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Bylaws

Article I. Purpose and Mission

1. The New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association (the “Association”) is organized:


a. To advance the goals, needs, and interests of Muslim attorneys and law students in the New
Jersey area;
b. To address issues affecting the local and national Muslim population, educate the local and
national community about matters affecting the Muslim community, advance and protect the
rights of Muslims in America;
c. To facilitate networking and the sharing of resources amount Muslim attorneys/law students and
promote education on issues relevant to Muslim attorneys/law students;
d. To encourage Muslims to enter the legal profession and to provide mentorship; and
e. To assist Muslim attorneys/law students in the furtherance of their legal careers.

Article II. Membership

1. Any person subscribing to the goals of the Association as discussed in Article I may become a
member by paying the designated dues as long as they also meet the criteria set forth below.


2. To be eligible to be a General Member of the Association (the “Association”), the prospective
member must meet the following criteria:


a. be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of New Jersey or any other
jurisdiction within the United States; and
b. employed or domiciled within the State of New Jersey; or
c. is a Dean or professor of law at an ABA-accredited law school; or
d. is a law student at a ABA-accredited law school in the United States or its territories.


3. Any person meeting the jurisdictional requirements of the foregoing paragraph shall become a
General Member of the Association upon completion of a membership application in a form approved
by the Board of Directors and payment of dues. The Board of Directors of this Association reserve
the right to review membership applications and, with a supermajority vote, deny membership.

Membership dues for prospective members can be waived for hardship reasons upon application to
the Board. Membership dues shall be waived for law students for at least their first year of
membership in this Association.

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4. Termination of Membership


(a) Membership shall terminate upon disbarment and shall cease during the period of any suspension
from the practice of law.
(b) A member may be expelled, suspended or censured for cause. This power shall rest exclusively
with the Board of Directors.
(c) Expulsion, suspension or censure of a member shall require at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
Board of Directors. Any suspension decision of this Association shall also include terms of
reinstatement for the member, which shall then be conveyed to the member in writing. A
suspended member may apply to the Board for reinstatement following the period of suspension
and upon meeting the terms of reinstatement. A suspended member shall be reinstated upon a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.

Article III. Dues

1. Dues shall be payable annually in an amount and manner fixed by the Board of Directors from time to
time.


2. The membership of any member who remains delinquent in dues for a period of ninety (90) days
from the time dues become due, after adequate notification as determined by the Board of Directors,
shall be terminated.

Article IV. Board of Directors

1. The management of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors comprised of nine (9)
members. The Board of Directors shall be elected from the General Membership of the
Association who have been members for at least one year preceding the beginning of the next
calendar year and shall hold office for a term of one (1) year. To be eligible for Board of
Directors, a member’s practice of law shall be primarily in the State of New Jersey except for the
law student Liaison as indicated below.

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2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following; President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Media and Communications Director, Central Trustee, Northern Trustee, Southern
Trustee and Law Student Liaison.

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3. Persons holding judicial positions, other than municipal court judges, shall not be eligible to be on
the Board of Directors.

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4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors; appoint
the members of all committees; be an ex-officio member of all committees; and perform such
other duties as authorized by these by-laws and as the Board of Directors may determine. In the
event of the absence of the President, the Vice President, and in the absence of the Vice President,
the Secretary, shall perform the duties of the President.


5. The Vice President shall have those powers as the President so delegates and shall serve as chair of
the Gala Committee and as the National Association of Muslim Lawyers Designee (“NAML”) on
behalf of the Association unless otherwise agreed by the Board. In circumstances in which the
President resigns, or is otherwise unable to complete his/her term, the Vice President shall be
vested with the full powers of the President for the remainder of the President’s term.


6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt of all monies of the Association; shall make
authorized disbursements; keep an accurate roll of the members; collect dues; and prepare a
monthly report to the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be Chair of the Membership
Committee unless otherwise agreed by the Board.


