2010 apalsa law school admissions guide for asian pacific americans

8/8/2019 2010 APALSA Law School Admissions Guide for Asian Pacific Americans

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Prepared by the Harvard Law School Asian Pacific

American Law Students Association

2008-2009 Board

Ping Song Co-Chair

Connie Wu Co-Chair

Linda Lee Treasurer

Cyrus Chung Academic Chair

Sojeong Hong Membership & Alumni Chair

Ryan Park Political & Outreach Chair

Seon-Joo Yoong Social Chair

Jane Wang Conference Co-Chair

Gail Su Conference Co-Chair

Peter Chang Communications Co-Chair

Kate Yoon Communications Co-Chair

Audrey Lee Finance Co-Chair

Doreen Xia Finance Co-Chair

Joshua Chang Finance Co-Chair

Danielle Pham 3L Outreach Chair

Jessica Vu Admissions Chair

Chris Lee Co-Chair Emeritus

Ming Zhu Co-Chair Emeritus

Logo design and cover layout by Jerone Hsu

Photography by Steve Gee


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Introduction

Today Asian Pacific Americans, as the countrys second fastest growing minority group,make up 4 percent of the national population. In law schools across the nation, the racial make-upof the classroom and academia is quickly changing. Ten years ago, Asian Pacific Americans (APA)constituted 1.9 percent of the total number of enrolled law students. For the 2007-2008 school year,that number had nearly quadrupled to 7.4 percent. Moreover, in recent times, APAs have beenchanging the face of the legal profession. In 2002, Debora Wong Yang was appointed to becomethe first Asian American woman to serve as a United States Attorney. In 2004, Harold Koh, aKorean American, became the dean of Yale Law School. And in 2007, Harvard Law School hiredits first female Asian American tenure track faculty member, Criminal Law and Family LawProfessor Jeannie Suk.

These numbers illustrate only part of the picture. The academic success of many APAs todate masks a number of less apparent statistics. In the judiciary and among partnerships at lawfirms, APAs continue to be poorly represented. Out of 748 judges serving on the federal bench, 7are APA. At law firms in the U.S., only 1 percent of partners are APA. And at all law schools,numbers of students of Southeast Asian and Japanese descent still lag behind their Asiancounterparts. APAs as a whole have broken new ground in the legal profession, but there is greatpotential for the group to go even further.

The mission of this guide is to give you a brief overview of the law school applicationprocess, with a perspective geared toward APAs. APAs are a highly diverse group. Some are firstgeneration immigrants; some come from middle-class families whereas others have moreestablished cultural and financial roots. Some APAs, as the model minority myth counsels, areexcellent test-takers, while many are not. Regardless of which category you fall into or where youare in the application process, this guide will provide you with advice on how to prepare for yourlaw school application. This includes your:

1. Transcript and grades2. LSAT score3. Resume4. Two to four recommendation letters5. Personal statement6. Any additional statements you may wish to include.

The admission process may appear daunting at first sight. In reality, it is a process that canbe mastered given the correct amount of patience, discipline, and diligence.

Grades

The mantra here is simple: get good grades. The best way to do this is to choose a majorthat you enjoy and study hard. Having a decently-maintained GPA is a safe cushion to have in caseyour LSAT score is not as high as you originally planned. A good GPA should aim to be at least3.0. We strongly recommend that it is above 3.5 if you hope to attend a Tier 1 law school and above3.75 if you are aiming for the top 5 schools. Students coming from certain more prestigiousundergraduate institutions will gain a slightedge in this area; admissions committees give a smalldegree of leniency toward mid-range GPAs for these individuals. Admissions committees will


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interpret your GPA in the context of the difficulty of your classes and your course load. It wouldnot be wise to take easier or fewer classes simply for the purpose of boosting your GPA.

In short, maintain a high GPA consistently throughout your undergraduate career. Therewards will prove enormous.

LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test that provides astandard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills. The LSAT is required foradmission to all ABA-approved law schools. It is one of several factors that law schools use inassessing applicants. Fee waivers are available for those applicants that can demonstrate anabsolute inability to pay this fee. The LSAT is administered four times a year.

Although not essential for scoring well, it would be an excellent idea to take a LSATpreparation class. Test prep classes are expensive and undergraduate loans do not cover the cost ofthese programs. Nevertheless, they are well worth the investment. If you are serious about going tolaw school, it will cost over $100,000 in tuition and housing whether you are at a Tier 1 or non-Tier1 school. A LSAT prep class, at around $1,000, is probably the most cost effective investment youcan make.

From our experience, TestMasters, Blueprint, and PowerScore appear to offer the leadingLSAT test prep courses. Of course, the quality of the instructor is the defining element of thequality of any class. Even within these companies, you should shop around for the best instructor.These are recommendations based on our own exposure to the instruction methods and learningmaterials from TestMasters, Blueprint, and PowerScore. We are not affiliated in any way withthese companies.

The three companies we recommend utilize real LSAT questions that have appeared on pastLSAT exams. Exposure to real questions makes a world of difference when you are in the examroom and confronting the real LSAT. Companies who do not use real questions will therefore failto prepare you adequately for the real LSAT. Their courses may end up giving you a false sense ofcomfort about your ability; their questions are either easier or very different from real LSATquestions.

