For 2016 graduate Aline Longstaff, studying at BYU Law School offered an opportunity to continue to explore her passion, the intersection of legal and religious studies. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Longstaf was surrounded by a variety of cultural and religious communities. In such a diverse environment, she became fascinated with the relationships between law and religion, and she sought to make it the emphasis of her studies. “I [took] an interdisciplinary approach in trying to better understand the topic throughout my formal education,” she said.

Longstaff began her education by obtaining bachelor’s degrees in history, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Utah in 2011. She then went on to obtain a master’s degree of Theological Studies in Islamic Studies from Harvard University. After finishing her master’s degree, Longstaf was drawn to the school to continue studying.

“I was most interested in BYU because of the high caliber of professors as well as the opportunity to engage with the International Center for Law and Religion Studies,” she said. While in law school, Longstaff took many opportunities to involve herself with the Center. She worked on the executive committee for the annual Law and Religion Symposium hosted by the Law School every year, working as the co-chair in 2014 and 2015. She also worked as a research fellow on the Center’s student management board, helped in various research projects, and worked on the logistics of a law and religion conference held in Istanbul, Turkey that she also attended. In addition, Longstaff recently participated in the International Law and Religion Moot Court competition held in Venice, Italy that was initiated through the Center.

Even with her extensive involvement with the Center, Longstaff also made time to participate in a variety of other co-curricular activities. She served as an associate editor on the BYU Law Review, an oralist for the Jessup Moot Court team, and a brief writer for the International Law and Religion Moot Court Competition. She also served on the board of the American Constitution Society as president and secretary as well as the vice president for the Pacific Island Law Student Association. She also served as an Academic Success Program mentor to 1Ls and a research assistant at the library reference desk.

Longstaff plans to build upon the skills and abilities she has developed in law school as she begins a position clerking for the U.S. District Court, District of Utah in Salt Lake City. She is ultimately interested in obtaining a PhD and going into academia. Before that, however, having studied Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and Turkish, and having studied various parts of the world, Longstaff says she would like to “gain more experience in Muslim communities either in the Middle East or the Indian subcontinent where I can better study the language and legal systems first hand.”

See Aline’s Graduation Spotlight on the BYU Law School website.

 

As she moves forward, Longstaf believes the skills she has gained at BYU Law will help her in whatever she chooses to pursue.

 

“Studying at the J. Reuben Clark Law School has allowed me to develop a critical eye towards legal analysis and its ability to dissect and evaluate both legal as well as social issues relevant to religion and religious communities,” she said.For 3L student Aline Longstaff, studying at BYU Law School offered an opportunity to continue to explore her passion, the intersection of legal and religious studies. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Longstaf was surrounded by a variety of cultural and religious communities. In such a diverse environment, she became fascinated with the relationships between law and religion, and she sought to make it the emphasis of her studies. “I [took] an interdisciplinary approach in trying to better understand the topic throughout my formal education,” she said. Longstaf began her education by obtaining bachelor’s degrees in history, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Utah in 2011. She then went on to obtain a master’s degree of Theological Studies in Islamic Studies from Harvard University. After finishing her master’s degree, Longstaf was drawn to the school to continue studying. “I was most interested in BYU because of the high caliber of professors as well as the opportunity to engage with the International Center for Law and Religion Studies,” she said. While in law school, Longstaf took many opportunities to involve herself with the Center. She worked on the executive committee for the annual Law and Religion Symposium hosted by the Law School every year, working as the co-chair in 2014 and 2015. She also worked as a research fellow on the Center’s student management board, helped in various research projects, and worked on the logistics of a law and religion conference held in Istanbul, Turkey that she also attended. In addition, Longstaf recently participated in the International Law and Religion Moot Court competition held in Venice, Italy that was initiated through the Center. Even with her extensive involvement with the Center, Longstaf also made time to participate in a variety of other co-curricular activities. She served as an associate editor on the BYU Law Review, an oralist for the Jessup Moot Court team, and a brief writer for the International Law and Religion Moot Court Competition. She also served on the board of the American Constitution Society as president and secretary as well as the vice president for the Pacific Island Law Student Association. She also served as an Academic Success Program mentor to 1Ls and a research assistant at the library reference desk. Commenting on her extensive involvement in the law school, Longstaf said, “All these activities have engendered a great love and appreciation for not only the law but also the law school community here at BYU. Being able to interact, work, study, and serve this community has made my law school experience much more meaningful than I could have imagined.” Now, three years since her matriculation at BYU Law, Longstaf plans to build upon the skills and abilities she has developed in law school as she begins a position clerking for the U.S. District Court, District of Utah in Salt Lake City. Speaking of her long-term aspirations, Longstaf said, “I am ultimately interested in obtaining a PhD and [going into] academia.” Before pursuing this plan, however, Longstaf has other ambitions. Having studied the languages of Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and Turkish, and having studied various parts of the world, Longstaf says she would like to “gain more experience in Muslim communities either in the Middle East or the Indian subcontinent where I can better study the language and legal systems first hand.” As she moves forward, Longstaf believes the skills she has gained at BYU Law will help her in whatever she chooses to pursue. “Studying at the J. Reuben Clark Law School has allowed me to develop a critical eye towards legal analysis and its ability to dissect and evaluate both legal as well as social issues relevant to religion and religious communities,” she said.

See the Aline’s Law School Graduation Spotlight here.