7. The Secretary shall be responsible for taking and keep accurate minutes of the Board meetings and
timely sending same to the board of directors; keep an accurate roll of the names and addresses of
the Board of Directors and members of the Association; send out calendar invites and coordinate
the scheduling of the board meetings; and collect and redact the scholarship applications. The
Secretary shall be a member of the Membership Committee.


8. The Media & Communications Director shall be responsible for all communications on social
media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) as well as press releases and announcements of
the Association’s programs and news. Additionally, the Media and Communications Director shall
manage the Association’s website which shall include responding to emails sent to the website;
updating the website’s various sections (job postings, attorney directory, board information, etc.)

and working with any staff hired to assist with the website. The Treasurer, Secretary and President
shall also have access to the website’s login information.


9. The Law School Liaison shall manage the Association’s mentorship program and be chair of the
Law School Committee.


10. The Regional Directors (Central, Northern and Southern) shall facilitate at least one continuing
legal education program or regional meeting of the Association within his/her region during the
calendar year of his/her elected term. Each Regional Director shall report on all activities within
his/her region at each meeting of the Board.

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11. The terms of the Board of Directors shall be for one year from January 1 to December 31 of the
year immediately subsequent to the elections.

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12. The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs and property of the Association. It shall perform
all other duties required by these Bylaws.


13. The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to do all acts and to perform all
functions which the Association itself might do or perform and/or authorize the Officers and/or
other persons to perform such actions.


14. A majority of the Board of this Association shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special
meeting of the Board of this Association.


15. At the discretion of the President, individual Board members may participate and vote in any
regular or special meeting of the Board of this Association without physically attending in person,
by means of a telephone conference call or any other means of communication by which all Board
of this Association participating are able to hear and otherwise communicate effectively with each
other. Votes may occur either at physical meetings, via conference call or through electronic vote
or such other state of the art means as consistent with this Bylaw. All voting shall be initiated by a
motion proposed by one of the Board of this Association and seconded by another.


16. The Board of this Association may take action on certain proposals by e-mail or other generally
accepted electronic means of communication. Such proposals are limited to action which, in the
discretion of the President, cannot be delayed until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Board of this Association and for which it is not deemed necessary or economical to call a special
meeting of the Board of this Association or a conference telephone call pursuant to subparagraph
(c) above. The President, or someone acting with the express authority on behalf of the President,

may submit the proposal to all Board of this Association by e-mail. Board members who respond
must “reply to all” and action may be taken on the proposal after both (i) approved by email
responses from a majority of the Board of the Association and (ii) the expiration of twenty
four hours from the time the e-mail was sent to the Board of this Association. If, however, within
that twenty-four hour period, one or more Board of this Association object to the action being
taken without a regular or special meeting either in-person or by conference telephone call, then
action on the proposal may not be taken unless and until adopted at a subsequent in-person or
conference telephone meeting.

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17. No debts shall be incurred, no contract made and no funds appropriated or disbursed without the
approval of the majority of the Board of this Association.

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18. Board Attendance Policy


a. Any Board member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled
meetings or five (5) meetings in a calendar year shall be placed on probation by a
majority vote of the Board, and any Board member on probation who misses any
additional regularly scheduled meetings during that same calendar year shall be deemed
to have resigned as a Board member of the Association unless, at the next regularly
scheduled meeting immediately following the last such absence, this provision is waived
by a majority vote of the Board.

b. The Secretary of the Association shall give email notice of these Bylaw provisions to any
Board member of this Association who misses two (2) consecutive meetings or four (4)
meetings in a calendar year, and the other Board members of this Association shall be
copied on said email.

c. In the event of the death, resignation, disbarment, or suspension from the practice of law
of any Board member during his/her term, the position shall be declared vacant and shall
be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article IV hereof.

Article V. Elections

1. Terms of office shall commence on the first day of January of each calendar year. Elections shall be held annually no later than the last day of October for the term of office set to commence in the year immediately subsequent to such elections.

