Interview Skills and Job Networking Workshop for Muslim Law Students

Presented by AMAL and MuBANY.

This event allowed many of the area law schools to get together and also to allow their members to gain some practical advice from attorneys.  The event was well-received and the discussion proved to be so lively that the guests didn't want to leave! 

Special thanks to NYU ILSA, Pace MLSA, St. John's MLSA, NYLS MLSA for helping to cover the cost of having the event. 

The National Muslim Law Students Association (NMLSA)* presented a teleconference entitled:
Finding a job in a recession?  Strategies from Lawyers across the Country

*Co-sponsors included: Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY); Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers (BAML); Pakistani-American Bar Assocaition (PABA)

The about 30-40 callers who called-in obtain some invaluable advice from attorney hailing from across the country and possessing varying legal backgrounds. 

Participants on the call included:

Rashad Hussain (Yale Law 2007): Deputy Associate Counsel for President Obama; former Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and Law Clerk to Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. (DC)

Asaad Siddiqi (St. John's University 2001):  Vice President, Muslim Bar Assoc. of New York (MuBANY); Walder, Hayden & Brogan, P.A. (NYC)

Nura Maznavi (George Washington U. Law 2003): Rosen, Bien & Galvan, LLP; Secretary of the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers (BAAML) (San Francisco)

Saadia Siddique (DePaul College of Law 2001): Vice President Pakistani American Ba
Assoc. & Senior Associate Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC (immigration firm) (Chicago)

Sahar Ali Dar (University of Pennsylvania Law School/Wharton School 2006)
3rd year Associate at Schiff Hardin LLP in Corporate & Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions (Chicago)

Moderator:

Abbas Ravjani (Yale Law 2009):  President, NMLSA; previous legal employment includes Arnold and Porter LLP and Treasury Department (DC); Vinson and Elkins LLP and Solicitor General of Texas (Dallas and Austin)

Careers in Public Interest Law:  A Panel Discussion

Sponsored by MuBANY and The Fordham Law School Institute on Religion, Law & Lawyer's Work

The Panelists included: 

Amna Akbar:  Clinical Fellow, International Human Rights Clinic, NYU School of Law
Formerly of the Asian Battered Women's Project at Queens Legal Services Corporation
 
Simi Mir:  Partner, Katona & Mir;

Formerly of The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division, Brooklyn
 
Manar Waheed:  Family Law Staff Attorney, Staten Island Legal Services;

Formerly of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women

Attendees comprised of a mix of lawyers, law students and college students.  The panel came well-prepared and Simi, Manar and Amna each had different styles and different things to share.  Through the various questions and topics, the panelists talked about what they do, how they go their jobs, what one needs to keep in mind when trying to land a public interest job, and the ups and downs of their jobs.  The audience in turn asked some good questions.  Overall the event was inspirational and quite practical. 

"The Ins and Outs of Law School":  a teleconference for those interested in going to law school.

MuBANY members hosted a teleconference for several students interested in attending law school.  The potential law students on the call were very appreciative of the information and advace imparted to them. 

Post-Eid Networking Event with MFPA and OPEN New York at the Hudson Hotel

Muslim lawyers, financial professionals, entrepreneurs and law students took over the Library for an evening of mingling amidst the ongoing financial crisis. 

December 2, 2008

6pm - 9pm

"Rebels with a Cause:  Change You Can Believe In"

A forum on "Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship -- Serving social justice and community needs via innovative consumer enterprises."

Sponsored by Murtha Cullina, LLP.  Co-sponsored by MFPA, OPEN New York and MuBANY.

This action packed event, held at Terrace in the Sky featured:

inspirational entrepreneurs tell their success stories of how you can have it all—being a just leader in your cause, make sustainable profits and high ROI, as well as have a positive impact on the world. 

The speakers included:

·       Reem Rahim, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Numi Tea, Inc. http://www.numitea.com

·       Tariq Farid, Co-Founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements http://www.ediblearrangements.com

·       Adnan Durrani, President of Condor Ventures (Event Chair)

The speakers shared their inside scoops on how they have spent their careers building very successful consumer brands while executing mission-orientated enterprises devoted to social and community causes.

Ever Wanted to Run for Public Office Teleconference
This informative event featured first-hand information from Muslim professionals who have sought public office. 

Muslim Voter Registration Drive

Several MuBANY members volunteered their time to volunteer numerous Muslim voters at area masjids after Eid prayers.   

Featured Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Safiya Ghori, MPAC Governmental Relations Director and Suhaib Webb, Islamic Scholar and Activist. 

