Bar Association Affiliates
South Asian Bar Association of North America
The South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA-NA) serves as the national organization for regional South Asian Bar Association chapters and South Asian legal professionals throughout North America. SABA-NA seeks to strengthen the rapidly growing South Asian legal community with a recognized and trusted forum for professional growth and advancement, and SABA-NA promotes the civil rights and access to justice for the South Asian community.
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and more than 80 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes Asian Pacific American political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about Asian Pacific Americans in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (APABA) comprises attorneys, judges and law students throughout Los Angeles County. It is a voice for issues of concern to the Asian Pacific American community. APABA provides legal education and assistance to underserved communities and sponsors programs in professional development, community education and law student mentorship.
Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California
The Multicultural Bar Alliance of Southern California (MCBA) is a coalition of over 17 diverse women and minority bar associations in the Los Angeles area. The MCBA’s constituent bars have an aggregated total membership of over 3,000, most of whom are California attorneys who live and practice in and around the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area. The MCBA was formed two decades ago in response to race related issues in the Los Angeles area. The MCBA has been involved in numerous efforts to ensure diversity in the legal profession and the full participation of minority attorneys at every level of the profession.
Community Organizations
South Asian Network (SAN) is a community-based organization advancing the health, well-being, and civil rights of South Asians in Southern California. SAN was founded in 1990 to provide an open forum for people of South Asian origin to gather and discuss social, economic, and political issues affecting the community, with the goal of raising awareness, engagement and advocacy among community members leading to an empowered and active community. As the South Asian American community continues to grow, SAN is committed to challenging systems of oppression and inequality, building solidarities with other communities, and achieving economic, political, and human rights of all communities.
South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency
The South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency (SAHARA) serves survivors of all forms of abuse in the South Asian community by providing them with culturally-sensitive and linguistically-specific services. Over the last 27 years SAHARA has expanded its programs to include a robust menu of culturally sensitive and linguistically specific services focused on improving the quality of life of individuals seeking support. Confidential and personalized professional services are available at the main office in Artesia, California, as well as at SAN’s satellite office in Orange County.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) is the voice for the Asian American community – the fastest-growing population in the U.S. – fighting for civil rights through education, litigation, and public policy advocacy. AAJC serves to empower communities by bringing local and national constituencies together and ensuring Asian Americans are able to participate fully in our democracy. AAJC advocates for an America in which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream. AAJC’s mission is to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.
South Asian Americans Leading Together
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that fights for racial justice and advocates for the civil rights of all South Asians in the United States. SAALT’s ultimate vision is dignity and full inclusion for all. SAALT is the only national, staffed South Asian organization that advocates around issues affecting South Asian communities through a social justice framework. SAALT’s strategies include conducting public policy analysis and advocacy; building partnerships with South Asian organizations and allies; mobilizing communities to take action; and developing leadership for social change.
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is a national Sikh American media, policy, and education organization. SALDEF’s mission is to empower Sikh Americans by building dialogue, deepening understanding, promoting civic and political participation, and upholding social justice and religious freedom for all Americans. SALDEF is grounded in values of optimism (chardi kala), humility (nimrata) and service (seva), inspired by the community (sangat) for the benefit of all (sarbat da bhalla). SALDEF envisions a United States where Sikh Americans are respected and recognized as a vibrant and integral part of the fabric of this nation and are appreciated for the shared values of service, social justice, and an unshakeable belief in freedom and equality for all.
Law Student Associations
North American South Asian Law Students Association (NASALSA)
Established in 1997, North American South Asian Law Students Association (NASALSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a strong network and community among South Asian law students and legal professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada. NASALSA is composed of students and attorneys with an interest in promoting education, leadership and community service amongst South Asian law students as well as expanding the general legal community’s understanding and appreciation of South Asian political, legal and social issues. NASALSA supports groups with aims towards promoting those goals for South Asian law students across North America in hopes of providing those interested in South Asia and the South Asian experience a space to gather together, create support networks, and form communities that will last a lifetime.