Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC) is America’s largest organization focused on serving the legal needs of one of the nation’s fastest growing populations, the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Founded in 1983, APALC’s mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. Among the battery of lawyers in APALC serving more than 15,000 individuals and organizations is Atty. Carmina Ocampo, the only Filipino American lawyer today in the organization.

Carmina joined APALC as a Skadden Fellow in 2008 to advocate on behalf of homecare workers using litigation, policy advocacy and community education. The Skadden Fellowship is awarded to recent law school graduates and provides funding for public interest projects for two years. As a staff attorney, she has worked on cases in the areas of workers’ rights, employment discrimination, First Amendment rights and housing.

Carmina is a board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) and a member of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA).

Born in Angeles, Pampanga, Carmina immigrated to California when she was three years old. She attended high school in Downey and received her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2008. She also received her B.A. from UCLA in 2003.

"I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, specializing in civil rights," said Carmina. "Growing up in Koreatown, I saw the great need for legal services in the Asian community," the young lawyer added.

Atty. Ocampo said she is very happy to be working with APALC, serving the Asian communities, as well as other communities such as the Hispanics. "We are here to empower immigrants and let them know they have legal advocates, who are willing to provide free legal service. You see, among the immigrants, there are a lot of people who are afraid to speak up and who do not know the law and the rights they have under the law," explained Ocampo.

"There are many immigrants, especially in the Asian Pacific communities, who fear the law and dare not stand up for themselves, even if they are being treated unjustly and become victims of employers, abusive spouses and clients. Some do not speak up because of the language problem. Some do not trust the legal system and fear negative repercussions if they complain. Still, there are those who are undocumented and are afraid that they will be deported if they speak out against injustice or racial discrimination. Others think it will cost a lot of money so they would rather be silent." Ocampo said.

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