DIVERSITY AT PENN LAW

Sadaf Kazmi '08

Before matriculating at Penn Law I was concerned that I would not "fit in." I was 30 years old and had worked for seven years in technology consulting and civil rights. As a J.D./M.B.A. candidate, with one year of my M.B.A. completed, I was very unsure about whether my career would ultimately lead me to the business world or to the practice of law. In addition, I am South Asian, a woman, and Muslim. I didn't anticipate finding a community of law students whom I would relate to at Penn or anywhere else.

I soon realized that my concerns were unfounded. The Penn Law student body is very diverse, open-minded, and welcoming. I never felt out of place for being older. Instead, I found friends among the many students who had worked for numerous years and also made lots of friends among the younger students. From an academic perspective, I found that I was not the only one targeting a non-traditional career path after law school. Students who were not in dual degree programs were pursuing careers in real estate development, strategy consulting, and investment banking.

Finally, with respect to my ethnic and religious identities - I was also pleasantly surprised. There is a sizeable group of South Asian students on campus and the Penn Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) is a strong and active organization.

Penn Law's diversity is not just a bottom-up student-driven effort, however. The School's administration and faculty are extremely supportive and understanding about differences among the student body. The Dean of Students works closely with MLSA to make sure that classes are videotaped on Muslim holidays, exam schedules are shifted in order to accommodate religious observance, and physical space is allocated at the Law School for students who observe daily prayers.

Now, two years into my legal education, I know that I made the right decision. The student body is not only diverse along many dimensions, but it, along with the faculty and administration, is sincerely supportive and encouraging of that diversity. Ultimately, all of these things come together to form the very unique and close-knit community that characterizes Penn Law.