Albert Tong ’27 Finds Networking, Community as Regional Co-Director of NAPALSA

Albert Tong ’27, right, attending the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in November.  

Albert Tong ’27, who attended the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) conference earlier this fall, did so in a proud new role as a National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA) Board Member and co-director for the Northeast region.  

Attending the conference for the second year in a row and getting involved with NAPALSA and other student organizations while studying at Brooklyn Law has deepened his educational experience and expanded his professional network, Tong said.   

“NAPABA offers a law student scholarship and has a dedicated law student track for student attendees and it’s one of the best networking opportunities for meeting practitioners and law students from across the country,” Tong said of the annual event, which was held in November.  

After attending his first NAPABA conference in 2024, where he watched a powerful trial reenactment of Lum v. Rice, Tong was inspired to bring a full trial reenactment to the 2025 Asian American Bar Association of New York Fall Conference.  “Seeing that vision come to life with an all-woman cast of judges playing the judicial roles in the reenactment was one of the defining moments of my year,” he said.  

This year’s trial reenactment at NAPABA, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, reminded him of why highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander [AAPI] cases matters.  

“These reenactments are more than performances. They preserve our legal history and amplify stories that continue to shape our identity as a community,” he said. 

Tong sits on NAPABA’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring and Corporate Transactions committees and this year was part of the conference’s Real Estate study, all of which tied into his legal education at Brooklyn Law.  After graduation, Tong plans to pursue bankruptcy and restructuring as a specialty, with a blend of both litigation and transactional work. 

“Because restructuring often requires navigating business operations, financing, and assets, the Corporate Transactions Committee naturally complements the work I hope to do. Even the Real Estate Case Study is relevant, since many restructuring matters involve property issues,” Tong said.  “Overall, being involved in these committees has given me both helpful exposure to the types of matters I hope to work on and the chance to build relationships with attorneys who practice in these areas.” 

For 1Ls interested in getting involved with the NAPALSA, he recommends starting on the organization’s website by signing up for free newsletters and email updates. Reaching out to regional directors, like Tong, is also helpful for learning about local opportunities and he welcomes inquiries. 

Another easy way to get involved in the broader NAPABA community is through a local affiliate bar organization. In New York, those include the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALANY), and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY). Tong is a member of all three and currently serves as the chair of student outreach at AABANY .