2024-2025 AABANY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - Applications for the 2024-2025 program are now open! Please submit by 11:59pm on November 15, 2024. Applications submitted after that date will be reviewed subject to available spots.

AABANY’s Leadership Development Program (ALDP) is a 6-month long interactive training course designed for AABANY members who are senior attorneys navigating the promotion process within their law firms and companies. The Law Firm Partnership Track focuses on guiding senior associates on the partnership track. The In-House Counsel Track focuses on guiding in-house counsel into senior management positions within
their organizations (e.g., SVP, Deputy GC, GC). ALDP was established in 2018 to address the chronic underrepresentation of Asian Americans at leadership levels in the legal profession. Today, our alumni include partners at Am Law 100 firms as well as chief counsels, managing counsels, and assistant general counsels.

What Makes ALDP Unique:

· Focus on Soft Skills: ALDP participants have already mastered the technical skills to be an effective lawyer.  Our purpose is to help participants develop the "soft skills" needed to rise within their organizations.  Topics covered in the program include: understanding the partnership process ; identifying mentors and sponsors; navigating the politics and rising within a global organization; personal branding; executive presence, and business development.

· Focus on Small Set of Qualified Participants: ALDP is not aimed at helping a large number of participants with varying levels of experience.  Rather, our ideal participant pool consists of a small group of qualified senior attorneys who have completed basic leadership training and who have a strong desire and potential to be leaders within their organizations.   Each participant must submit an application with a recommendation from the leadership of their organization as part of the screening process.

· Focus on AABANY Community: ALDP recruits participants who are AABANY members. Our faculty are distinguished senior attorneys who are leaders within the AABANY community and supportive of AABANY’s mission.  We believe that operating this program at the local level is critical to fostering a strong mentorship relationship between the faculty and participants, as well as a strong community  among the participants themselves.

· Focus on Accountability: The program consists of six monthly 2-hour breakfast meetings which ensures that adequate time is given to each topic and that meaningful relationships can be developed.  The 2024-25 program is expected to run from September 2024 through March 2025.  Participants are expected to come to each meeting fully engaged and prepared, and are expected to apply the concepts learned and discussed each month.  Participants are also expected to take the initiative to seek out one or more mentors within the panel of distinguished ALDP law firm partner and in-house faculty members.

To Apply:

· Law Firm Associate Candidates  - Please complete and submit this application form:  ALDP Law Firm Partnership Track Application

· In-House Counsel Candidates  – Please complete and submit this application form: ALDP In-House Counsel Track Application

If you have any questions about ALDP or the application process, please contact Program Co-Chair Naf Kwun at nafkwun@lacwkrr.com.

Program Co-Chairs:

• Brian W. Song, Partner, BakerHostetler LLP
• Dohyun Kim (ALDP ‘19), Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
• Duane Morikawa, SVP and Senior Counsel, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
• Naf Kwun, Partner, Lee Anav Chung White Kim Ruger & Richter LLP
• Sapna Palla, Partner, Allen & Overy LLP
• Tansy Woan (ALDP ‘20), Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP