WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific Bar Association (NAPABA) awarded Laboni Hoq with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), with the Best Under 40 Award at its Gala Installation Banquet on November 17, 2012. The Best Under 40 Award recognizes talented individuals within the Asian Pacific American legal community under the age of 40 who have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields of endeavor and have demonstrated a strong commitment to civic or community affairs.
In her position as Litigation Director, Hoq oversees APALC’s strategies to advocate for civil rights through pursuing lawsuits that seek to enforce and expand existing legal protections as well as change institutional practices. Prior to joining APALC, Hoq was a civil rights litigator at the law firms Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris Hoffman & Harrison and Traber & Voorhees, where her practice focused on upholding workers’ rights in all aspects of their employment and the civil rights of minorities.
“Since joining APALC earlier this year, Laboni has been an invaluable member of APALC, helping lead our litigation team to a landmark settlement in a major language discrimination case and playing a leadership role on the Advancing Justice amicus brief in support of affirmative action,”' said Stewart Kwoh, APALC executive director. “We thank NAPABA for honoring her as one of its Best Lawyers Under 40 for 2012 and bringing national recognition to her contributions to Asian American and Pacific Islander civil rights.”
“I am honored to be included among this impressive group of recipients,’’ Hoq said. “Some of my most revered mentors and role models are among NAPABA's past recipients. I hope I can live up to their example by continuing to stand up for the civil rights of our communities, and by mentoring other Asian Americans in the legal profession who are striving to make a difference for the public good.”
