The Legal Path

Law school remains a popular choice for Zaytuna graduates. Alumni can be found at reputable law schools across the country, including UC Berkeley and Georgetown, while many others are preparing for this by interning or working in law-adjacent jobs. Undergraduate and graduate students at Zaytuna, in keeping with the 1400-year-old intellectual tradition of Islam, study law and logic with great rigor. Students are not only taught the rulings pertaining to various aspects of personal and interpersonal life, but also the roots of juristic reasoning. This study of usūl al-fiqh (foundations of the law) is considered a natural extension of the study of grammar and logic. It trains students to understand how law is derived, rather than mere rote repetition of its conclusions. The polycentric nature of Muslim law, as reflected in the four distinct yet orthodox schools of jurisprudence, helps students understand how the same evidence can be interpreted in multiple, yet valid, ways. Far from being a dry subject, the study of these legal principles cultivates the mind, paving the way for the soul to experience great openings. Every great Muslim metaphysician and spiritual guide has been a jurist. For instance, the great 15th-century sage Ahmad Zarrūq, acclaimed as the mujaddid (spiritual reviver) of his age, wrote legal texts, such as his commentary on the primer Al-Risālah, that remain essential works to this day. It is no surprise, then, that Zaytuna students are both interested in and prepared for a legal career. The reasoning skills developed through Zaytuna’s curriculum prepare students for the LSAT due to their rigorous studies in logical and analytical reasoning. These same foundational skills give students a head start when they are in law school, as they know how to critically analyze the texts. Recognizing this trend, the Academic Support Center, led by Dr. Cindy Ausec, organized two workshops this year to advise current students who are interested in pursuing a career in the law. The first, in February, featured a number of Zaytuna alumni who are currently at law school. They recounted their experiences, as well as the ways in which they transitioned from Zaytuna to their J.D. programs. The second, in November, was led by Dr. Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University. Dr. George took an approach that was both pastoral and academic. He advised on the key requirements for law school admissions, but he also counseled the students to understand the difference between the study of law and the practice of law. Dr. George praised the holistic understanding of law intrinsic to the shariah and explained how students could study Western law in a similarly holistic way, citing his own experience of further study at Oxford under the distinguished natural law jurist, John Finnis. As Zaytuna students consider their post-graduate paths, the College is prepared to provide the resources and guidance to facilitate a choice that is both professionally and intellectually fulfilling.