If you are unable to take a class, you should purchase or borrow from the library LSATpreparatory books and study on your own. We believe the best books are ones that include real testquestions from prior exams.

Whether taking a class or studying on your own, you should establish a regular schedule foryour LSAT study and stick to it. If you are a good test taker, two to three hours of preparation a dayover a three-month period should be sufficient. If you are not a good test taker, then plan to

immerse yourself in the LSAT for six to eight hours a day. The time you prepare for the LSAT willpay off, not just in terms of your score, but also when you arrive in law school. The LSAT testsyour ability to read and think logically and analyze material in a lawyer-like fashion in a limitedperiod of time. When you are a law student, those same skills are crucial to your success. TheLSAT, like the SAT, is just something you have to practice to master. The fact that so many APAshave scored above the 90

thpercentile is testimony to the payoff of their willingness to sacrifice

many hours of hard work studying for the exam.


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Do not rush to take your LSAT unless you are confident about your ability. Manyapplicants hurry to take the LSAT to meet application deadlines only to be disappointed with theresult. Again, the key is to prepare well in advance. To improve your scoring, take several practiceexams under simulated testing conditions, and purchase your own analog timing device at a localelectronics or convenience store (digital timers and clocks are now banned). If you are not scoringin your ideal range in the week before the exam, consider waiting until the next application season.Alternatively, if your scoring reaches a plateau, consider hiring a LSAT tutor to coach you with theskills you need to master.

If you walk out of the exam room convinced that you did poorly, take some time to dwell onyour feelings about the test. Although it may be a good idea to cancel a test score that you arecertain did not fall within your expectations, it is extremely important not to make any rashdecisions. Deliberate for one or two days prior to taking any sort of action, since you have six daysto cancel. Keep in mind that one score cancellation will not hurt your chances of admission. Incontrast, multiple LSAT scores will be averaged together at most schools.

Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)

Law school applications are best completed online via the Law School Data AssemblyService (LSDAS) website. The LSDAS is the same service that allows you to register for theLSAT. The LSDAS channels your standard information (name, address, social security number)into a common application, thereby avoiding unnecessary repeated entries for certain categories.Subscription to the LSDAS lasts 12 months and costs $117. You should subscribe to the onlineservice once you begin to work on your application for each law school. Like the LSATregistration fee, the LSDAS registration fee can be waived if an applicant can demonstrate anabsolute inability to pay this fee.

The LSDAS is also the medium that receives your transcripts, letters of recommendation,and personal statement and that submits these materials to the law schools of your choice. Lettersof recommendation must be accompanied by an identifying letter that is printed from the LSDASsite. Become well acquainted with the duration it takes for recommendation letters and transcriptsto be processed.

Remember to allocate substantial time toward the completion of the application form foreach school. Each schools online application form is slightly different, and some will require thatyou re-enter information already contained in your resume. On average, it takes about one to twohours to complete and double-check each form.

Resume

A well-crafted resume should accurately capture the extent of your professional andacademic endeavors while exhibiting your ability to sell your talents. For a rich and varied resume,

pursue your interests and leadership potential in several organizations and ensure that you havesome internship or work experience. It is a nice addition but it is not necessary for you to work in alaw firm or to have had a law-related work experience. Many individuals can have outstandingresumes even if they have no legal background.

Take the time to perfect the language and formatting of your resume. The organizationshould be clean and easy-to-read. The descriptions of your accomplishments should be impressivebut not overstated. Try to keep the length between one and two pages. Overall, a month is a goodamount of time to spend perfecting your resume.


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Personal Statement

The personal statement is the one chance you have in your application to let your originalityshine. Do not be afraid to take risks and to speak honestly about the motivations and experiencesthat have led you down the path to law school. A particularly provocative or unique essay maygreatly enhance your application, so consider it very seriously. We suggest that you spend one totwo months developing and refining your essay.

To develop a feel for how an ideal personal statement sounds, read as many samples as youcan at the local bookstore or library. Check with your pre-law advisers office as they may havethese books already. We recommend that you have a look at the following:

1. Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 2nd edition, Princeton Review (2006)2. Great Personal Statements for Law School, Paul Bodine (2005)3. Essays That Will Get You into Law School, Daniel Kaufman, Amy Burnham, and Chris

Dowhan (1998)

Law school personal statements are different from undergraduate personal statements; thetone is more professional and the themes are more developed. Have several people review yourpersonal statement for you; at the very least, an undergraduate pre-law adviser or a professor shouldread it prior to your submission. Remember to respect the maximum length proscribed by eachschool.

Letters of Recommendation

You should exercise the utmost discretion in requesting a letter of recommendation. Oftenthe best way to secure an excellent recommendation letter is simply to ask a writer who knows youwell. Attending the professors office hours, consulting with a faculty adviser for a thesis project,and taking up research and teaching assistant jobs are excellent ways of establishing a closerelationship with a professor. Academic letters from professors, since they attest to your intellectualacuity, are given far greater weight than a supervisors recommendations based on your work orinternship experience. More importantly, developing such a relationship can be one of the mostrewarding experiences of your undergraduate career.

