NAML began in 1996 as MuslimJD, an e-mail discussion list for Muslim attorneys sponsored by Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights as a networking service to the Muslim legal community in the United States. MuslimJD grew at a rapid pace, from an initial 20 members to over 200 in only its first few years. Today, NAML is a vibrant association of over 500 Muslim legal professionals across the country.

In December 1998, MuslimJD began to develop a life of its own when a number of MuslimJD members met at a Fordham University School of Law Conference entitled "Rediscovering The Role of Religion in The Lives of Lawyers and Those They Represent." The enthusiasm of the Muslim attendees at the Fordham conference inspired them to write a mission statement and commit to organize a conference for Muslim lawyers.

On October 2, 1999, "Law and Muslims: The First Annual MuslimJD Conference for Muslim Lawyers," was held at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. Buoyed by the success and enthusiasm of that gathering, the organizers agreed to evolve MuslimJD into its own independent organization for Muslim lawyers in America. In November 2000, MuslimJD officially registered as a non-profit corporation in Washington, DC. Soon after, our name was changed to the National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML).

NAML members, Board members and Officers have been working diligently to build an organization to meet the needs of Muslim legal professionals and law students in the United States. This effort in part resulted in the Second NAML Conference at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. The next year, NAML hosted its Third Conference, which took place on October 11-13, 2002, at Columbia University Law School in New York City. U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) delivered an inspirational keynote address about the need for increased participation by Muslim Americans in the political process.

In 2005, NAML took a significant step forward in its growth and development when it launched its sister charitable entity, Muslim Advocates, and announced the appointment of its first executive director, Farhana Khera, an experienced attorney who most recently served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Property Rights.

NAML encourages those who share our important mission to join us in representing the interests and meeting the needs of Muslim legal professionals and the larger Muslim community.

If you are not already a member of NAML, please join us today.