Taher Kameli, '96, Gives 2L Opportunity to Intern in Chicago

Taher Kameli, ’96, still remembers his first months at Washburn Law in 1993. Coming to Topeka from New York City, speaking English as a second language, and adapting to law school, Kameli at times felt overwhelmed.

“Many days I seriously wanted to quit,” Kameli said. “At one point, I went to Professor Nancy Maxwell, and she encouraged me to stay. She let me know her door was always open if I needed to talk. Honestly, she is the reason I stayed and finished my law degree.”

Following graduation, Kameli moved to Chicago and established Kameli & Associates, P.C., which focuses on United States corporate, employment, and immigration law.

Fast forward 20 years. Kameli decided to offer a summer internship to Washburn Law students to give them the opportunity to experience first-hand practicing law in a major U.S. city. Matthew Adams, J.D. Candidate ’19 from Sterling, Kansas, with a population of just over 2,000, jumped at the chance.

“This was an awesome opportunity,” said Adams. “It was a chance to work in a major metropolitan area with a law firm established by a Washburn Law alumnus. I didn’t realize until I started working with Taher how broad-based immigration law really is. I am really interested in corporate and transactional law so being able to work on management agreements, investor agreements, and negotiations was amazing.

“Taher was great to work with. I left the internship realizing how supportive Washburn Law alumni are of students like me. You never know where the next opportunity will come from.”