AMLA Blog · New Graduate Spotlight

Discipline Over Motivation: A Dual Interview With Hadia and Murad

July 21, 2026

AMLA USA sat down with two of our newest graduates to talk about what carried them through law school, the lessons that stuck, and the advice they’d pass on to students still finding their way. Their answers, though shaped by different schools and different journeys, arrive at the same place — effort, faith, and the willingness to keep going on the days when motivation runs out.

Hadia Ahmad, GW Law

What inspired you to pursue a legal career, and what kept you motivated throughout law school?

If you ask any of my family or friends they’ll tell you that I have wanted to be a lawyer since the sixth grade.

My journey to law began long before I ever stepped into a classroom. It began with a love of learning, and a belief that the law has the power to change circumstances.

What kept me motivated throughout law school was realizing that the greatest reward wasn’t simply earning a law degree — it was who I was becoming in the process. The degree marked an achievement, but the discipline, resilience, and integrity developed in earning it will last far longer than any title.

What was the greatest challenge you faced at GW Law, and how did you overcome it?

Law school constantly places you in rooms filled with incredibly talented people, and it’s easy to wonder whether you measure up.

Over time, I realized that growth happens when you’re willing to be the least experienced person in the room. If you want to run faster, you don’t train with people who run at your pace — you train with people who leave you trying to keep up. At first, that’s exhausting. You’re challenged. You make mistakes. You feel unqualified. You realize how much you still have to learn. But eventually, almost always without noticing, you catch up.

That’s what law school was for me. One of the greatest lessons I learned at GW Law was to become comfortable being uncomfortable.

What advice would you give students preparing for law school or the bar examination?

Remember that comparison is one of the biggest obstacles to success. Everyone studies differently, learns differently, and reaches milestones at a different pace. Focus on building your own understanding rather than measuring yourself against others.

How have your faith, family, and community shaped the lawyer you hope to become?

Throughout law school, I learned that I couldn’t control every grade, every opportunity, or every outcome. What I could control was my effort. I could prepare thoroughly, seek out opportunities, and continue showing up even on the days when progress felt invisible. My faith has taught me that you may not always end up where you originally planned, but I’ve found that when you pair sincere effort with trust in Allah and perseverance, you’ll arrive exactly where you’re meant to be.

My family has been my greatest example of perseverance and sacrifice. Watching my parents leave behind familiarity to build a better future taught me that meaningful achievements are rarely the result of talent alone.

What message would you share with students who have ambitious goals but are uncertain about the path ahead?

Believe in your ability before you see the results.

People often believe successful individuals are simply more gifted, but I’ve learned that success is usually the result of ordinary people making extraordinary commitments every single day. The difference is often the willingness to keep going long after the excitement fades.

There will be days when you feel confident and energized, and there will be days when you’re exhausted, discouraged, or convinced you’re falling behind. If you rely on motivation, you’ll stop when those difficult days come. If you build discipline, you’ll keep showing up anyway.

Trust the process even when you can’t yet see the outcome. You may not always see the full path ahead, but you only need enough courage to take the next step.

Murad Bhatti, Columbia Law School

What inspired you to pursue law, and how did your studies at Georgetown influence that decision?

My inspiration to study law came from my grandfather, Justice Muhammad Islam Bhatti. From a young age, I admired his intelligence, kindness, and witty humor. It was not until later into my childhood that I learned of his commitment to service — service to faith foremost, others, and his family. My grandfather, despite many challenges due to his faith, served as a Justice on the High Court of Punjab in Pakistan. He would tell me that the law, when used for good, is a tool that can be used to uplift those who need the most support.

Studying at the Walsh School of Foreign Service reinforced that service-oriented mindset. There I had ample opportunities to volunteer with DC-based volunteer organizations, which pushed me to become more curious about the world and the law.

What experience at Columbia Law School had the greatest impact on your personal or professional growth?

My time as a judicial intern was the most valuable learning experience I had in law school. The opportunity to move away from the theories, cases, and Socratic lectures in the classroom and towards the courtroom showed me the material impact that the law and judicial system has on the lives of real people. Watching the attorneys craft arguments, develop narratives, and fight for their clients’ lives and livelihoods opened my eyes to the stakes of the profession I am entering.

How have your faith and commitment to service shaped your definition of professional success?

Faith grounds me. It helps me realize my position in this world and motivates me to treat everyone with dignity and kindness. Our motto, love for all hatred for none, rings strongest in the legal context, where there is so much that goes into a person’s life and where they end up, to which we are unaware. Hence, I strive to be an attorney who builds relationships with my clients so that I can serve them and my faith.

What advice would you give students hoping to attend a competitive law school or begin their careers at a leading law firm?

Hard work is absolutely necessary, but it is not sufficient. There is so much that you cannot control, so working on your faith and relationships is crucial to any success.

What message would you share with students who believe that opportunities like Columbia or Simpson Thacher may be beyond their reach?

Don’t take yourself out of the race before it has even begun. But also don’t ascribe to the mindset that there are set paths to achieving your goals.

When one door closes another will open, and it’s up to us to keep our faith and spirits high so that we can avail ourselves of the opportunities we are presented.

AMLA USA congratulates Hadia and Murad on this next chapter, and prays that Allah blesses their careers with success, sincerity, and continued service to the Jama’at and the profession. Ameen.