Since recommendation letters compose the one part of your application that you cannot viewprior to its submission, determining whether the faculty member will be up to the task will requiresome skill. First, weigh the professors response after making the request. If there is any sign ofhesitation, do not rely upon that individual. Your ideal recommendation letter should be asenthusiastic, personal, detailed, and persuasive as possible. Hesitancy is a negative indicator that

should demonstrate to you that this individuals letter will probably not help you distinguishyourself from the rest of the candidates. Very few people possess the ill will to write you a negativerecommendation; therefore, consider a mediocre letter a bad letter.

Second, if possible, check with other students who you know have requestedrecommendation letters from the same professor to see whether they had a positive or negativeexperience with him or her.


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Third, write a letter of request to the individual who will be making the recommendation. Inthis letter, include all of the following elements:

1. Thank them2. Explain your long-term career goals3. Give your LSAT and GPA4. List the schools you plan to apply to5. Include a copy of your resume, personal statement, and transcript6. Explain why you would like them to write this letter7. Briefly highlight your accomplishments under their supervision or guidance.

Be sure to include the identifying bar-code document from LSDAS with your materials andtake the time to explain to your recommender that this must accompany the letter sent to theLSDAS Letter of Recommendation Service.

Taking the above steps will help ensure that you have some control over the quality of yourrecommendation letter.

Deans Certification / Recommendation

At a minimum, the Deans Certification or Recommendation serves as confirmation that youare a student in good standing at your undergraduate institution. A standard-form Certificationletter completed by your Dean will not in any way diminish your chances of admission.

However, under the right circumstances, a more personalized Certification has the capacityto enhance your application further. At private universities, where school administration officialsgive their students greater individualized attention, the Deans Certification can play an additionalrole in highlighting personal attributes of the applicant not readily apparent in the academicrecommendation letters. For example, at Harvard and Yale, resident house tutors complete theDeans Certification on behalf of the applicants and provide anecdotal information about theapplicants leadership potential or their interest in pursuing a legal career.

At public schools, obtaining a more personalized Deans Certification is a more difficult butnot impossible task. If you have a good working relationship with any type of administrativeofficial at your undergraduate institution, this person often can complete the form or letter on yourbehalf. Examples include a departmental staff member, a student internship coordinator, or a worksupervisor who incidentally happens to also be a school official (such as the head of libraryservices, a financial aid office coordinator, or a study abroad program director). Again, rest assuredthat you are not disadvantaged in any way if your undergraduate institution submits a standard formfor the Deans Certification or Recommendation.

Diversity Addendum

Typically, applicants describe any socio-economic disadvantages that they have overcomeor how their ethnicity or cultural background will contribute to the diversity of the law school in aDiversity Addendum.

Regardless of what you choose to write about, it is important to explain how the particularsituation has impacted your undergraduate education and your motivation and work ethics. For acultural diversity addendum, it is not sufficient to merely reference your background or your


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immigrant roots. You should further explain how this will enhance your ability to contribute to thediversity of the class or broaden the spectrum of academic discussion at law school. Whendescribing the socio-economic hardships that you have faced, be sure to note how you havesuccessfully overcome them. Most importantly, refrain from making excuses, and keep the tone ofthe addendum positive.

A Unifying Theme: Packaging it Together

Each segment of your application should express a unique trait about your character andabilities. As a result, the completed package ideally will convey a unifying theme of a polished,academically and socially engaged candidate for admissions. Therefore, it is essential that everyelement constitutes a piece of the puzzle illustrative of your potential to succeed in law school. Wehave included two fictitious profiles to emphasize this point.

Profile 1. Leily Hou, a psychology and public policy double major at Stanford, writes apersonal statement describing her interest in applying to Harvard Law School and her goal ofbecoming a prosecutor. Her resume reflects her interest; she has worked at a child advocacy publicinterest law firm, served as an interpreter at a domestic violence shelter, conducted research for herpsychology professor on theories of punishment, and interned at her Senators Washington, D.C.office. She will request recommendations from her supervisor at the child advocacy clinic, herpsychology professor, and another professor who is advising her on her honors thesis in publicpolicy. Additionally, she includes an addendum describing how her cultural make-up, which ishalf-Canadian and half-Taiwanese, will contribute to the diversity of the law school.

Profile 2. Christopher Dao graduated from Brown with an engineering major and a businessminor, and he worked for three years at a Swiss bank. As an undergraduate, he won severaldepartmental awards, interned at Google in Mountain View, worked as a T.A. for an engineeringprofessor, and researched venture capital growth for his business professor. He will submitrecommendations from both of these professors, along with his supervisor at the bank. Hispersonal statement describes his interest in intellectual property law and some of his experiences asan investment banker. His addendum outlines how, as a first-generation Asian American, he hassuccessfully overcome his socio-economic disadvantages.

These sample profiles are not meant to be all inclusive, but they should give you anapproximate idea of how to best package your application.

Early Bird Wins: Timing of Application Submission

Send your application in as early as possible to maximize your chances of admission. Sincemost law school admissions processes are rolling, spots in next years entering class are typicallyfilled as applications are received.

The admissions season generally begins in mid-September and extends to early or mid-February. A small but ever increasing number of applications are weekly received between mid-September and mid-November. The peak of the applications season begins in mid-November andlasts until early January, the period in which the majority of applicants submit their materials. Fromearly January to mid-February, the number of applications subsides noticeably.

The best time to send in your application is at the beginning (mid-September to mid-November), while there are more spots available in the entering class. The longer that you wait, theless room there is.