 MuBANY was a co-sponsor and we were able to register several people to vote in our Voter Registration drive.

View the flyer to see what the event was about.

MuBANY's 4th Annual Iftar

Location:  Dervish Restaurant

Featured Keynote speaker, Maria LaHood, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights.  Maria discussed the status of her case Arar v. Ashcroft, the case against U.S. officials who rendered Canadian Muslim Maher Arar to Syria where he was tortured and detained for a year.  http://ccrjustice.org/ourcases/current-cases/arar-v.-ashcroft.  In addition, representatives from Muslim Advocates discussed their Charities Initiative and other initiatives and Islamic Relief urged members to adopt orphans around the world.  Overall, there was standing room only at this well-attended event.  We thank everyone for coming and appreciate everyone's cooperation with the seating and food arrangements.

See the attached flyer for full details.  MuBANY was one of several co-sponsors for this first annual event.  The venue was at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.  The place was filled to capacity and the Borough President broke the fast with the attendees and gave out awards to the honorees.  We hope to continue to have iftars like this in the years to come.

MuBANY sends out Ramadan letter

MuBANY sends a letter on behalf of Muslim attorneys to alert employers that the Muslim month of Ramadan is here.  The purpose of the letter is to inform employers that attorneys will be fasting and that they may need to take short breaks to pray and break the fast. 

The letter was sent to the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Council, the New York State Bar Association, the Network of Bar Leaders and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, among other organizations.  Click here to view a copy of the letter. 

August 20, 2008

7pm

"Inspiring Paths - The AMAL Law Group"

MuBANY Teleconference

The MuBANY Professional Development Committee conducted a teleconference that featured two lawyers from The AMAL Law Group, a first-of-its-kind law firm that was founded by a dynamic group of six Muslim women in Illinois.  They were recently featured in the ABA Journal.  www.abajournal.com/magazine/practicing_on_faith
 
AMAL Law Group partners Janaan Hashim and Heena Musabji inspired those on the call by telling their story.  Janaaan is a former State Appellate Defender and Heena recently served as CAIR-Chicagoʼs first Staff Attorney.
 
You can find out more about the AMAL Law Group by visiting their website at www.amallaw.com. 

August 19, 2008

7pm 

NYU Stern Business School

A Career Management Seminar sponsored by New York MFPA (Muslim Finance Professionals).  MuBANY is a co-sponsor. 

Attendees to this timely event got some good tips and advice from what to do if you are changing careers as well as how to go about getting a job if you are unemployed.  See the attached flyer to learn about the speakers who consist of a Career Change Coach, a Financial Services Recruiter and a Legal Recruiter. 

Turkey's Headscarf Ban:
The Political, Social, and Legal Impact on Turkish Women's Rights
Sponsored by MuBANY.

Location:  Law firm of Fried Frank

Neslihan Akbulut and Dr. Fatma Orgel, of the Women's Rights Organization against Discrimination (AKDER) located in Turkey were in the U.S. for a limited time to attend the 41st session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in New York, where they presented a shadow report on the headscarf ban in Turkey.  When the MuBANY Board learned of their arrival and its purpose, the Board quickly put together this event which was well attended and proved to be very informative.  Ms. Akbulut and Dr. Orgel spoke generally, as well as personally, about the struggle of women who choose to wear the headscarf .  In addition to their presenation, the ladies presented a slideshow, fielded questions from the audience and distributed literature to raise awareness of this issue of discrimination.  MuBANY would like to continue to raise awarness of this issue.  To see how you can get involved click on the Take Action tab for details.   View our website page on this event for photos and more information.

Bar Exam Takers Teleconference

Several MuBANY members dispensed advice and tried to allay fears of students who are planning on sitting the New York Bar exam this summer.  The teleconference was greatly appreciated by the students on the call, which included students from the New York area and from North Carolina. 

One student stated:  "It was very useful and we have been imparting everyone's advice to friends not on the call as well."  

Another said:  "It was quite informative and each of you gave useful nuggets which I had not heard before (and I thought I'd heard it all!)."  

MuBANY 2nd Annual General Meeting

Held at Dervish Restaurant

The keynote speaker was Farhana Khera of NAML (National Association of Muslim Lawyers) and its sister organization Muslim Advocates.  Farhana gave an inspiring speech and MuBANY President Asim Rehman recounted MuBANY's achievements over the past year and the organization's future plans.   The new Board and officers are formally introduced to the members.