About Us

The Muslim Law Students Association seeks to connect Muslim students and allies, advocate for the particular needs of our community at the Law School, and provide relevant programming on justice-related issues affecting Muslim communities locally, nationally, and globally. We are a diverse group of law students from all walks of life and with varied professional interests. We hope to build with you throughout your time at CLS and help make your law school experience one of mutual support, growth, and fun!


In addition to connecting with various affinity groups at Columbia Law School and other Muslim groups at Columbia University, we also seek to build partnerships with MLSAs at other law schools in the region and professional associations like the Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY), the National Association of Muslim Lawyers, and the American Muslim Bar Association. Please follow us on instagram @columbia.law.muslims and email us at [email protected] to join our GroupMe chat, learn about our events, mentorship pairings, and other available resources.

Meet the MLSA Leadership Team for 2021-2022!

Nasro Abbas ([email protected]) is the MLSA Co-President for the 2021-2022 academic year. At Columbia Law School, she is interested in studying the intersection of social justice and the law. She studied English Literature and Philosophy at Winona State University in Winona, MN. Prior to law school, she served as a Youth Development Volunteer in the Peace Corps in Morocco. When not reading cases, Nasro tries to make her way through her own ever-expanding reading list or can be found exploring the City. 

Nilofar Rahimzadeh ([email protected]) is the MLSA Co-President for the 2021-2022 academic year. She is from Long Island, NY and graduated from Fordham Lincoln Center’s Honor College in 2018 with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science. She is a rising 2L interested in Intellectual Property and Litigation. Before Columbia, she worked at the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Department of Justice and completed an SEO fellowship at Debevoise & Plimpton. Besides her leadership with MLSA, she is also Vice President of Outreach for the Middle Eastern Law Students Association and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law [AIPLA] Moot Court. Nilo is a life-long New Yorker and can probably be found at brunch on any given Sunday or in Jerome Greene Hall mooching off the free coffee!

Maryam Asenuga ([email protected]) is the MLSA Vice President for the 2021-2022 academic year. She is originally from Rhode Island and graduated from Duke University in 2020 where she studied Arabic and Public Policy and was a member of Duke's Muslim Students Association. At Columbia Law School, Maryam has an interest in litigation and criminal justice work. In addition to her leadership with MLSA, she is a staff editor of the Columbia Journal of Race and Law, a member of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court, and is a Representative for First Generation Professionals and the California Society.