Ep 143: Life in the Legal Field as a Muslim Lawyer with Amani Taha
We are joined by Amani Taha, a corporate lawyer, as she shares her journey of advocating for herself and her community as a minority in the legal field. Growing up in a conservative Muslim community, Amani navigated cultural shocks and stereotypes, ultimately thriving in diverse environments. She discusses challenges she faced, such as balancing her faith with professional expectations. However, Amani emphasizes the importance of speaking up and advocating for accommodations based on religious beliefs. She highlights the significance of affinity bar associations like the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, offering support and mentorship to minority lawyers. Amani encourages others to embrace their identities, be the first in their communities, and not be afraid to speak out for their needs. Through her experiences, she underscores the power of representation and support networks in paving the way for future generations of diverse lawyers.
Amani Taha
Amani is an associate at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, where she primarily focuses her practice on transactional matters, including domestic and cross-border public and private mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other strategic investments. Committed to advancing the public interest and serving communities in need, Amani maintains a robust pro bono practice that includes representing victims of domestic violence and refugees seeking asylum. In addition, Amani serves as vice president of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association. In this role, she focuses on organizing career readiness, mentorship, and interview skills programs for Muslim law students, many of whom are first-generation college graduates and attorneys. She also serves on the Association's Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee.
Episode Highlights
Amani discusses challenges such as stereotypes about Muslim women in the legal profession.
Amani shares her experiences balancing her faith with professional expectations, like networking events centered around alcohol.
Emphasizing the importance of speaking up, Amani discusses advocating for accommodations based on religious beliefs, like fasting during Ramadan.
Amani highlights the significance of affinity bar associations like the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association in providing support and mentorship.
She encourages others to embrace their identities, be the first in their communities, and speak out for their needs.
Amani underscores the power of representation and support networks in paving the way for future generations of diverse lawyers.
Tweetable Quotes
“You’re very easy to ignore if you don’t say anything. So I think it’s always so important to be visible...you might be the first, But hopefully you’re not going to be the last.”