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InvalSuable Experience BY SHARON NG
ince I started practicing law, the legal annual minority bar convention and to create profession has made signi cant strides programming that would help bene t diverse at- in terms of diversity and inclusion ef- torneys, I was also keenly aware of the very good forts with respect to the hiring, reten- work the Arizona Asian American Bar Associa- tion and furthering opportunities for tion (AAABA) always seemed to be achieving –
diverse attorneys. I’ve always seen this as an area the annual family picnic, celebrations for those
with continued room for growth, and something that has been top of mind for me both in and out- side of my rm.
As a litigator, I spend much of my time repre- senting, guiding and counseling employers and businesses. ese cases o en involve commercial disputes, such as breaches of contract, concerning employment and non-compete agreements, re- strictive covenants, or other professional services agreements, wage and hour issues, discrimination and business torts. Employment and commercial litigation are the focuses of my practice, where re- lationship building and communication skills are of the utmost importance.
I also have the privilege of serving and working with tribes and tribal entities. I have had the op- portunity to work in the unique area of tribal hu- man resources and to provide advice in connec- tion with employment policies, handbooks and investigations. I recently obtained my Tribal Hu- man Resources Professional certi cation through the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA). I regularly speak on emerging topics at NNAHRA conferences. is
diverse attorneys who made it to partnership status or received well-deserved promotions, the Giving Tree ceremony for AAABA members join- ing the bench, and AAABA’s famous 10-course meal at its annual spring banquet.
Having been a member of AAABA for years and years, and having completed several terms with the CMWL, I decided to join AAABA’s board and to become an integral part of supporting not only diverse attorneys of Asian descent but also through the Collaborative Bar. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by AAABA and the Collaborative Bar’s energy to continue to serve diverse attorneys and witnessing their success in making a splash within their organizations.
is work has also led me to serve as current co-chair of my rm’s Attorneys of Color Employ- ee Resource Group and as a 2015 fellow with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and to be recognized as the 2015 Corporate Leader of the Year by Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders. Also a longtime court-appointed special advocate volunteer, I speak up for abused and neglected children in court.
My time with AAABA and other organizations has proven extremely valuable not just in terms of professional development and my personal growth, but more importantly in terms of civic growth, having advanced our communities as a whole and provided opportunities in leadership and education through encouraged cooperation, important conversations and a deepened under- standing of diverse members of the profession and the community. AAABA, in particular, has allowed me to become more active in promot- ing access to legal services and education, while simultaneously promoting justice, equity and in- clusion for Asian-Paci c Americans. is experi- ence has been invaluable to all aspects of my life.
SHARON NG IS A PARTNER AT STIN- SON LEONARD STREET LLP IN PHOE- NIX. SHE HANDLES MATTERS RELATED TO BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT LAW, AS WELL AS NATIVE AMERICAN LAW AND TRIBAL GOVERNANCE. LEARN MORE ABOUT SHARON AT WWW.STIN-
SON.COM/SHARONNG AND CONNECT WITH HER AT [email protected].
My time with AAABA and other organizations has proven extremely valuable not just in terms of professional development and my personal growth, but more importantly in terms of civic growth ...
area of my practice allows me to assist with ensuring the respect of cultural values and tribal sovereignty.
is prioritization of diversity and in- clusion has not only woven its way into my litigation practice, but has also been an important part of professional develop- ment and community building for me. As a rst generation American, nding a n- ity with local attorneys of color has been of paramount importance. Since I joined the Arizona bar, I’ve been heavily involved in organizations whose primary goal is to support attorneys of color and women in an e ort to help diverse attorneys succeed at their respective rms – by achieving eq- uity partnership status or obtaining mean- ingful leadership positions – and to create intentional pathways for diverse attorneys to join the bench.
My initial e orts were made through the State Bar of Arizona’s Council on Minorities and Women in the Law (CMWL). As part of this community of volunteers, who assisted with the
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