AALAM - Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts upcoming events

AALAM Book Club: Same Bed Different Dreams (Sunday, March 15, 2026)

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The AALAM Book Club's fourth book will be Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park.

“A wild, sweeping novel that imagines an alternate secret history of Korea and the traces it leaves on the present—loaded with assassins and mad poets, RPGs and slasher films, K-pop bands and the perils of social media.

In 1919, far-flung Korean patriots establish the Korean Provisional Government to protest the Japanese occupation of their country. This government-in-exile proves mostly symbolic, though, and after Japan’s defeat in World War II, the KPG dissolves and civil war erupts, resulting in the North-South split that remains today.

But what if the KPG still existed now, today—working toward a unified Korea, secretly harnessing the might of a giant tech company to further its aims? That’s the outrageous premise of Same Bed Different Dreams, which weaves together three distinct narrative voices and an archive of mysterious images and twists reality like a kaleidoscope, spinning Korean history, American pop culture, and our tech-fraught lives into an extraordinary and unforgettable novel.

Early on we meet Soon Sheen, who works at the sprawling international technology company GLOAT, and comes into possession of an unfinished book authored by the KPG. The manuscript is a mysterious, revisionist history, tying famous names and obscure bit players to the KPG’s grand project. This strange manuscript links together figures from architect-poet Yi Sang to Jack London to Marilyn Monroe. M*A*S*H is in here, too, and the Moonies, and a history of violence extending from the assassination of President McKinley to the Soviet downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007.

Just as foreign countries have imposed their desires on Korea, so too has Park tucked different dreamers into this sprawling bed of a novel. Among them: Parker Jotter, Korean War vet and appliance-store owner, who saw something--a UFO?--while flying over North Korea; Nora You, nail salon magnate; and Monk Zingapan, game designer turned writing guru. Their links are revealed over time, even as the dreamers remain in the dark as to their own interconnectedness. A thrilling feat of imagination and a step forward from an award-winning author, Same Bed Different Dreams begins as a comic novel and gradually pulls readers into another dimension—one in which utopia is possible."

If you are interested in receiving a copy of this book for the book club, please sign up here by Sunday March 22nd: https://aalam.wildapricot.org/event-6616278

Members of AALAM can sign-up for $5 and Non-Members for $10. This fee goes towards us shipping a brand new copy of the book to your door.

As part of the Book Club, there will be one ~1 hour virtual book discussion with AALAM members. The discussion will likely be in late May to early June, so you will have over two months to read the book.

Discussion questions will be sent out in advance to facilitate discussion. Upon signing up, you must provide your correct home address so we can send the book to your address. Please double check before submitting.

Please only sign-up for a book if you plan on attending a virtual AALAM discussion of the book in late May/early June.

If you have any questions, please email Celene Chen at celene.chen@cooley.com

Trump v. Barbara and Harvard v. DHS Amicus Brief Discussion (Monday, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Curious how amicus briefs can influence major legal issues affecting the AAPI community? Please join AALAM in an engaging conversation as we hear directly from Wendy Feng and Owen Wolfe of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, who have worked on impactful advocacy efforts representing non-party amici curiae in the Trump v. Barbara birthright citizenship case and Harvard v. DHS case concerning the federal government’s actions affecting Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. Wendy and Owen will discuss their pro bono work, practical considerations relating to amicus briefs and their real-world impact, and how lawyers can play a meaningful role in this process.

AALAM 2026 Annual Banquet (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

AALAM is delighted to invite you to join us on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 for AALAM’s 2026 Annual Banquet, beginning with a cocktail hour at 5:30 pm followed by dinner promptly starting at 6:30 pm at China Pearl located at 9 Tyler Street, Boston.

This year, AALAM is especially focused on bringing our community together and celebrating the meaningful connections that AALAM fosters across generations, practice areas, and sectors of the legal profession. Our Annual Banquet is more than a celebration — it is a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and solidarity that define the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) legal community in Massachusetts.

For more than 40 years, AALAM has proudly served the AAPI and broader legal communities. With over 600 members and allies spanning law firms, corporations, government, the judiciary, and public interest organizations, AALAM creates spaces where mentorship thrives, professional growth is nurtured, and lasting relationships are built.

At this year’s Banquet, we are honored to present AALAM’s 2026 awards to Diane Young-Spitzer (Founders Award), Judge Jason Chan (Renee Inomata Memorial Community Service Award), and Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Ally of the Year Award) as well as the 29th Annual AALAM Scholarship.

The Annual Banquet is AALAM’s largest fundraising event of the year. Proceeds directly support our year-round programming, including professional development panels, mentorship initiatives connecting students and practitioners, community-building and networking events, charitable partnerships and outreach efforts, and scholarships for law students pursuing public interest and public service careers.

We hope that you will join us for this evening of celebration, which will also include an official afterparty immediately following the dinner, complete with music, karaoke and other entertainment!

In case of any questions and/or cancellations and/or if you have any dietary restrictions, email aalam.banquet@gmail.com!