentation, we will have a “practice networking” session where you can put your new skills to the test and practice with current lawyers. This event is an amazing opportunity to not only gain helpful insights into the goals and approaches towards networking, but also apply your networking skills with practicing lawyers in an informal setting.

    Food and refreshments will be served.

    Please register by Monday, September 23, 2024, 11:59PM PST to secure your spot as the event will also be first come, first served.

    Please note that this event is open to FACL BC and APLC members only. If you are not currently a member, please consider joining us here.

    This event is kindly sponsored by Bennett Jones LLP.

    Attendees: APLC and FACL BC members

    Dress Code: Business/Smart Casual

    About our Speaker: Steven Ngo was a past president of FACL BC and the co-founder of Beyond the A.  He was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine in 2022 and an Alumni Changemaker by the Allard School of Law in 2023.  

    He currently serves on the board of governors for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), which represents 80,000 legal professionals in the US and Canada. He recently joined the faculty at the Peter A. Allard School of Law as an adjunct professor and also teaches at the University of California at Berkeley.

    He currently works as Sr. Counsel at Rivian and previously worked at Osler in Calgary and Linklaters in Vietnam. Outside of law, Steven is a father and the host of 2 Dads 1 Car, a parenting podcast that discusses modern fatherhood. Connect with Steven 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.

    ___________________________________________________

    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 a true honour to lead FACL BC as President for the 2024-2025 year. As a first-generation Canadian and the first in my family to become a lawyer, I deeply resonate with many of you. When I joined FACL BC as an articling student during the challenges of COVID, I sought support and connection in a time of uncertainty. What I experienced was far more remarkable than I ever expected: a vibrant and passionate community dedicated to mentorship, driving meaningful change, and championing Asian-Canadian legal professionals.

Throughout my time with FACL BC, I have been privileged to be part of many incredible initiatives and events. Some highlights include helping produce the FACL BC Podcast, available on Apple Podcast and Spotify, where we spotlight the inspiring journeys of Asian-Canadian legal professionals; being involved in the largest mentorship program in Western Canada for law students and junior lawyers; contributing to our impactful documentary, But I Look Like a Lawyer, which has become a key resource for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) training at local law schools and in the BC bar materials; hosting our monthly wellness-focused journal club, Write On, for the past two years; enjoying meaningful connections at our Hometown Eats events; and establishing our very own FACL BC Journal to highlight and discuss pressing legal issues and topics important to the Asian-Canadian community in BC.

FACL BC has so much to offer, and I sincerely hope you have all experienced the same sense of welcome, community, and belonging that I have. Whether someone introduced you to FACL BC or you bravely attended an event by yourself, I applaud you. It is because of you that we have this wonderful community of over 760 members.

Together, we are a powerful voice for the Asian-Canadian legal community. As we enter our 13th year, leveraging our collective strength to push boundaries is more crucial than ever. In light of recent EDI program cutbacks across North America, fostering unity in diversity is not just a priority - it is a necessity. There is still a lot of work to be done. This year, we are committed to continuing furthering our EDI efforts, sparking essential conversations on allyship, and providing impactful legal educational opportunities for the Asian-Canadian legal community.

I encourage you to continue sharing your ideas, stories, and milestones, actively participate in our initiatives and events, and most importantly, consider volunteering your time or becoming a sponsor. FACL BC is a non-profit society that is predominantly volunteer-driven with 22 board members, over 100 committee volunteers, and 3 part-time staff members. Our growth and influence are only made possible because of your engagement.

We warmly invite you and your friends to join our community at https://faclbc.ca/join as Full or Student Members. Our allies are also welcomed through our Supporting Membership.

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

Jenny Huang
President
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC
LinkedIn


@faclbc


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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