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Please take early bird advice with a grain of salt; a rushed or error-filled application thatarrives a few days earlier will not impress the admissions committee. Get your application in soon,but do not sacrifice quality for timeliness.

Further Information on Deferrals and Wait Lists

During the admissions cycle, law schools will hold or defer the application of an individualwhom they consider promising until they have received all applications in February. In otherwords, an individual with borderline GPA and LSAT scores may have submitted her application inearly October, only to receive a hold or deferral notice in January or February. Her application willthen be considered in the context of all other applications received. If you have been deferred to thesecond round of the admission process and you would like additional information, please contact usfor advice and suggestions.

Credits

This publication would not have been possible without the generous support, assistance, andadvice of Philip Lee, Assistant Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School. Contributions fromthe following individuals were also invaluable: Stanley Chang, Leslie Lang, Ryan Park, Ray Seilie,Jane Wang, and Connie Wu. This admissions guide was written by Jessica Vu, Admissions Chair,and it was edited by Ping Song, Co-Chair of the Harvard Law School Asian Pacific American LawStudents Association. Jerone Hsu of Prime Produce designed the cover art and formatting.

We are grateful to Professor Viet Dinh of Georgetown University Law Center for providingthe original inspiration for this project.

The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the APALSABoard or the Harvard Law School Admissions Office or any of its employees. This guide serves tooffer general guidelines for pre-law students. Since some of the rules expressed are opinions, theyshould be viewed as established rules and prospective students are advised to use their bestjudgment as to what works best for them.

The authors, contributors, editors, and designers of this guide assume no liability for eitherthe information contained herein or any improper or incorrect use of the information describedand/or contained herein. The authors and contributors also assume no responsibility for anyonesuse of the guide.

For additional information, please contact:

Jessica Vu, Admissions Chair [email protected] Song, Co-Chair [email protected]

Connie Wu, Co-Chair [email protected]

Resumes and Personal Statements

The resumes and personal statements included in this guide were written by past and currentAsian American Harvard Law School students. They are intended to serve as useful examples toaid you with your application. All names and personal information, including places ofemployment and educational institutions, have been changed to protect the privacy of the students.Please use your best judgment to ensure that you do not plagiarize any of the material.


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Lily Huang733 Berkeley Way, San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 244-7724, [email protected]

EDUCATION WILLIAMS COLLEGE, B.A. in Political Science and Political Economy, May 2004Honors: William S. Kitchens, Jr. Medal: awarded to the member of the graduating class who best

exemplifies the highest standards in academic scholarship and community serviceAcademic High Distinction

Activities: Research Assistant to Professor Daniel Bradley

The Record, Political Opinions EditorThe Movement, Dance DirectorWCFM 91.9, Hip hop DJ

EXPERIENCE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Taipei, Taiwan 2005-2007Fulbright Fellowship Recipient

Worked in the public affairs office of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

TAIWANESE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, Taipei, Taiwan 2005-2006Researcher, Commission on Human TraffickingPerformed comparative legal research on American, Australian and Canadian anti-human traffickinglegislation, directly informing significant alterations in the Taiwanese criminal code.

US SECURITIES AND EXCHANAGE COMMISSION, Washington, DC 2004-2005Paralegal, Office of the General CounselReviewed evidence pertaining to alleged violations of securities regulations. Researched and wrote legalmemos on issues related to investigations of company financial disclosures.

SAN FRANCISCO WOMENS SHELTER, San Francisco, CA 2004-2005Client Intake Counselor, Domestic ViolenceOfficeDrafted legal documents on behalf of domestic violence victims. Assisted in the preparation of temporaryrestraining order requests. Advised Petitioners as to their legal rights and responsibilities.

WILLIAMS COLLEGESTUDENT GOVERNMENT, Amherst, MA 2003-2004President, two elected terms

Managed all aspects of student government affairs. Oversaw a $800,000 budget. Gave public presentations

on behalf of the college. Served as a liaison between student groups and college administrationSecureda system of direct deposit. Created an online publication for students to evaluate their academiccoursework. Led an effort to institute an Honor Code and institute harsher penalties for cases ofacademic dishonesty. Coordinated a student-wide effort to secure construction of a new sportsstadium on college property. Initiated a process persuading the college to divest from companieswith ties to the Burmese government.

BROOKINGS INSTITUTION, Washington, DC 2003Updated and revised the primary research document on Social Security reform.

WIMBLEDON RANCH FOR GIRLS AND BOYS, San Ramon, CA Summer 2004Created and oversaw a literacy program in a group home for orphaned children. Taught summer school.

YWCA TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER, Williamstown, MA 2003-2004

Mentored children who had been victims of domestic violence. Served as a big sister.

ALVIN HORACE MIDDLE SCHOOL, Oakland, CA 2004-2005Tutored fourth grade students in pre-algebra and English

PUBLISHED Protecting Exploited Women, from the West, EASTASIAN LEGALREVIEW, (2006); The flight ofWORKS pedophiles, THECHRONICLE (February 1, 2006); The insanity defense, THEEXAMINER, (March 12, 2006).

