51°µÍø

1. Tell us about yourself.
My name is Shereen Baig. I was born in Saudi Arabia and immigrated to the United States at the age of eleven. I am of South Asian descent. I grew up in Flint, Michigan and attended undergrad at the University of Michigan, Flint. I am happily married to my absolute favorite human. I am the type of person to fiercely advocate for issues I am passionate about, and always stand up for those who have been unjustly treated-whether it is due to their religion, socioeconomic status, or race. Growing up in Flint has really impacted my outlook on life. Today, more than ever, I recognize the importance of giving opportunities to those who have been impacted by slavery and unjust wars globally.

2. Why did you decide to come to 51°µÍø Law?
I decided to come to 51°µÍø because of the clinics and Association of Public Interest Law. Before I committed to the law school, I attended APIL's yearly auction event and immediately felt a sense of gratitude for the community I was going to be part of!

3. What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class has been Pre-Trial Advocacy with Professor Luis Zambrano. He is kind, brilliant and so helpful! He really helped me polish my legal writing skills.

4. When you are not in school or studying, what do you do for fun?
I love to run/go on strenuous hikes, organize at my local mosque, and explore coffee shops.

5. What extracurricular activities have you enjoyed most and why? (SBA, moot court, etc.)
So many! I absolutely love Association of Public Interest Law and all that we stand for. Mock trial is such a challenging but fun experience, I get to meet some amazing people all while developing my litigation skills! And Muslim Law Students Association is an absolute favorite of mine because I not only met some of my closest friends through the organization but also, we get to organize events surrounding important topics affecting the Muslim community in the US and abroad.

6. How has law school challenged you most?
Law school has challenged me in many ways. Ultimately, law school has forced me to recognize my mental health should always be my number one priority. In an environment where many find hard to say "no", I have learned saying "no" helps us be the best version of ourselves and allows us to re-assess what truly brings us joy.

7. What has been your most memorable law school moment so far?
My judicial externship with Chief Judge Barbara Lynn. Not only is she brilliant and I got to learn so much but also being in her chambers is a unique experience because her clerks and staff are super kind/helpful, and we got to do fun things like host potlucks!

8. What do you plan to do post-graduation?
Civil Rights Work/Advocacy.

9. Have you had any important mentors during law school? If so, who?
Absolutely! Dean Erika Fadel, Dr. Buckner Inniss, Professor Eric Ruben, Gaby Purdue, and Christina Ta have been instrumental in helping me navigate these past couple of years. Dean Collins and Dean Yeager have been so kind and generous with their time and are truly always here for me whenever I need their support! All of them have continuously reminded me the bigger picture of why pursuing law is beneficial, but more importantly they believed in me during the toughest of times. Additionally, there is a large team of students/professors/friends who have been helpful- I really could not have gotten through these past years without my 51°µÍø Law family!

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years?
I hope I get to partake in meaningful grassroots work where I can first-hand witness change, I am part of. I am a big believer of investing in the people locally to ensure our communities have a better chance at life.