Dallas Asian American Bar Association: A Close-Knit Community

In 1988, a small group of 15 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) attorneys—seeing a gap in programming and advocacy geared towards AAPI attorneys and the AAPI community in Dallas—came together to establish the first Asian American bar association in Dallas. With the goals of fostering a sense of camaraderie among AAPI attorneys in Dallas/Fort Worth, and advocating for the interests of the AAPI community, these 15 individuals took their ideas and momentum and, thus began the Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA). Thirty-five years later, the organization is still growing, recording 350-plus paid members. DABBA was established for the benefit of AAPI attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals in the DFW metroplex. Its core purposes focus on advocacy of AAPI attorney interests and promotion of its members’ professional growth and good standing. As of 2015, approximately 67 percent of the self-identified AAPI attorneys practicing in Dallas County were DAABA members—a testament to the hard work of DAABA members and leaders over the past 35 years.

DAABA is currently led by President Janet Landry Smith; President Elect Kristine Cruz; Treasurer Ashley Yen; Secretary Alen Samuel; Directors Marissa Boulanger, Eric Chen, Hanna Kim, Sophia Mai, Jacob George Mathew, and Vinita Tandon Singh; and Advisory Directors Jonathan Koh, Immediate Past President, and Jennifer Wang

Emerging from the more severe impacts and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, DAABA’s mission for 2023 centers on reinvigorating its membership. With plans to strengthen its Mentorship Program, CLE programming, professional award nominations, and social events, DAABA has high hopes for in-person attendance throughout the year and the development of a pipeline for future organization membership and leadership. Additionally, plans are already underway for the Annual DAABA Awards Night to be held on October 5, 2023, at the new JW Marriott Hotel in Dallas featuring a fireside chat with HF Sinclair Executive Vice President and General Counsel Vaishali Bhatia

“I first became involved in DAABA when I served as the Law Student Liaison to the Board of Directors. In that role I learned about bar association involvement and leadership by attending DAABA Board meetings and volunteering with programs throughout the year, like the Annual Awards Night,” said DAABA President Janet Landry Smith, in-house counsel at Southwest

2023 Dallas Bar Association

DEI CLE Challenge

The DBA encourages its members to aspire to complete 3 hours of CLE training in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and equity each calendar year. The DBA will recognize members who complete and self-report their 3 hours of DEI CLE by December 31, 2023. Programs that qualify will be identified on the DBA’s online calendar.

Join the Challenge to be recognized in the February 2024 Headnotes, in DBA Online, and receive your electronic DEI CLE Challenge badge.

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Airlines. “Looking back a decade later, I am so thankful for the support, guidance, and opportunities I have received over the years from the friends and mentors I met through this organization. My hope for the organization this year is to continue our legacy of advocating for the interests of the Dallas Asian American community and creating a platform for the professional growth of our members.”

A close-knit community, with founding members still actively involved, DAABA is a welcoming space for both the established attorney as well as those who are new to practice or new to DFW. DAABA serves as a space for its members to further their professional development goals—whether speaking on a panel, forging relationships through mentorship, connecting with others at a happy hour, or developing confidence in leadership capabilities.

Beyond the programs it hosts in the legal industry, DAABA also has a robust history of serving the greater DFW community. From creative programming during the COVID-19 pandemic such as “Cooking for a Cause”—a virtual, interactive, family-friendly cooking class benefiting Chetna DFW, to Halloween costume drives and Trunk-or-Treat events benefitting Mosaic Family Services, DAABA displays its efforts to not only serve its members, but also DFW.

To celebrate DAABA’s 35th Anniversary in 2023, the organization is hosting its inaugural AAPI Month Luncheon on May 12, 2023 at noon at the Arts District Mansion, with hopes to make the lunch an annual event. This year’s program will feature an incredible

Interesting Facts about DAABA

• What is the mission of your Bar?

To advocate for the interest of Asian American attorneys and promote the professional growth and good community standing of DAABA’s members.

• When was your Bar founded?

In 1988 with 15 attorneys.

• How many members do you have? Around 350 panel of past DAABA Presidents and early DAABA members discussing the founding of DAABA and how the Dallas landscape has changed in the past 35 years for AAPI lawyers, as well as the AAPI community. DAABA also collaborates with other organizations for joint events promoting AAPI interests and supporting the AAPI community. This year has included a Holi festival with SABA, and is set to include partnerships with the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas for its upcoming Conference in Austin and The Khalid Jabara Foundation for the upcoming CLE—The Four Letter Word: Equipping Lawyers in the Fight Against HATE, at the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum on May 23, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.

• Who can join?

DAABA membership is open to all.

• Current leadership?

Janet Landry Smith, President; Kristine Cruz, President-Elect; Ashley Yen, Treasurer; Alen Samuel, Secretary.

“I am grateful to DAABA for creating a community for many first-generation attorneys. I found invaluable mentorship and guidance from DAABA members who paved the way for the next generation,” said DAABA President-Elect Kristine Cruz, an Associate at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. “I was a 1L when I first became involved with DAABA through their mentorship program. The support I have since received from DAABA is unparalleled, I give a lot of credit to DAABA for all that I have been able to achieve thus far in my career. I hope that we can carry on DAABA’s legacy of community and support for its members.”

For more information, or to become involved in DAABA, visit www.daa ba.org. HN