LANGUAGES Advanced Mandarin and Cantonese, Intermediate French

OTHER Recipient of the Stanaway-Miller and Tarter Fellowships at Williams College


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ERIC JEONGWinthrop House Box 833Cambridge, MA 02138(617) [email protected]

637 East 65th StreetNew York, NY 10021

(917) 737-9243SSN: 123-45-6478

EDUCATION

Harvard University Cambridge, MAB.A. cum laude in Government expected in June 2005. Focus on American politics, including seniorthesis on New York politics. John Harvard Scholarship and Reed Book Prize for academic achievement.Coursework includes Korean, German, musical and theatrical history, rhetoric, and political philosophy.

Thomas Grisham School New York, NYGraduated first in a class of 232 in June 2001. State speech and debate champion. Class Secretary.National Merit Scholar. Hague Moot Court Competition best speaker and champion. Gave welcomespeech for Mayor at commencement. Heather McConnell Scholar. Bennedetti Scholar in Social Sciences.

EXPERIENCE

KSFM, Inc. General Manager, Vice PresidentLed a major-market commercial station of 200 members and 1.2 million listeners through day-to-dayoperations. Doubled ad revenue. Facilitated communication through weekly staff meetings.Spearheaded $200,000 facilities renovation program. Hosted camaraderie boosting social events. LedClassical Music department of 25 members through scheduling, staffing, and programming eight hours ofair daily. Produced Walton, Diaghilev, and Billboard No. 1 marathon programs. Hosted jazz musicprograms twice weekly. Sold ads and built client relationships. February 2002 to present.

CNN Television Network National Association of Broadcasters FellowOne of 40 selected from 500 applicants for a comprehensive, high-level introduction to the mediaindustry and ten-week internship in Washington, DC. Assisted in guideline revision, commercialclearance, and research support in CNN Broadcast Standards & Practices. Summer 2004.

Office of the Governor of Massachusetts Office Assistant (Intern)

Processed gubernatorial appointments for boards and commissions. Drafted and prepared high-levelcorrespondence for the Governors Chief of Staff. Performed routine office work including filing,photocopying, and answering phones. January to November 2003.

Cambridge University Press (Seoul) Staff EditorEdited and translated Korean and English text for a wide range of books, from the highly complex GreysAnatomy to tourist picture books. Summer 2003.

Harvard College Office of Admissions Records AssistantProcessed hundreds of undergraduate applications in a confidential work environment. Handledsupplementary material at all stages, from mailroom to filing. September 2001 to March 2003.

Harvard Crimson Editor and StaffwriterWrote reviews of art shows and musical performances for the campus paper. February 2003 to present.

SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES

Organizations: Captain of champion Harvard debate team at conference on South Korea at CambridgeUniversity, campaign volunteer for Gov. Mitt Romney, assistant director at Harvard Debate conference,extern at JSS (advertising) in spring 2002, member of Marketing Club

Language: Fluent in Korean, intermediate German

Computers: Windows and Macintosh; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PhotoDraw; Adobe Photoshop

Interests: Pop culture of US/Asia/Germany, swing dancing, Agatha Christie novels, cooking


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SAM DIZON, JR.6140 Mezzino Drive # 112 Houston, TX 77022

(713) 855-1637 [email protected]

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, Berkeley, CA, May 2005B.A. magna cum laude in Political Science, GPA: 3.85Honors and Awards:Pi Kappa Sigma, National Political Honor SocietyUC Berkeley Walker Prize for outstanding debate and leadership

Activities:UC Berkeley Disciplinary Council, Student Council MemberCal Dance Team, Treasurer, Choreographer, PerformerCal Parliamentarians, Treasurer, Tournament Director

1st Place, 2003 Providence College Tournament, National Championship QualifierPilipinio Academic Student Services (PASS)

Study Abroad: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, Fall 2003

EXPERIENCE

ACCENTURE, Dallas, TX, Fall 2005-presentManagement Consultant

Assessed capabilities of global project leaders and developed team effectiveness curriculum to train Fortune500 company senior executives through design and analysis of extensive surveys and creation of executivedevelopment curriculum new intellectual property for Accenture.

Created comprehensive launch and commercialization strategy for top-selling medical devices throughquantitative and qualitative research conducted in 6 countries to perform market sizing, development ofphysician buying processes and market segmentation.

Worked with CEO of leading commercial airplane manufacturer to craft 2007 North American brand plan in lightoflitigation regarding competitive launch. Performed situation analysis, designed positioning and audiencespecificmessaging, and modeled financial scenarios and budgets.

Founded Southern Racial Diversity Network and West Coast Racial Diversity Network. Co-lead recruitmentprocess at the University of California and University of Texas campuses.

UK PARLIAMENT, London, England, Fall 2003

Parliamentary Researcherfor MSP Adrian Skinner, Southeast England, SNP Shaped SNP party policy platform through research and composition of extensive report on periodicdetention with policy analyses. Analyzed models, incorporated feedback from international judges, andmade recommendations for Scottish implementation.

Composed floor speeches delivered by MSP Adrian Skinner.UC BERKELEY, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, Berkeley, CA, Summers 2004, 2003Research Assistantto Professor Sarah Duncan

Performed archival depositions from Revolutionary War British naval blockades at National Archives. Researched and composed glossary and biographies for new media-based course on pre-Revolutionary War era.

LEGAL AID SOCIETY, Houston, TX, Summer 2003Investigative Intern for Public Defense Division

Conducted investigations and interviewed complainants, witnesses, and defendants. Testified in court proceedings regarding investigations and reports.

