Liaquat Ali Khan initially trained as a civil engineer. He later switched to law, obtaining a law degree from Punjab University, Lahore. In 1976, Khan immigrated to the United States and studied law at New York University School of Law where he received his LL.M. and J.S.D. Khan is a member of the New York Bar.
Khan has authored several books, including The Extinction of Nation-States (1996), A Theory of Universal Democracy (2003), A Theory of International Terrorism (2006), and Contemporary Ijtihad: Limits and Controversies (2011). Over the years, he has written numerous law review articles and essays on Islamic law, international law, commercial law, creative writing, legal humor, jurisprudence, the U.S. Constitution, comparative constitutional law, human rights, and foreign policy. His academic writings are used as part of course materials in universities across the world.
Khan has devoted much of his academic scholarship to Islamic law and conflicts involving Muslim communities. Khan has participated in Islamic law symposia held at the law schools of Samford University, University of St. Thomas, Barry University, Michigan State University, and Brigham Young University—contributing ground-breaking articles on Islamic jurisprudence.
In addition to law articles and academic books, Khan also writes for the popular press in the United States, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. His legal and foreign affairs commentaries are published worldwide and international media, including BBC, Press TV, NPR, and leading newspapers, seek his comments on world events.
Khan's writings are cited in various Wikipedia entries, including Sharia, Islamic democracy, nation-state, definitions of terrorism, and manual labor.
In Spring 2007, Khan was a resident legal scholar with the Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has taught at Washburn University School of Law since 1983.