First SAHSOL Graduate to Join Stanford Law School

LUMS is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Malik Muhammad Danish (BA-LL.B 2017) whose academic journey exemplifies excellence, resilience, and ambition. Danish has been accepted for the LLM programme at the Stanford Law School, making him the first student at the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law at LUMS to secure a place at Stanford.  

Reflecting on his time at LUMS, Danish shares, “LUMS transformed my life in many ways: it encouraged me to create my own path; it instilled a profound passion for learning and connected me with excellent teachers who were very supportive.” 

Danish has been a regular on the Dean’s Honor List during his BA-LL.B programme. Prior to his graduation, he also passed the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) exams and the Central Superior Services (CSS) exams, setting an unprecedented benchmark.

During his undergraduate years, Danish developed a passion for languages and literature, which led him to study Chinese in Beijing and pursue MA Persian exams privately, securing second position in Pakistan. He later published Honeyed Poison: Translations of Modern Persian Poetry, becoming the first Pakistani to translate 20th century Persian poetry into English.

Danish credits much of his success to the support and mentorship of his professors, including Dr. Muhammad Athar Masood, Ms. Yasmeen Hameed, (late) Justice Fazal Karim, and Justices Jawwad S. Khawaja and Khalil-ur-Rahman Ramday. “Their guidance empowered me to break barriers and pursue my passions with curiosity,” he says. Danish also expresses deep appreciation for the Gad and Birgit Rausing Library at LUMS, as the “best library in Pakistan” for fostering a vibrant learning environment.

Following his graduation, Danish pursued a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) at Georgetown University under the Fulbright Scholarship, driven by his passion for diplomacy and international affairs. At Georgetown, he collaborated with the Woodrow Wilson Center for research projects focused on South Asian policy issues.  

As for the future, Danish plans to leverage his education from Stanford to explore the intersection of international relations and international law. “I aim to resolve conflicts and promote peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” he says. Danish advises aspiring LUMS students to gain practical legal experience early on, explore networking opportunities beyond their circles, and remain open to innovative ideas and avenues.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Danish on this outstanding achievement!