STUDENT AND ALUMNI PROFILES

Professional Experience Prior to Law School:

Before law school, I worked for two years on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. I served in various roles for two Members of Congress from my home state, including Communications Assistant for Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) and Legislative Assistant for Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05).

What I Am Hoping to Do With My Law Degree:

After gaining a legal education, I hope to delve further into work that improves people’s lives, whether through political means or grassroots and advocacy work. Serving the underserved and promoting values of humanity rank high on my post-law school agenda.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

Although still in my first semester of my first year at Penn Law, I’ve had many great experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.  Whether being challenged with difficult questions of semantics in Contracts or studying for a Civil Procedure practice exam with classmates in a group study room in Biddle Law Library, the Penn Law experience, for me, has been just as much about what happens in class as what happens outside of class.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor David Rudovsky. The vigor with which he teaches Criminal Law is inspiring. His real-world knowledge of the subject matter we face in class makes him an excellent teacher and guide. Further, his underlying focus on civil rights and civil liberties brings nuance to topics that are most commonly viewed only in absolute terms.

My Favorite Course:

Torts, with Professor Eric Feldman. The enthusiasm with which he animates the material is just contagious. Always challenging us to think in different ways, the legal study of the risks and dangers with which we surround ourselves brings with it a different lens through which to view the world.

An Example of How the Law School’s Cross-disciplinary Approach Influences My Legal Education:

The fact that so many of Penn Law’s faculty members are scholars in fields in addition to the law brings a different perspective to legal theories that are often viewed, to our detriment, in a vacuum.

Meaningful Cross-disciplinary Experience at Penn:

I am considering applying for the Certificate of Study in Middle East and Islamic Studies. The fact that so many joint-degree and cross-disciplinary programs are available to law students was a significant factor in my choosing to attend Penn Law.

Penn Law is known for its collegial environment. Why is collegiality important to a legal education? How has it affected your legal education?

I believe that collegiality is important in a legal education because, although the courtroom may be an adversarial environment, working with others to develop ideas in advance of the courtroom requires working with others in itself. Penn Law’s reputation for its collegial environment was a significant factor in my choice to matriculate and has already been apparent in group study sessions and consulting fellow classmates for explanations of dense readings for class.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

My favorite Philadelphia moment thus far probably occurred during orientation at the beginning of the school year. With my family in town to help me move in, we never experienced a lack of sights to see in a city that expands far beyond the area of University City.

What I'm Most Proud Of:

I’m most proud of the fact that my prior achievements and advancements in life have led to me having the opportunity to study the law with such exceptional classmates and under such knowledgeable faculty.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

Muslim Law Students Association, South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA), American Constitution Society (ACS), Asian/Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA).

What I Did For Public Interest:

Although my 1L year has not left me with much free time, I continue to work with a community education organization I helped to found in Washington, DC. I also look forward to participating in Penn Law’s Immigration Clinic and International Human Rights Advocates organizations in future semesters.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

I enjoy walking around University City and taking pictures. Photography is a hobby of mine and the University campus has much to offer in terms of beautiful sights, unique views, and eclectic scenes.

What is it like living in graduate housing at Sansom Place?

Although I had heard a variety of things about Penn’s graduate housing apartments, I have enjoyed living in Sansom Place (East). The convenience of having living quarters just a block away from the Law School is invaluable. Also, having lived in other apartments before Law School, I’ve found the accommodations at Sansom Place to be on-par with what you’d typically find around a college campus.

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