We are pleased to introduce the selected law students for the 2025 Hicks Johnson Summer Program.

The 1L Fellows program is a three-week summer fellowship for 1Ls who show promise as future trial lawyers through their academic, professional, and community endeavors. Fellows spend three weeks working closely with our trial teams on substantive matters. The experience also includes robust educational and social programming, such as after-work events, lunch-and-learns with partners and clients, and attendance of external activities (such as depositions and trials) alongside firm lawyers.

Our 2L Summer Associates dive headfirst into “big case” civil trial practice, integrating into the firm’s trial teams from day one, much like first year associates. Summer Associates are given substantive assignments—such as drafting motions, preparing deposition questions, and researching strategy memos—that have a real impact on the firm’s success.

Meet our 2025 Summer Program members:

Abeeha Arshad is a 1L at the University of Houston Law Center. She recently received the James E. Crowther Scholarship, awarded to students committed to public service work, and the Gus A. Schill, Jr. Ethics in Representation Scholarship, which recognizes law students with significant academic promise and leadership potential. Abeeha holds a B.A. in political science and government from the University of Houston, where she participated in the UH Mock Trial Association, Pre-Law Society, and Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament.

Karenina Urquieta is a 1L at Georgetown University Law Center, where she is active in the Latin American Law Student Association, Women’s Legal Alliance, and many other organizations. Karenina holds a B.B.A. in finance and management from the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business. She served as the tournament director of the Mock Trial Association, president of the Bauer Ambassadors; senior consultant in the Stimulating Urban Renewal Through Entrepreneurship (SURE) program.

Megan Mitchell is a 2L at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and current managing editor of the Northwestern University Law Review. She is the creator and operator of Link to the Filing, a Bluesky account that puts legal news in context by providing free links to original sources like judicial rulings and court filings. Megan volunteers with Lincoln Park Community Services and she previously served as an Honors Legal Intern for the Social Security Administration. Megan graduated from Converse University with a B.A. in psychology, and she holds a master’s degree in actuarial science and professional accountancy from Georgia State University.

Derek Song is a 2L at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and chief submissions editor for the Entertainment Law Review. Derek served as a legal extern for Riot Games, where he researched and drafted memos on intellectual property and regulatory cases, and, prior to that role, served as a state bar fellow with Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). He received the Ming Y. Moy Scholarship from the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and the Dean’s Merit Scholarship. Derek graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a B.M. in music business management and contemporary writing and production.

Hicks Johnson is known for taking on intellectually demanding matters that require fresh, creative thinking. As our firm continues to expand, we remain committed to the principle that has guided our hiring practices since day one: recruiting, developing, and retaining excellence at every level.