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, 8TH Circuit, Houston, TX, Summers 2001, 2002Judicial Intern for the Hon. Christopher Shagall

Conducted legal research and drafted bench memoranda summarizing relevant issues of law andrecommending appropriate rulings.

HOUSTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, Houston, TX, Summer 2000Legal Intern for Sex Crimes Division

Assisted attorneys with criminal trial strategy, witness and evidence preparation, and trial analysis. Analyzed data for semi-annual Statutory Rape Vertical Prosecution Statistics Report.


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RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

RONE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, Berkeley, CA, 2004-2005Fellowship Recipient, Member of Society of Rone Fellows

Researched and analyzed civil liberties implications and patterns of selected U.S. immigration legislation.RONALD TAKAGI TEACHING FELLOWSHIP, Berkeley, CA, 2002-2003Research Fellow for Professor Rachel Takagi

Researched and composed background and teaching material on Asian American legal rights and citizenship.

VOLUNTEER WORK

SPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITYIN PARTNERSHIP WITH ACCENTURE, 2006 Helped recruit and select high school students of color for Accenture recruiting and mentorship events.

BROAD STREET STUDIO, 2003-2005 Taught dance and raised funds through charity dance concerts benefiting arts organization for at risk youth.

LANGUAGES

Native Tagalog speaker. Proficient in Spanish. Conversational in German.


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Personal Statement #1

Some people ride roller coasters to experience a brush with death. I went to Kathmandu. I firstvisited Nepal in my third year of high school, returning again this summer as part of a missions trip to anorphanage. Having grown up in six different countries and experienced many more cultures, I decided tospend the last week of my summer vacation before senior year in a country where almost half the children

under age 5 are underweight, infant mortality is 6.4%, and the average lifespan is just 60 years. I did so,because on these poverty-ridden streets, in the lepers convent, within Mendes Haven for orphans, are someof the most courageous, most vibrant people I have ever met.

I believe that we ride roller coasters to reacquaint ourselves with the majesty of simply being alive.The Nepalese have no need for such reacquaintance. That majesty is in the crooked smile of the woman onthe street-corner with whom I shared my dinner and in the bubbling laughter of the leper old enough to bemy grandfather. It is in the voice of 8-year-old Sabitri, with an assurance far past her age, as she told me thatshe too will open an orphanage too someday and save lives just like Mummy Mendes.

Not yet twenty, it took me all these years to find that kind of assurance in my plans for the future. Ihave spent the last four years studying humans the physical form we take, the unique minds we possess.My program of study, human biology, has engrained in me a deep awe for the beauty of human physiologyand the basic chemistry of life. My other major, psychology, has taught me how our affect, behavior, and

cognition make us distinctly human with as much in common as we are different from each other.I have also spent the last four years re-experiencing the qualities that make us human compassion,

curiosity, passion, and courage. I have been blessed to be able to live among people diverse enough to offerall this. I see compassion in Mummy Mendes when we read The HungryCaterpillarto the Nepalese orphans.Having the privilege to experience the University of Torontos research opportunity program, I see curiosityin peers and passionate professors, who create the universitys reputation for excellence in research.Participating in the BreakfastClub, a university-based choir, and in student government, I see passion instudent councils and clubs organizing events to share interests. I see courage in elementary students who arewilling to learn from a university student about how to stop bullying and in new students who are willing toaccept the friendship of an older peer. But what amazes me the most is the honest yearning for othershappiness that I see in peers, children, teachers, and friends alike.

I want to spend the rest of my years influencing those around me, because I believe in these truths

life is beautiful, we want the best for each other, and we have enough in common to make this possible. Iwant to practice law, because I wholeheartedly believe that societys norms are based on laws and can thusbe changed by them. After my Psychology and Law class readings and after meeting with the clients ofTakashi Nobu Law Firm, I am even more convinced of how encompassing law can be in terms of the topicsit covers and its potential. With a law degree, I hope to work for the United Nations in the future or in aposition which will allow me to influence and help the international community. For a girl who finds itincredibly hard to answer the question, Where are you from?, I trust that the study of law at Harvard LawSchool with its broad scope and foundation in common norms means answering more importantquestions: Where are we going and how do we get there? The answer is much harder, but I believe thatpart of the answer is that what really kills people in Nepal and elsewhere is the lack of hope in a hyphenatedsociety, where a warring states law translates to unfair standards of living, or even where the issue of raceand culture in North America involves intolerant laws and feelings of disadvantage. I believe that law can

also give this hope back.In Nepal, Sabitri asked me, What do you want to be? I want to save lives, so I replied, I want tobe a lawyer.


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When Dukes Dean of Students office accuses a student of transgressing either the Honor Code orthe Fundamental Standard, which respectively establish academic and behavioral standards for the school, itconvenes a panel composed of students, faculty, and staff members to assess the facts of the case, produce afinding of fact, and impose sanctions on culpable students.

The Panel process is intended to provide a mechanism for objective fact-finding and enable theaccused to present their respective sides to a story. I joined the Judicial Affairs Panel my sophomore year,believing it would provide an opportunity to serve the Duke community while engaging my broader interestsin law, incentives, and argumentation.

My experience with Judicial Affairs differed considerably from the theoretical character of myacademic studies at Duke. My role as a panelist simultaneously enhanced my ability to effect real changeusing persuasive skills while fostering a greater sense of responsibility and caution in using my intellectualcapacities.

