Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 N OV E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S L AW Maine State Bar Association President Frank Bishop plans to present some of the report's findings at the group's annual gathering this week in Augusta, and at its Winter Bar Conference in January in Portland. "We are also discussing plans to visit members at various locations across the state to make this presenta- tion and encourage discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal community," Armstrong says. "e Diversity Report will be completed annu- ally, and it is our hope to grow the information pro- vided in the report as well as use the data to inform our future educational events and discussion forums," she adds. Vietnam native, military veteran finds his calling at Maine Law Son Nyugen is a Vietnam native who came to the United States at age 16 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps two years later. After five years of service, he studied government and history at the University of Texas at Austin to fill in his knowledge gaps about his new country. "In my last year in the military, I had some life- changing experiences that made me realize I did not really understand a lot about this country," he says. "I left the military with the goal in mind to educate myself and also to work." He shared one of those experiences in his law school application, writing how he was shocked to hear a racial slur used by a fellow Marine. He also wrote of his desire to learn how to think like a lawyer. "With a law degree," he wrote, "I will have the credentials and tools needed to dismantle systemic racism, abolish hyper-incarceration, provide pro bono services to disadvantaged communities and protect civil rights. I love this country and want to see the American Dream become a reality for everyone, not just the privileged few." Today, the 29-year-old is a first-year student at the University of Maine School of Law, with classes in contracts, civil procedure, torts and legal writing. He's especially fond of civil procedure, taught by Visiting Professor Karine Caruso. Nyugen looks forward to getting practical experience before he graduates, either in UMaine's Prisoner Assistance Clinic or in the Rural Practice Clinic set to open next year in Fort Kent. "at is definitely something I will do in my sec- ond or third year," he says. at should be good training for Nyugen's cho- sen career path. "I'm very interested in becoming a civil rights litigator or public defender," he says. While the majority of his family is still in Vietnam, his mother and siblings are in California and Oregon. Nyugen has no plans to leave the Pine Tree State anytime soon. "Home for me has always been where I choose to live and where I love it," he says. "Right now, that is Maine." Renee Cordes, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s Your goals. Your vision. Your success. Our focus. At Dentons, we are here to help you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization. Local. National. Global. Wherever you need us. dentons.com © 2022 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates. Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices. Grow | Protect | Operate | Finance Hannah King Partner Andrew Helman Portland Office Managing Partner Malina Dumas Managing Associate Kate Drabecki Shareholder Maine admission pending Maine Law student Son Nyugen is originally from Vietnam and served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E L AW I'm very interested in becoming a civil rights litigator or public defender. — Son Nyugen First-year law student Find the full report at mainebar.org @

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