AABANY STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM

Introduction and Commitment to AABANY’s Mission

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is committed to being a welcoming, safe, supportive, and empowering organization that embraces its mission, reflects its values, and fosters a cohesive community among its members. Deeply dedicated to its mission of promoting justice, equity, and opportunity for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) legal professionals and the broader community, AABANY recognizes and fully embraces the notion that high standards of personal and professional behavior—imbued with the principles of good character, honesty, integrity, mutual respect, accountability, and professional courtesy—promote a healthy and vibrant organizational culture and community grounded in shared trust, mutual appreciation, and collective well-being. 

Furthermore, within and throughout AABANY, each person is to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of that individual’s protected characteristics under all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hair styles), color, ethnicity, ancestry or national origin, citizenship, age (18 and over), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and transgender status), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial or marital status, physical or mental disability (including gender dysphoria), genetic information (including predisposing genetic characteristics), veteran, military or servicemember status, religious beliefs, political affiliation, and certain arrest or conviction record and domestic violence victim status (“Protected Characteristics”). 

Scope and Applicability 

 These Standards of Professionalism (the “Standards”) apply to all individuals who participate in, attend, engage with, or otherwise interact with AABANY, including but not limited to general members, Board officers, Board members, Committee Chairs, Committee Vice Chairs, employees, interns, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, vendors, event guests, program registrants, and other visitors (“Participants”). 

Prohibition of Discrimination or Harassment

AABANY endeavors to foster a professional working, learning, and social environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and insult. To that end, AABANY strictly prohibits all forms of discrimination or harassment based on a person’s Protected Characteristics. This prohibition applies to all forms of conduct, whether verbal, written, visual, or physical, and whether occurring in person, online or through any other medium.

Prohibition of Offensive Behavior and Disrespectful Remarks

AABANY is committed to providing an environment free from offensive, abusive, or disrespectful behavior directed at a person’s Protected Characteristics, including conduct that:  

• Endangers or threatens the safety, health, or well-being of others;
• Disrupts or interferes with meetings, events, programs, etc.;
• Unreasonably impedes another individual’s ability to participate in or access AABANY activities; or
• Undermines the inclusive and respectful environment AABANY seeks to maintain. 

• Act in a professional, respectful, civil and considerate manner at all times; 
  
• Contribute to maintaining AABANY as a welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and empowering organization; 
  
• Hold oneself and other members accountable to these Standards;
  
• Do not engage in illegal, unethical, or dishonorable behavior; 
  
• Do not engage in harassment, discrimination, ridicule, or bullying in any form at any time; 
• Do not participate in any activity or engage in any conduct that may jeopardize, undermine, or compromise the safety, health, or well-being of oneself or others, or the good standing or reputation of AABANY; and 
• Do not retaliate against anyone who seeks advice, raises a concern, or makes a good-faith complaint of any nature against AABANY or any individual associated with AABANY.