The role of the Judicial Panelist is more complex than strict fact-finding and rule application. Oneparticular hearing involved a group of students who were discovered to have collaborated illicitly on a take-home exam. The facts clearly revealed that the students had breached the Honor Code. However, during thesentencing phase, we were asked not only to examine the students intentions, but also the appropriateness of

the standard punishment (a one quarter suspension) in light of the direct damage to the students careerprospects. We were asked to synthesize considerations of intent, action, and consequence to tailor decisionsto Dukes and its students best interests. This deceptively difficult task requires panelists to balance thestrictness of codified standards with the realization that written rules could overlook unpredictably contingentcircumstances. Far from being a debate resembling the clash between originalist and living Constitutionapproaches to law, however, this particular subjectivity was enshrined within the judicial panelists charteritself.

In contrast to my experiences as a debater throughout high school and college, my experience on theJudicial Affairs panel taught me about the very real strength of convincing argumentation. At a debatetournament, arguments are intended to be convincing at a very abstract level. For example, successfullydefending a repeal of the exclusionary rule during a debate round will not have any real impact on theAmerican criminal justice system. Until my tenure on the Judicial Affairs panel, this was the type of

argument to which I was accustomed; dueling claims that, while honing my analytical and philosophicalacumen, had neither bearing nor meaningful consequence upon the external world.The very real consequences of Judicial Affairs hearings made my experience in argumentation even

more essential during deliberations. As a philosophy student, I had been taught to engage assumptions withskepticism and to rigorously demand that every claim be backed up with a solid warrant. As a debater, Ilearned to frame these arguments in a persuasive and credible manner. Panel deliberations required me tosynthesize these skills by both holding the claims of my fellow panelists to rigorous scrutiny and defendingmy own position against five other intelligent individuals, all the while knowing that the results woulddirectly impact another students future.

The field of law is an even more complex synthesis of abstraction and reality. On the one hand, thelaw is a normative entity that can only be properly formulated by appeals to values of ethics and morality. Onthe other hand, it forms a very real guide to human behavior, forming individual expectations and facilitatingsocietal interaction. I do not know with absolute certainty what new challenges and demands I will encounterat Harvard Law School, but I am confident that my intellectual background is consistent with and supportiveof the study and eventual practice of law.


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I step out of the car and survey my surroundings cornstalks stretching as far as the eye could see,dirt paths strewn with trash, a spotted wild dog sleeping under a tree and the smell of dirt wafting in the air.This place is calledDonglou cun, a farming village of two thousand residents in the southern part of Henanprovince and it is here that I will spend my summer. I had come here to see a side of China that I only had a

faint knowledge of. I would soon find that this place will enlighten my understanding the countrys economicand social problems and the troubling consequences of the absence of an independent judicial system.Although I grew up in the U.S., over the years I learned about China through my occasional trips to

Shanghai. With each trip, I would see my relatives standard of living improve concurrently with theeconomic growth of the city. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had always used Shanghai as a gauge forthe countrys welfare. Yet, as I took up my studies at Columbia, this unconscious assumption of mine wasrevealed to be patently false. I discovered that I had in fact been witnessing flagrant social inequality andlearned that while a small urban elite gained wealth, it was often at the expense of some 800 million Chinesefarmers who were living at just above subsistence level. This inequality struck me as unacceptable and Idecided that at this stage in my life I should inform and educate myself on the nature of this problem.

Though I had expected otherwise, getting my family to understand and support my decision provedto be a challenge. A few crass jokes from my cousin, my mothers obsessive warnings about rural gangs and

my uncles insistence that I should get a proper job revealed their prejudice against Chinese farmers and theirplight. Their prejudice was precisely what I was trying to break away from and so, ironically, their lack ofsupport actually strengthened my commitment. Without their help and after some difficulty, I was eventuallyable to locate a contact who could arrange for me to stay in a village in Henan province. A few weeks later, Iarrived at one of the poorest places in China.

My formal goal during my stay in Donglou village was to research attitudes towards village levelelections. I expected that the farmers would cherish their right to choose a leader to advocate their interests.However, I found that their attitude towards elections was one of overwhelming apathy. For them, votingwas not a channel through which they could affect social change, but rather, one through which they could berewarded a $0.10 worth bag of sugar for their vote a minute bribery, but enough to motivate everyone toparticipate. I soon saw why: Vis--vis the higher level authorities, their elected leaders were useless. Yen,village chief of Dong, had been fighting a losing battle with the county level authorities for over three years

to obtain $1,000 allocated from the province to build roads. It was quite obvious that the funds wereembezzled, but the problem was that Yen had nowhere to seek redress. The courts had turned a blind eye anda deaf ear to a lowly village chief. So, his strategy was to leverage his personal connections to convinceprovincial level officials to crack down on the county. But ad-hoc strategies cannot be adequate solutions tosystemic problems. Even if he was successful, what about the next time something like this happens? Whatwas lacking in Donglou and similar villages across the nation was a legal system which functioneduninhibited by its fear of politicians. Only after such institutions began to fulfill their intended roles couldpeople like Yen effectively represent the interests of his constituency, and only then could the farmers beginto take interest in the elections.

