Breaking the Ice: Asian Pacific Bar president takes long-term view

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Valerie Narcy, president of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, is focusing on initiatives for members from law students and new attorneys to mid- and senior career lawyers.

Those efforts include increasing the amount of the summer law scholarship the organization awards to students or recent law graduates. Narcy also has created a mentorship program for students, new or mid-career attorneys.

A three-part “behind the curtain” program for mid- and senior career attorneys aims to support those interested in public service, including those seeking political positions or judgeships, law firm partnerships, and in-house or general counsel roles.

“The other thing is longevity,” Narcy said. “We have to make sure that whatever we’re doing, it can lay the foundation for future years.”

As senior legal counsel at CHS Inc., Narcy handles litigation and anything that could lead to litigation, advises business leaders and works with outside counsel.

Name: Valerie Narcy

Title: President, Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association; senior legal counsel, CHS Inc.

Education: B.A., economics and philosophy, University of Minnesota Duluth; master’s, educational administration and higher education, Korea University; J.D., Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Food, for sure. Then travel and anything video games.

Q: Why law school?

A: When I was little, I admired lawyers but didn’t know any. My mom and I immigrated when I was really young, so we didn’t really have many network connections. I thought there was no way that I’d get into law school or become an attorney. Then when I was doing my bachelor’s degree, I studied abroad in France and in South Korea. I loved South Korea so much that I stayed. A four-month trip turned into four years. I did my master’s degree there in educational administration and higher education. After that, I realized that if I can go to a foreign country, get a master’s degree in a foreign language, I’m pretty sure I might be able to do law school. I came back to the U.S., applied for law school right away, got in, and then the rest is history.

Q: What are you reading?

A: “The Let Them Theory.” The biggest lesson for me is to think about, in every situation you’re put in, what is within your control, and then learn to let go of the rest.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: When someone complains more than once about a situation but doesn’t do anything to rectify that.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Still working in litigation, which I love, but also working with business leaders, and learning a lot from them. The work is strategic but also very practical. When you’re in-house, you see what happens with the advice that you give. You get to drive the long-term strategy of the business. On a lighter note, I have to also mention that at CHS, I love the cafeteria.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Probably how broad it is. I’m dealing with all of the litigation matters that could come in through the door. There are issues that I might not have subject matter expertise in. It’s often realizing what I have expertise in, addressing that issue, and knowing when to lean on someone with deeper subject matter expertise.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: Travel for food.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A:  To all of my favorite restaurants. I’d probably start at Gus Gus, then Hai Hai, Gai Noi, Soul Lao, Boludo, Kade no Mise. And probably walk it off by the Stone Arch Bridge.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: It’s fictional and way overused, but Atticus Finch. We read the book in middle school and high school, and it left a really deep impression on me.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: That when someone goes to an in-house attorney, it’s a department of no. We’re saying no and shooting down ideas because everything is risky. But at the end of the day, everything has risk, and a good in-house attorney is trying to help the business move forward, helping the business assess that risk, what do they want to do.