2. Any general member of this Association may nominate from among the general membership of the Association candidates for the Board of Directors.

3. If only one nomination is received for a board position pursuant to the procedures established in these Bylaws, the individual nominated shall be considered elected by acclamation. Should there be more than one nomination for a board position pursuant to the procedures established in these Bylaws; an Election Committee of three chosen by the President shall oversee an election conducted in accordance with these Bylaws.

4. For each office for which there is a contest, the Election Committee shall cause appropriate ballots
containing the names of all of the nominees to be prepared. The ballot shall be accompanied by a
biographical statement and photo provided by the candidate(s) in a form approved by the Election
Committee. The ballots, containing voting instructions, shall be emailed, under the supervision of the
Election Committee, to each member entitled to vote.

5. Where there are more than two individuals competing for a position, a nominee must receive a majority of votes to be elected. If, after the first round of balloting, no nominee receives a majority of votes where a majority is required, or there is a tie vote among nominees for any position, the Election Committee shall cause appropriate ballots to be prepared in accordance with these Bylaws for the nominees receiving the two highest number of votes or the nominees who are in a tie. The ballots shall be transmitted within five (5) days after announced election date. If, after the second round of balloting, there is a tie vote for any position, the Officers of the Association who are not competing for the contested position shall vote as soon as practicable thereafter to elect one of the nominees who are in a tie to fill the position for which they are competing.

6. Once voting in a contested election for any position is completed, the Election Committee shall submit a report to the President within five (5) days following the date by which ballots have been returned. The President shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, publicize the results to the membership.

Article VI. Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President for the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of any other board member, the remaining Board Members of the Association shall be immediately be convened to recommend and elect, by majority vote, a candidate to fill the unexpired term.

Article VII. Committees 

1. The classes of Committees of the Association shall be:

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(a) Standing Committees: Gala Committee, JPAC Committee, Membership Committee, By-laws
Committee, Scholarship Committee, Election Committee, and Law School Committee.

(b) Special Committees as created by the Officers of the Association.

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2. The Board of the Association may create and dissolve Standing Committees upon determination that such action will enhance the functioning of the Association.


3. The Board of the Association may establish Special Committees as will enhance the functioning of the
Association. Every Special Committee created by the Officers of the Association shall terminate at the end of the last meeting of the Association’s calendar year following its creation unless such Special Committee is continued by majority vote of the Officers of the Association. There shall be a presumption against continuation of any Special Committee for which no meeting has been held during the previous year of the Association.

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4. Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws:

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(a) the President shall appoint members to serve on Committees of the Association for terms
provided by these Bylaws;

(b) the Chairperson of every Committee shall be designated annually by the President;

(c) no Chairperson of any Committee shall serve more than two (2) consecutive years in such
position except for special reasons with the approval of the Board of Directors of the
Association;

(d) In the event of a vacancy on any Committee, the President shall appoint a successor to
complete the unexpired term.
(e) Committee members shall be selected from among the members of the Association which
may be canvassed from time to time for the purpose of appointing Committee members.
(f) All Standing Committees shall consist of three (3) members, each of whom shall serve until
the adjournment of the last meeting of the Association’s calendar year following the
appointment and until a successor is appointed.
(g) Each Special Committee shall consist of a chairperson and such members as are appointed by
the President. Each member and Chairperson shall serve until the adjournment of the last
meeting of the Association’s calendar year following the appointment
(h) The President shall have the authority to appoint additional members to serve on any
Standing Committee only during the President's term of office, unless otherwise limited by
these Bylaws.
(i) Each Committee chair shall provide a monthly report to the Board of Directors.

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5. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the President of the Association shall be an ex officio member of every Committee of the Association. The President may designate another individual to serve in the President's place on any Committee. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, neither the President nor the President's designee shall be entitled to a vote on any Committee. Meetings of each Committee shall be held upon call of its chairperson. Each Committee shall, subject to the determination of the Officers of this Association, determine its own meeting procedures. Each Committee shall meet at least twice annually.

