In This Section

Career Fair

Third Annual Muslim Law Career Conference

Hosted by the Penn Law Muslim Law Students Association

Speaker Bios

Panel: Charting a Career in the Public Interest

Tariq Sheikh – Mr. Sheikh is an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia, he is currently with the Major Trials unit where he has done both bench and jury trials pertaining mostly to shootings, convicting major drug dealers, and armed robberies.  Mr. Sheikh is a 2005 graduate of Temple University Law School, where he entered the District Attorney's office upon graduation.  He will discuss the transition from law school straight into the public interest.

Umbreen Bhatti – Ms. Bhatti is currently a Staff Attorney with the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union. She is a graduate from the University of Michigan Law School and has previously worked at Latham and Watkins LLP.  Ms. Bhatti will discuss the transition from private practice to the public sector, including the benefits and drawbacks of both.

Allison Carpenter – Ms. Carpenter is currently a Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2008, where she served as an Executive Editor of the Law Review.  During law school, Ms. Carpenter worked as a summer associate at Dewey & LeBoeuf's DC office, and clerked for both the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.  She will address the benefits of clerking and share her guidance on the clerkship application process.

Panel: Legal Issues Confronting Muslim Americans

John Vandenberg – Mr. Vandenberg is a prominent Immigration Attorney for the Philadelphia Area.  He is co-founder of Hogan & Vandenberg LLC, has extensive experience with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and has dealt extensively with immigration issues facing Muslims.  He is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law and is a member of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.  Mr. Vandenberg will discuss Immigration law and policy as one of the forefront issues facing Muslim Americans.

Sahar Aziz – Ms. Aziz is currently a Senior Policy Advisor with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Department of Homeland Security.  Sahar is a graduate from the University of Texas School of Law and has previously hosted a conference on Women and Islamic Law.  She will speak about the various civil rights issues facing Muslim Americans since 9/11.

Assad Akther – Mr. Akhter is the Legislative Director for Congressman Bill Pascrell of the 8th District of New Jersey.  Assad has worked in Congress since 2003 and is currently the Acting President of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association.  Mr. Akhter will bring a policy perspective to the panel, discussing recent changes in Congressional Policy towards Muslims and what future changes can be made.

Angela Migally – Ms. Migally is a Campaign Finance Reform Fellow at the Brennan Center's Democracy Program.  She a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, entering private practive afterwards, joining the firm of Omar T. Mohammedi, LLC were she litigated several matters relating to the civil rights of Arab-Americans.

Panel: Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Mu'min Islam – Mr. Islam is a first year associate at Saul Ewing LLP's Philadelphia Office.  He works in their Business Department focusing on securities matters, healthcare, energy and utilities and general corporate work.  Mr. Islam is a 2008 graduate of Samford University Cumberland School of Law where he served on their Law Review.  Mr. Islam will discuss working in the private sector as a recently hired associate.

Dena Zakaria – Ms. Zakaria is a fifth year litigation associate at the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll LLP.  She is a member of the products liability and mass tort practice group focusing on industrial and consumer products litigation.  She is a 2003 graduate of Temple University Law School and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joyce S. Kean of the First Judicial District of Philadelphia immediately after law school.  Ms. Zakaria will discuss working as an associate several years removed from law school.

Hany Mawla – Mr. Mawla is a partner at Greenbaum Rowe Smith and Davis LLP in Woodbridge, New Jersey.  He is a member of the family law practice group as well as a part-time lecturer at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University.  Mr. Mawla is a graduate of Seton Hall University Law School and will discuss potential career options for those at later stages of their career.

Keynote Address by Mohammed Abdrabboh, Esq.

Please click here to read Mr. Abdrabboh's bio.