Kostelanetz & Fink has joined with a group of Fortune 1000 General Counsel and more than 40 other law firms in The Alliance for Asian American Justice, a national pro bono initiative aimed at providing legal assistance to victims of anti-Asian violence or hate and holding the perpetrators of such violence accountable.
The purpose of the Alliance is to ensure that Asian American victims of anti-Asian hate crimes are represented by litigation partners at experienced and well-known firms with strong litigation practices. The lawyers will work on a pro bono basis to help each victim liaise with law enforcement as well as to seek civil remedies in appropriate cases. As many victims might also require other specialized legal services, such as probate and tax-related assistance, the law firms will assist in those areas as well. The Alliance seeks to ensure that victims, many of whom may face language and cultural barriers, feel empowered to enforce their rights.
The effort, which was announced April 15, is being coordinated by major Asian American legal organizations, such as the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) and other legal and community organizations. Those organizations will perform the initial intake with victims of anti-Asian hate and refer them to the Alliance for pro bono services.
Individuals who are seeking assistance can file complaints or requests for assistance with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund at StopTheHate@aaldef.org, Asian Americans Advancing Justice at https://www.standagainsthatred.org/report, or National Asian Pacific American Bar Association at https://www.napaba.org/page/StandAgainstHate.
