*Meet Seema Saifee, University Chic's very first Woman of the Month!* At just 25 years old, Seema has already accomplished a number of impressive achievements. From her hometown of Paoli, Pennsylvania, Seema graduated from Ivy League Cornell University in 2001; she then attended Fordham Law School, from which she graduated last year. Now Seema works as a legal clerk for federal judge Dan Aaron Polster of Cleveland, thus contributing to women's ongoing struggle to gain equal opportunity in the legal field. She strives to make significant change in various human rights issues and was recently awarded the prestigious Ibrahim Shihata Prize for her work on a human rights topic and Islamic law. Here, Seema tells University Chic about her work, the Prize, and the importance of being culturally aware and never giving up on your goals. *What made you become interested in law?* I first became interested in law after I took a class which focused on psychology in criminal law matters. I then worked for a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., USPIRG, where I worked one-on-one with an advocate on senior citizens' access to health care (particularly, I worked on the rising costs of prescription drugs for senior citizens). I remember that, at the time I was applying to law school, a number of Muslim girls in France were prohibited from wearing a religiously-mandated headscarf in schools. Thinking of that issue and others, I saw the law as a tool for social change, for challenging human rights abuses, and giving a voice to those who did not have one. *So, is there a specific kind of law on which you prefer to focus?* Public interest law, specifically human rights law. *Describe what you do as a legal clerk for federal judge Dan Aaron Polster.* I conduct research and writing for cases before the Judge. *Would you suggest this type of work to other law students?* Absolutely. *Why? What are the benefits to doing a clerkship instead of going straight to a firm or other legal opportunity out of law school?* Personally, I think a clerkship is the best way to begin your legal career, especially if you are interested in litigation. Clerking provides you with a unique insight into the judicial process. *Congratulations on receiving the Ibrahim Shihata Prize. Can you please tell us about the award? What did you do to receive it?* Thank you! The award is for the best published student work addressing an issue of Islamic law. During my last year in law school, I published what is called a "Note" (a student-written work that addresses a legal topic that can then be submitted for publication). My Note compares the privacy rights in Islamic law with the right of privacy in U.S. Constitutional law. When I received a call that I had received this prize, I was informed that Fordham had submitted my Note for the competition. *What does the award mean to you personally and professionally?* It is truly an honor to receive this Prize, especially after finding out about the judges, at least two of whom are notable Islamic scholars. The Fordham International Law Journal was putting out a book on Islam and the law, and my Note was finished in time to be published in that book. With authors such as Khaled Abou El Fadl, Sherman Jackson, and Azizah al-Hibri publishing pieces in that book, I was worried that scholars of Islamic law would regard my piece as amateur. So, for these judges to recognize my work is very meaningful. Their recognition also alleviated my concerns about the permissibility of a non-scholar writing on an issue of Islamic law, and the legal and factual accuracy of my piece. *The website for the Washington Foreign Law Society, the organization that gives out the Prize, describes the award as "a competition to recognize outstanding student works addressing issues pertaining to Islamic jurisprudence and related legal developments in the Muslim World." Does your cultural background influence what kind of legal work you are interested in pursuing?* My religion and the overwhelming difficulties facing the Muslim community post-9/11 do influence the type of legal work I am interested in pursuing. I hope to use my skill set and legal background to benefit the Muslim community, whether in post-9/11 litigation in the U.S. and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or elsewhere. *Do you find that you tend to focus on female-related issues, like sex discrimination, or is your work fairly gender-neutral?* I am interested in some gender-specific issues. For example, the issues addressed in my Note (notably, the adultery laws in Islam) primarily affect Muslim women living in Muslim countries. But I am also interested in issues that affect the community at large. The specific women's issues that interest me involve women's rights in Islam. I think there is a problem with employing a Western feminist approach when addressing women's rights in the Muslim world because Western feminists tend to focus on issues that might not be a primary concern of Muslim women, who are often more concerned with education, health care, children's issues, etc. So the Western feminist idea of improving the so-called "plight" of Muslim women needs to be reassessed. *What are your opinions on/personal experiences with being a woman in the law profession? Have you had any difficult encounters, or can you happily report that the field has finally become level for females?