Today we’d like to introduce you to Amna Aziz.
Amna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was younger, I wasn’t always sure about what I wanted to be. But the one thing I knew was that I wanted to help people in need, as cliché as that sounds. I was always between law and medicine. It wasn’t until high school when I knew I wanted to practice law. We had to interview someone for class who is in the field we would like to be in one day. While I was able to contact dozens of doctors I knew, I was unable to find any Pakistani or South Asian female attorneys. As I researched more into law and the role of a lawyer, the more I fell in love with the field. I was discouraged by most people I know when I told them I wanted to be a lawyer. “law? Are you sure? That’s a really demanding profession for a woman. Maybe you should do something easier”. Yet I studied for the LSAT and got accepted into Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2017. Fast forward to 2019 and I’m now in my last year of law school and graduate in a few months! I get messages every day on Instagram from young girls who are seeking advice about law and don’t know any other Pakistani/South Asian to ask help from. We need more representation for South Asian and Middle Eastern women in the legal field and I hope to be a voice for more representation in the legal field. My goals for the near future include opening my own law firm, running for Judge, and maybe even running for Congress one day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Being the only person in my family to go to graduate school, I questioned myself a lot. I really believe sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I remember sitting at law school orientation surrounded by people with multiple masters degrees, classmates with moms and dads as lawyers, family members as judges or relatives that are politicians, nurses, pharmacists, and people with a lot of life experience, I questioned myself every day about if I would be good enough to be here. In addition, there are not many Middle Eastern and South Asian women in the legal field where I’m from. I didn’t know who to talk to or ask help from. I didn’t have any lawyers in my family, I knew no one. This casted an even bigger doubt in my mind.
For young women who are just starting their journey, I would definitely advise finding yourself a mentor and a good support system. Also, brand yourself! Make business cards and hand them out everywhere you go. Clean up your social media and post content that contribute to your business.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m a soon to be a lawyer in hopes of expanding the field of law. We need more representation for South Asian and Middle Eastern women in the legal field. I have DOZENS of young ladies, high schoolers, middle schoolers, etc., message me on Instagram and ask me for advice. A lot of them start off by saying they’re reaching out to me because they don’t know any other Pakistani/South Asian girls practicing law and want advice. To my surprise, most of the girls messaging me are not even from Texas. This confirms that we need more South Asian representation in not only Texas but everywhere. I want to mentor and help young girls who want to get into law. It makes a huge difference to see someone that looks like you in court.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Surround yourself with people that push you to work even harder. Surround yourself with friends that motivate you and make you want to step your game up. Luckily, I have mentors and friends that I look up to. One of the people that I look up to, Rabia Collins, is the first Muslim Judge in Harris County. She was a graduate from my law school, and I was privileged to be invited by her to her swearing-in ceremony as judge. Sitting in the courtroom watching this girl that looked like me getting sworn in as a judge was such an inspiring moment for me. She made me want to work even harder and be representation for young South Asian women. That is why it is so crucial to surround yourself with successful women. As for networking, put yourself out there. I know it can be a little scary and intimidating but networking is crucial. Hand out your business cards everywhere you go. They make you more memorable and people are more likely to contact you. And follow up!! After you meet someone, send them an e-mail and let them know it was nice meeting them. Ask them to meet for a coffee so you can learn more about what they do. Another important thing to remember is how you dress. The way you dress says a lot about you to someone before you even open your mouth up to speak. Dress how you want to be portrayed.
Contact Info:
- Email: amna.aziz@live.com
- Instagram: @amna.aaziz
Image Credit:
Amna Aziz
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