APALSA, SALSA, and MENALSA are pleased to welcome you to our Academy for the 2026-2027 school year. Our Academy program helps students through resume reviews, mock interviews, and panels covering a wide range of topics to set them up for success. It also helps them connect with Cornell alumni and build a strong network with a community in which they already find support.
Friday, October 2, 2026
6:00 – 6:15 PM
Check In
Location: Physical Science Building, Baker Portico
6:15 – 8:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
Location: Physical Science Building, Baker Portico
Students will be able to network with different Asian and Middle Eastern attorneys in a less professional setting to learn more about the attorneys’ life experiences and career journeys. Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided by Cornell Catering.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, The Gallery
Hot breakfast will be provided.
10:00 – 10:05 AM
Opening Remarks from Academy Committee
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
10:05 – 10:10 AM
Opening Speech by Faraz Rana
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
Faraz Rana is the Chief Executive Officer of Affinity, a financial technology company. He began his legal career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he practiced from 2007 to 2014 before transitioning to the fintech sector. While at Cornell, he co-founded the South Asian Law Students Association.
10:10 – 11:00 AM
Cultural Differences in the Workplace
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
Panelists will speak about their experiences in the workplace as Asian/South Asian/Middle Eastern individuals and discuss how to address cultural differences.
Panelists:
- Aziz Ali (Cornell J.D.’ 26) Term Law Clerk at U.S. District Court, N.D.N.Y
- Yousef AlMesad (Minnesota J.D.’ 23) Associate, Morgan Lewis
- Alizah Charaniya (Cornell J.D.’ 21) Associate, McGuire Woods
- Ramsha Khursheed (Cornell J.D.’ 23) Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
- Faraz Rana (Cornell J.D.’ 07, Founder of Cornell SALSA) CEO, Affinity
- Wendy Wu (Cornell J.D.’ 24), Associate, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
11:00 – 11:15 AM
Coffee Break
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, The Gallery
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Navigating a Career in Big Law
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
Panelists will discuss life at a corporate law firm and how they navigate their professional relationships from different cultural backgrounds.
Panelists:
- Jamie Lee (Columbia J.D.’ 23) Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Seulbee Lee (Cornell J.D.’ 15) Counsel, Lowenstein Sandler LLP
- Yurie Lee (Cornell J.D.’ 26) Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Christopher Mao (Cornell J.D.’ 22) Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
- Nitin Nainani (Cornell J.D.’ 23) Associate, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher
- Pam Wang (Cornell J.D.’ 15) Partner, DLA Piper
12:15 – 1:25 PM
Lunch
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, The Gallery
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Two Paths, One Degree: Navigating In-House and Public Interest Careers
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
Panelists will discuss how to navigate workplace dynamics within public interest organizations and in-house legal departments, drawing on experiences across diverse cultural backgrounds.
Panelists:
- Vimi Bhatia (Hofstra J.D.’ 00) Deputy Chief, New York County District Attorney’s Office
- Yujin Chun (Cornell J.D.’ 15) Assistant United States Attorney, Civil Division, United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
- Julia Mizutani (Georgetown J.D.’ 19) Adjunct Professor of Law, Former Civil Rights Attorney
- Faraz Rana (Cornell J.D.’ 07, Founder of Cornell SALSA) CEO, Affinity
- Juliane Sun (2L, Cornell J.D. Candidate ‘28) IP Law, Litigation, and Licensing Intern, Apple
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Closing Remarks from the Academy Committee
Location: Myron Taylor Hall, Room 184
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Mock Interviews
Location: Hub Rooms
Sponsors
If you want to get involved or sponsor our student Career Days, please email cls_studentactivities@cornell.edu.
icon and select "Add to Home Screen."