* I don't believe the field has become level for women, but there are many wonderful and intelligent women practicing law, engaging in human rights lawyering, and teaching in law schools. Oftentimes there is a concern among women that we are overlooked when applying for positions (such as partner at a law firm) and there is a concern that we are not at a level playing field precisely because of our differences, i.e. because we want to have families or take maternity leave. I think we have to show that we are intelligent attorneys who can contribute to the field of law, and that our differences make us even stronger attorneys in our various fields. *Well said! What kinds of national/international issues are of particular concern for you today?* Detention (and abuse) of non-citizens in Guantanamo, the Administration's treatment of Arabs, Muslims and South Asians, both citizens and non-citizens, post-9/11. *Are there any specific Supreme Court decisions/issues that are especially important to you?* Two that I am particularly interested in are Rasul v. Bush, a case holding that the Guantanamo detainees have a right to challenge the constitutionality of their detention in U.S. federal courts, and Lawrence v. Texas, concerning the right of privacy as it concerns same-sex couples (I discuss this in my Note). *What about mentors? Who are your inspirations personal and professional?* My mother and Sandra Day O'Connor…My mom has always inspired me to have strength and independence. It's easy for young women, especially women from my culture, to become very dependent on parents, spouses, etc., and my mother has taught me the importance of being self-sufficient. Also, I recently watched an old interview with Justice O'Connor and she seemed like such a great role model for young women who want to effectuate change in the world. In addition to being extremely intelligent, she has no ego, something that is very comforting to a young woman in the legal profession. During the interview, she mentioned that she did not believe she had the background one would expect of a Supreme Court Justice, and she accepted the nomination with trepidation because she was not well-versed in Constitutional law. Although some attorneys seem overly confident and sure of their abilities, Justice O'Connor's honesty about her anxieties was reassuring. Her humility was very refreshing because, as a young lawyer, it's easy to question your abilities, why you are chosen for a position, or whether you are doing a good job. *Let's imagine…If you weren't serving as a legal clerk now, what would you be doing and why?* Actually, I really like where I am! *When you're not studying, what do you do for fun?* Read, clean my apartment! Nothing too exciting. *How do you balance work and play?* Since school has ended, I have actually had a difficult time getting used to having free time! Now that I am working and am free on the evenings and weekends, I hope to be productive with my free time - I have taken an art class, am learning a foreign language, am trying to read more - so, it's difficult to answer this question because my work/play schedule is so different now that I actually have free time. I hope to be productive and find a way to use, rather than waste, my free time. *What are your future plans?* I hope to practice public interest law, and to be a human rights lawyer. I was always interested in international human rights issues occurring far abroad such as the abuses that arose in connection with the riots in Gujarat, India, but now I am very interested in the actions of the Administration in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has also become an international crisis. *Do you have any advice for young women who are trying to become lawyers/go to law school, etc.?* I would advise young women not to let others persuade you that it is impossible to have a family and a career, and not to let people dissuade you from practicing public interest law. Many attorneys, friends, family members and professors might tell you that practicing public interest or human rights law is impractical, too idealistic, or that you will in debt forever. I would tell you to take their advice with a miniscule grain of salt. Loans can be paid off! If you have a dream to pursue human rights lawyering, and if that satisfies you in a way that firm life might not, then do not let others dissuade you from doing so for financial or other reasons. *Do you have anything else you want to share with University Chic?* Thank you for being involved with this website! It's so important for young women to have a safe forum to discuss issues of concern, and your work is very admirable. Thank you also for this recognition! I am honored and delighted to be your first "Woman of the Month." *Thanks Seema! We appreciate your participation and kind words, and thank you for being an inspiration!* Read More