Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Leadership, 2025-26
- President: Daniel Hahm
- Internal Vice President: Oliver To
- External Vice President: Sandy Yun
- Treasurer: Grace Yeo
- Secretary: Lily Nguyen
- Social Media & Marketing Chair: Chyna Le
- Faculty Advisor: Lloyd Mayer
The purpose of the Notre Dame Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) is to foster an environment where South Asian, East Asian, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islander law students are supported and welcomed within the University of Notre Dame and the law school community.
In this section:
- Upcoming Events
- Past Events
- News & Publications
- Resources for Incoming and Current Students
- Resources for Alumni
Upcoming Events
Alumni Reunion Weekend: March 21-22, 2025
APALSA is excited to announce a groundbreaking event at Notre Dame Law School. For the first time, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), and the Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) will host their Alumni Reunion Weekends together on March 21-22. This unique occasion offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with all three vibrant ND Law communities.
Alumni Reunion Weekend Events
APALSA will host its inaugural annual alumni banquet. This event will provide a platform for alumni to reconnect, interact with current students, and participate in panel discussions on various topics related to the experiences of Asian American attorneys. Additionally, the banquet will honor the achievements of notable alumni, staff, and students through the presentation of awards.
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APALSA Alumni Fireside Chat
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Affinity Group March Madness Game Watch Party with NDLA Board
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BLSA-HLSA-APALSA Cross Alumni Panel and Brunch
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BLSA & APALSA Joint Cocktail Reception
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APALSA Alumni Banquet
Retreat
APALSA is planning a retreat to kick off the Spring semester and foster stronger friendships and community among members.
Judges Panel
APALSA will invite distinguished Asian Pacific American judges from federal and state courts to share their experiences, legal journeys, and insights on clerkship opportunities.
Past Events
1L Welcome & Kick-off Dinner: APALSA E-board 24-25 hosted a welcome dinner for all incoming 1Ls to introduce them to APALSA, our mission at Notre Dame Law School, and to kick off the new academic year.
Navigating 1L Panel: APALSA hosted a Navigating 1L Panel featuring upperclassmen Aileen Seo (’25), Sudeep Kalkunte (’25), Rohan Vaidya (’25), and Steven Tu (’26). The panel provided practical advice on legal professionalism, class preparation, reading strategies, networking, and exam preparation to help incoming 1Ls successfully navigate their first year of law school.
Transactional & Litigation Panel: APALSA invited distinguished alumni working in various legal fields to share insights on transactional and litigation work. Panelists included Koh Tanimoto (Former associate at Simpson Thatcher, current Assistant General Counsel for AECOM, LA), Michael Mercurio (Assistant General Counsel for E. & J. Gallo Winery, California), Fon Bisalbutr (Corporate Associate at McDermott Will & Emery, D.C.), Nathaniel Cho (Corporate Associate at BakerHostetler, Dallas), Shaleen J. Patel (IP Litigation Associate at Alston & Bird, Atlanta), and Richard Dean Holzheimer (Litigation Partner at McGuireWoods, D.C.). The panelists discussed the nuances of their respective practice areas and offered advice on how to choose a legal career path.
NAPABA Convention 2024: APALSA members attended the annual NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association) Convention in Seattle. The event provided an opportunity to represent the Notre Dame Chapter, attend informative seminars and sessions on pressing legal issues, and network with fellow lawyers, law students, and legal scholars from across the nation.
Barnes & Thornburg Mixer: Notre Dame APALSA members benefited from an annual networking mixer hosted by Barnes & Thornburg's South Bend office. The event allowed students to network with attorneys, gain firsthand knowledge of big law firms, and learn about various practice areas, empowering them to make informed career decisions.
APALSA Thanksgiving Potluck: APALSA members will come together to celebrate Thanksgiving through a shared potluck meal, fostering community and friendship.
Diwali Celebration: Diwali is the festival of light and is celebrated across South Asia. The Law School’s Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, along Notre Dame’s South Asian Student Association and the Graduate Student Union, organized a Diwali Celebration on October 27 in the Dahnke Ballroom. Over 200 students from across campus attended the event.
A Conversation with Judge Edward M. Chen: Surviving Law School As a Diverse Student: Judge Chen is a federal judge on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.
ND APALSA Young Alumni Panel: Panelists included Adrienne De La Rosa (former EIC of JICL and Big Law Associate, currently Corporate Counsel for Frontdoor, Inc), David Chang (former clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, currently an IP Associate at Kirkland & Ellis), and Manasi Raveendran (first-ever EIC of JICL, IBM Trust & Compliance, currently the Director of Education Oversight and Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives).
Lunar New Year: Chinese New Year is the festival that honors the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar.
News and Publications
ND Law student elected president of National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
Resources for Incoming and Current Students
AccessLex Law School Scholarship Bank
Resources for Alumni
Social Media
Instagram: @notredame.apalsa
Click here to donate to the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association