Hong Yen Chang[a] (張康仁; 1859 or 1860[1] - August 4, 1926) was reportedly the first Chinese immigrant licensed to practice law in the United States.

[1][3] He remained a prominent member of the Chinese community and went on to lead a distinguished career in banking and diplomacy.

Chang was born in 1860, in what is now Guangdong, China[4] (though records from Yale list his birth date as December 20, 1859).

[1] Beginning in 1878, Chang studied in a college preparatory program at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

[10] (Prior to their decision, Hong Yen Chang was already naturalized by Judge Van Hossen on November 11, 1887, in New York.

[10][11]) However, the New York State Legislature passed an act that allowed Hong Yen Chang to apply again to the bar.

"[3] The state Supreme Court denied his motion to practice law in California, finding the naturalization certificate issued by New York invalid under the Chinese Exclusion Act.

[1] Hong Yen Chang held other prestigious positions, including Director of Chinese naval students at Berkeley, California, until his retirement in 1920.

[19] Hong Yen Chang Center for Chinese Legal Studies at Columbia Law School in New York City began operation January 1, 2021.

[20] His great-grandniece, Rachelle B. Chong, was the first Asian-American to serve as a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).