Article VIII.   Representation of the Association

1. The President, or a person designated by the President, shall express the policy of the Association as determined by the Association or by the Officers of this Association and shall make no statements nor take any public positions or actions in conflict with those of the Association. No Committee or other member may represent the Association or any other Committee thereof before any legislative body, court, governmental agency, or other tribunal, or communicate with any news media or the general public on behalf of the Association, or any other Committee thereof, unless authorized to do so by the Board of Directors of this Association. No Committee, or member thereof, shall communicate any view or position on behalf of said Committee or the Association before any legislative body, court, governmental agency or other tribunal, or to any news media or the general public, except as approved by the Board. Whenever representation requires the filing of any report or brief, no such report or brief shall be filed until a copy thereof has been submitted to and approved by the Board of Directors of this Association or such of its members as the Board may designate to act for it.

 

2. No report, recommendation or other action of any Committee shall be considered as the action of the Association until it shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of this Association. No Committee orany member thereof shall release any report of such Committee to the public without the approval of the Board of Directors of this Association. The Board of Directors of this Association may authorize a Committee to communicate the view of the Committee upon a finding that the communication does not conflict with the best interests of the Association.

 

3. A member who, when making a public utterance, permits himself or herself to be identified as having an official connection with the Association or one of its Committees, shall, if the Association has determined a policy on the subject matter of the utterance, fairly state that policy and, if expressing a view at variance with it, clearly identify the variance as the member's personal views only. If there has not been, or the member has no knowledge of, any such policy determination, the member shall nevertheless identify the utterance as personal views.

Article IX.  Meetings, Order of Business

1. Meetings:

 

(a) The Board of Directors shall hold regular meetings at least once monthly, except in the months of
Ramadan, at such time and place as shall be fixed by the President.

(b) Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President at any time, the same to be
held at such time and place as may be designated in the call. The President shall call special
meetings when directed by the Board of Directors of this Association or when requested in
writing by ten (10) General members of the Association. The Secretary shall give fifteen (15)
days' notice of the time and place of all meetings and the purposes of all special meetings to all
members by email.

(c) A majority of the Board of the Association shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special
meeting.

(d) Only Board members of the Association registered at the meeting shall be entitled to vote on
business brought before the meeting.

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2. Any committee may act without an in-person meeting if the members of the committee may
participate in a meeting by means of a telephone conference call or any other means of
communication by which all members are able to hear or otherwise communicate effectively with
each other. Votes may occur either at physical meetings, via conference call or through electronic
vote or such other state of the art means as consistent with this Bylaw.


3. The calendar year of the Association shall begin January 1 and end December 31.

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4. The President shall serve as Parliamentarian at any meeting of this Association.

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5. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with these Bylaws.

Article X.  Amendments

1. The By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Board of Directors.


2. The Secretary shall advise the membership of the amended Bylaws and provide a final copy to the
Media & Communications Director for posting on the website.

Article XI.  Indemnification of Officers Against Liabilities and Expenses

1. The Association shall indemnify all corporate agents against all expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the corporate agent by reason of his or her being or having been such a corporate agent other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Association if: (a) such corporate agent acted in good faith in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be not opposed to the best interest of the Association; and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding, such corporate agent had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

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2. All terms used herein shall have the meanings attributed to such terms as set forth in N.J.S.A. 15A:3- 4 (a).

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3. It is intended that the rights of indemnification provided hereunder shall be as broad as permitted
under the laws of the State of New Jersey. Without limiting the foregoing, the Association herewith adopts the provision of N.J.S.A. 15A:3-4 as though fully herein set forth; wherever said statute permits the Association to provide indemnification, this Bylaw shall be deemed to require such indemnification to be provided by the Association.

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