She graduated from Bard College at Simon's Rock in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in social studies.

[2][3] After graduating from law school, AliKhan was a law clerk for judge Louis H. Pollak of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2007 and for judge Thomas L. Ambro of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 2007 to 2008.

[4] On September 30, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated AliKhan to serve as an associate judge for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

[2] President Biden nominated AliKhan to the seat vacated by Judge John R. Fisher, who retired on August 22, 2020.

President Biden nominated AliKhan to the seat vacated by Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who assumed senior status on May 1, 2023.

[15] During her confirmation hearing, she was repeatedly questioned by Senator John Kennedy over her refusal to give her stance on affirmative action, abortion rights, and other issues.