Hanna Kim is a litigation associate at Zelle LLP.  She graduated from SMU in 2013 with a B.A. in Political Science and B.B.A. in Marketing.  She graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2017.  Prior to going to law school, Hanna received a Fulbright Scholarship to work in South Korea.

Hanna’s passion in giving back to her community is evident through her service in several professional and community organizations, including the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers.  Most recently, Hanna joined the 2020 DAYL Leadership Class and served on the Marketing Subcommittee to help promote resources and assistance to community members facing evictions.

In addition to her commitment to young attorneys and DAYL, Hanna is also a trailblazer and a staple community leader when it comes to emboldening the voices of diverse, minority lawyers in the legal community.  A fantastic example of her dedication can be seen by her most recent endeavor as one of the founders of The Podium, which she describes as follows:

“The Podium is a platform for Asian women lawyers to empower one another in an authentic way.  It provides a shared stage for us to embolden each other’s goals and accomplishments, and creates opportunities for us to amplify our voices that are often overlooked.  It’s a space that advances the representation of Asian women lawyers, as we continue to step up to the podium.”

She also serves on Zelle LLP’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Dallas Asian American Bar Association’s Board of Directors, and the Dallas Bar Association’s Equity and Professional Pipeline Subcommittee.  Her commitment and passion for community service can also be seen through her dedication to mentoring law students and coaching the National Thomas Tang Moot Court team at SMU Law every year.

Hanna is an incredible friend, advocate, colleague, mentor, and leader in the Dallas legal community and DAYL, and it is my honor and privilege to present her as this month’s “One to Watch.”