NAPABA Awards - National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

NAPABA Awards - Pro Bono Service Award

Pro Bono Service Award

The NAPABA Pro Bono Award recognizes an attorney or a team of attorneys for outstanding achievements in pro bono service that (1) involved impact litigation to advance or protect civil rights or (2) provided direct legal services to individuals in the furtherance of the administration of justice. The subject matter and difficulty of the case(s) or matter(s) and time expended are factors considered in selecting the award recipient.

Examples of pro bono service may include, but are not limited to, commitment to a complex criminal habeas appeal or difficult civil rights case, routine representation of immigrant clients in cases that might affect their quality of life, or successful advocacy for legislation that improves the delivery of pro bono legal services.

Award Qualifications

Please be advised that honorees must be:

Current with their NAPABA membership, and
Present to be eligible to receive award
Only individual attorneys or a legal team are eligible for this award. Organizations and law firms are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

The award recipient will be selected on the basis of the following factors:

Outstanding achievements in pro bono service that:
- Involved impact litigation to advance or protect civil rights; or
- Provided direct legal services to individuals in the furtherance of the administration of justice.
Demonstrated dedication to pro bono projects through:
- Subject matter and difficulty of the case(s),or matter(s); and
- Time expended on the case(s), or matter(s).
Consideration of NAPABA’s Mission to:
- Serve as national voice for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) legal profession;
- Promote justice, equity, and opportunity for AANHPIs; and
- Foster professional development, legal scholarship, advocacy, and community involvement.

Required Materials

The following information must be provided for each nominee (or team of nominees) in order for a nomination to be considered:

Statement in support detailing the nominee's outstanding achievements and how they have met the award criteria (maximum of 2 pages);
Statement detailing work performed with case summaries (maximum of 2 pages);
Current CV or resume of the nominee(s); and
Biography
Copies of reported decisions, news clippings, or published opinions, if any. (This is helpful, but not mandatory.)

Nominations are Now Open

2025 Awardee | Sandy K. Roxas, Esq.

Sandy K. Roxas is the founding partner of Roxas Law, APC in Torrance, California. She provides reduced-cost legal services to low-income residents of Los Angeles County, with a focus on supporting survivors of domestic violence who seek restraining orders and legal protection. While her practice is rooted in family law, Sandy has expanded her work to include the pro bono representation of victims of anti-Asian hate incidents and hate crimes.

Beyond her legal advocacy, Sandy has dedicated countless hours and personal resources to educating the public on issues including anti-Asian hate, victims’ rights, bystander intervention, and how to report hate incidents and crimes. Her deep-rooted commitment to community service is reflected in both her personal life and professional career, as she works tirelessly to represent and uplift marginalized individuals and communities.

Sandy’s efforts on behalf of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community have been widely recognized and supported by local and state leaders, the media, and the community at large. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and legal commentator on family law and hate crime-related issues. In 2022, she appeared as a legal commentator on the Dr. Phil Show in an episode titled, "The Invisibility of Anti-Asian Hate." Through her pro bono work with hate crime victims, Sandy has seen firsthand the widespread underreporting of these crimes and the general lack of awareness surrounding anti-Asian hate. In response, she has organized and sponsored numerous community rallies and solidarity events—particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—helping to raise awareness, build allyship across communities, and foster unity against hate.

Sandy also supports both local and international AANHPI communities through scholarships, volunteer work, and leadership in professional and nonprofit organizations. Since 2009, she and her husband, Judge Adrian G. Roxas, have awarded annual scholarships to graduating Filipino seniors from Carson High School. Additionally, the Roxas Family funds an annual scholarship for a law student who demonstrates a strong commitment to the AANHPI community and public service.

In her free time, Sandy continues to invest in the next generation of legal professionals. She volunteers as a Mock Trial Coach and serves as the Attorney Program Director for a high school–to–law school pipeline program in the South Bay, which is dedicated to helping first-generation students from underrepresented backgrounds pursue careers in law. Sandy also volunteers as a Daily Settlement Officer and serves as a Judge Pro Tem with the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Sandy’s passion for community service has deeply influenced her daughters, Kayden (18) and Ashlyn (16), who have followed in her footsteps. During the pandemic, they inspired their peers to speak out against anti-Asian hate, systemic racism, and bullying. Together, they founded the Love Rox Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides clean drinking water, food, slippers, and supplies to children in the Philippines. Through their fundraising efforts, the foundation has built water pumps in underserved villages and has provided meals to thousands of children.