A few days after the elections, a mix of township and village level officials, having heard that I hadcome from America, invited me to dine with them at their private lakeside resort. That night, more alcoholand cigarettes were consumed than the food on the table which they righteously considered a banality.Though I knew their debauchery was petty corruption, I found it impossible to condemn them. In fact, I evenfelt sorry for them. I knew that there was no prestige in their jobs and that their salaries were embarrassinglylow. These officials are human after all and they wanted what we all want: to live a good life, to provide fortheir family. But why is there such a misalignment between the means through which these politicians couldpursue their personal interests and the means through which they could pursue the publics interests? Irealized that, among other factors, their society lacked a legal system which would lay down the rightincentives structure: one which would correct the misalignment so that in pursuing the publics interests theywould also be pursuing their own personal interests. Effective laws and a powerful court would be among thenecessary conditions which would ensure that the civil servants have the correct incentives to be entrustedwith the publics welfare.


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My curiosity in rural China and my desire to gain detailed, firsthand experience about the lives ofrural farmers first drove me to break out of my comfort zone and to spend a difficult summer in Donglouvillage. That experience has etched the various economic and social ills afflicting Chinas rural communitiesdeep into my mind. The corruption which Yen fought, of which his colleagues where themselves guilty, Irealize that this and other similar problems are systemic issues and as such, they deserve systemic solutions.People like Yen, even if he wins a victory for Donglou, will not be able to make it such that others like himcan win similar victories for other villages. My commitment to social equality and the experiences,

knowledge and perspective that I gained at Donglou have given me the conviction that I can contribute tofinding such a solution. It is precisely that conviction that strengthens my desire to study law.


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A shirtless man covered in dark blood screamed in horror as he limped away from an ensuing crowd.For a moment I thought another civil war had begun. When I frantically turned to my Sierra Leonean friendto find out what in the world was going on, he explained that the man was a thief and that mob justicecommonly occurs in a country where law enforcement is ineffective. Returning to work the next day to

observe the Special Court trials, I wondered if our efforts to enforce the rule of law within the gated U.N.compound would ever find their way to the local courts just a couple miles down Pademba Road. It was thenthat I realized what I wanted to accomplish with my law degree.

Discovering my career ambition was not an easy task. I originally came to college with the intentionof becoming a businesswoman or corporate lawyer, but after meandering through a variety of public serviceprojects I finally decided to embark upon a career in international public interest law. I took my first stepdown this unexpected path when I started volunteering as an interpreter with the Bar Association of LosAngeles. Aiding poor immigrants with legal problems, I felt a sense of gratification that was lacking duringmy corporate experiences in the summer. As my knowledge about the challenges facing immigrantcommunities increased, I realized there remained a great need for language access services, which led me toinitiate two new volunteer interpreting programs.

The first of these organizations came about when I recalled learning in my Asian American history

class about a newly enacted Los Angeles city ordinance that mandates bilingual access to governmentservices. After contacting the councilman who wrote the bill, I was able to create a program in which collegestudents volunteered as interpreters at city hall. However, although I was satisfied to know that newimmigrants could now access their city government, I wondered how they made a living without basicEnglish skills. Hence, when I was introduced to the Assistant Director of the Los Angeles County SocialServices Agency, I jumped at the opportunity to support the agency's language needs, and developed anothervolunteer program that provides interpreters for social workers who place welfare recipients in language andemployment training programs.

While I was striving to solve some of the problems facing my local community, my attention becameincreasingly focused on an infinitely larger problem that was taking place on the other side of the globe. Asnews coverage continued to pour over the controversy behind the term "genocide" while hundreds ofthousands were being massacred in Sudan, I could not help but notice a striking resemblance with the

Rwandan genocide I was studying in class. It always astonished me that people could continue living normallives, knowing that at the same time innocent civilians were being systematically slaughtered with eachpassing day, and finally, I decided I would not be one of those people.

The following summer, I was offered the chance to work at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, a warcrimes tribunal set up by the U.N. and the Government of Sierra Leone to try those responsible for atrocitiescommitted during a brutal eleven-year civil war. There, I had the unique opportunity to work alongsideinternational and Sierra Leonean legal professionals in an effort to end the impunity of mass violence.However, while I believe the developing field of international justice has much to offer in terms ofretribution and reconciliation, my experience led me to question whether such a system would be able toprevent another bloody conflict.

On the face of things, Sierra Leone seemed to be on the road to recovery, but beneath the faade of afunctioning society the country is still in a decrepit enough state to earn the title of poorest country in theworld. After listening to the complaints of various Sierra Leoneans about the corrupt government, the highunemployment rate, and rampant poverty, I began to understand the discontent that had made the bloodycivil war possible in the first place.

Although the problems of poverty-stricken, post-conflict societies like Sierra Leone may seemhopelessly inexorable, I do believe there is a solution out there, and one in which the rule of law can play asignificant role. With strong legitimate legal systems, these countries would not only cease to perpetuate aculture of civilian violence by bringing the rightful use of force back into the hands of governments, butwould also offer a dependable legal infrastructure that can promote financial investment and povertyreduction. While this may be a daunting task to accomplish, my experiences have shown me that with theadequate skills, some creativity, and a lot of initiative, I can make a difference by offering a partial solutionto this imperfect world.


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2010 apalsa law school admissions guide for asian pacific americans

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