Diversity and the Law: The Birth of a New MBA

In early 2008, there were 14 Minority Bar Associations (MBAs) in Washington. Despite this variety, there was no legal voice for Middle Easterners, even as the Middle East dominated international headlines and local communities felt the “legal” and illegal repercussions of a post-9/11 backlash. The South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABAW) made valiant efforts to welcome our community, and some, like me, were members of SABAW. But SABAW could never represent the entire Middle East, a vast region with a diversity of countries, cultures, religions, languages, and politics that proved too large to fit under the “South Asian” label.

I had lamented the absence of a professional legal association for Middle Easterners since moving to Seattle in 2003, especially as I was co-president of the Middle Eastern student group in law school. To me, the void in the MBA community here was palpable. While at a diversity reception one day, I ran into Sahar Fathi. We commiserated over the lack of a Middle Eastern bar association and decided then and there to stop complaining and actually start a group. But first, we decided to gauge interest through a “meet and greet,” thinking five or six attorneys might attend. An overwhelming 40 people showed up — Middle Easterners and others who agreed a Middle Eastern legal association was long overdue. The answer to whether we should create the group was thus a resounding “yes!” This led to the birth of the Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington (MELAW).

Despite our infancy, MELAW has already become active. We held a successful kickoff reception in January 2009; co-presented a Middle East Speaker Series with the World Affairs Council; participated in the launch of the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality; co-sponsored the Fourth Annual Statewide Diversity Conference; co-hosted the annual MBA Summer Picnic; had booths at both the Iranian and Arab Festivals; held social hours for our members; and conducted our first membership retreat. We are also collaborating with other MBAs on activities such as communicating with Senator Murray’s office to improve diversity in the federal judiciary, working on an amicus brief with the ACLU in a racial discrimination case, and participating in the Minority Report Card Joint Committee.

We further look forward to launching a dinner-speaker series and sponsoring other events (such as “know your rights” workshops and/or legal clinics), offering additional social and networking opportunities, and setting up a community resource directory. Moreover, we seek to change the demographic forms used by the WSBA (and eventually Washington state) to include “Middle Eastern” as an ethnic category. (To be sure, the negative experience with registration and racial profiling as part of the “war on terror” has generated fear in our community and many worry about the repercussions of self-identifying. But to emerge from political invisibility and gain political strength, we need to start with accurate data.)

MELAW’s birth also inspired the creation of Middle Eastern law student groups at both Seattle University and the University of Washington. MELAW is connected with these groups through our student liaisons (Misha Ghoreishi, Kianoush Naficy, Roxana Rezai, and Kerem Levitas), and we look forward to working with them on activities including a mentorship program.

The challenges of starting a bar association are plenty and the time commitment significant, but the rewards are priceless. I have met some amazing people through MELAW, such as the enthusiastic, committed and dynamic members of our board. I have been inspired by the support received from the legal and non-legal community, including support from the other MBAs, the WSBA, and Stokes Lawrence (our de facto sponsoring firm, which has stood behind me personally and provided resources to our group, financial and otherwise). I have been invigorated by the momentum and energy generated by and for this group. And I look forward to meeting the expectations set for this group, by us and others. Right now, MELAW is still a new player in the MBA community. But with time, I hope MELAW becomes a leader among the MBAs, as well as a strong legal voice for the Middle Eastern community and an effective resource for its members.

We invite you to join us, as your contribution and involvement will make a difference. MELAW is open to all, regardless of background, religion, or affiliation, including attorneys, law students, and community members who want to support our goals.