Muslim Bar Association of Chicago

Amina Saeed & other Muslim women attorneys to attend ISBA's March 9th Luncheon Celebrating Women in the Profession

Dear Muslim Women Attorneys:

The Muslim Bar Association's first female president, Amina Saeed, invites you to join her at the ISBA's March 9th Luncheon Celebrating Women in the Profession.  Key female attorneys in leadership positions throughout the midwest will be in attendance. 

The keynote speaker is the American Bar Association President, Carolyn B. Lamm.  The Muslim Bar Association encourages American Muslim women attorneys to join Ms. Saeed at the luncheon. 

According to Ms. Saeed, "American Muslim women attorneys are a key segment of the Women in the Law movement.  We support efforts to recognize women's achievements in the legal profession.  As a relatively young group, we are enthusiastic about learning from our role models and continuing the tradition of making positive contributions to the legal profession and our society.  I will be proud to stand with women leaders in the law on this important occasion."

Kindly contact Ms. Saeed if you are interested in representing the MBA at the luncheon.

MBA Sponsored Showing: "Allah Made Me Funny - The Movie"

The Muslim Bar Association of Chicago (MBA) is pleased to announce that it will host a discussion about Islam and Muslims in the practice of law.  This will take place following a special MBA-sponsored showing of Allah Made Me Funny: the Movie, starring Chicago's own Azhar Usman.  This is a documentary produced by Unity Productions Foundation.  More information is available at here.

The MBA's goal is to bring together the Chicago legal community for a viewing of the documentary followed by discussion.  There is a definite need for open discussion and dialogue on several aspects of of Islam, Muslims and the practice of law.  This is a great opportunity to initiate it in a lighthearted way with our colleagues, bar leaders and members of the judiciary.  We encourage you to invite your office colleagues, members of other bar associations you belong to, members of the judiciary and any nonprofit legal groups you are affiliated with.

The MBA is particularly pleased that Azhar will join us for the discussion.  His background as an attorney will, undoubtedly, be of interest to the legal community.

WHEN:     Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:    Century Centre Cinema at The Century Shopping Centre
                2828 North Clark Street at Diversey
                Chicago, IL 60657

COST:       More information about ticket sales to follow.  We are working out the details at present    as we anticipate   that many of you will want to purchase complimentary tickets for your guests of other faith traditions.

If you are interested in assisting with formulating discussion topics and questions, please email Amina Saeed at asaeed2@yahoo.com.

We hope to see each of you there with your colleagues and other members of the Chicago area legal community!

Great turn out at MBA's Annual Iftaar

Chicago, IL - Over 45 attorneys, law students and other professionals turned out for the Muslim Bar Association's Annual Iftaar.

The event drew partners from small, medium and large law firms, attorneys from the state's attorney's office, the public defender's office and the public guardian's office as well as law students from several local law schools.

"Ten years ago this organization was founded by a group of attorneys, the most senior of which had about 3 years of experience" noted Junaid Afeef, MBA's current president.  "Today's event is a testament to how far the Muslim legal community has come in just one short decade."

Among the notable personalities were Azhar Usman and Mazen Asbahi.  Azhar Usman is an attorney turned comedian of international fame.  Azhar is one of three Muslim comics in the "Allah Made Me Funny" World Tour.

Mazen Asbahi, a past president of the MBA, is a senior associate at Schiff Hardin and was Senator Obama's national Muslim and Arab outreach coordinator.  Mazen opted to resign from his volunteer post at the Obama campaign earlier this summer shortly after it became apparent that a right wing led character assassination was to ensue against him.

The Iftaar provided law students and recent graduates with an opportunity to seek career advice and explore placement opportunities.  Rasheed Ahmed and Firoz Vohra of Indian Muslim Council - USA attended the Iftaar in hopes of meeting prospective recruits for organizer and director positions at IMC-USA.

The event was hosted at Khyber Pass Restaurant located at 233 E. Wacker Drive.  Special arrangements were made to ensure zabiha/halal food and prayer accommodations.