Aman Sankineni, a 1L at Columbia Law School, joins the firm this summer as one of our 2024 diversity fellows.

At Columbia, Aman serves as the staff editor of the American Review of International Arbitration and the professional events representative of the Entertainment Arts and Sports Law Society. He also volunteers with Legal Outreach, a law-based educational program for youth from underserved neighborhoods in New York City, and the Human Rights in Armenia Pro Bono Project. Previously, Aman worked as a legal assistant for an entertainment law firm in California. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

When did you become interested in pursuing law?

This profession was always on my radar, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue it until I was about two years into my time at UCLA. At that point, I was still pre-med, but I realized I would be better off following a path that allowed me to do what I love: reading and writing.

What drew you to this firm?

As an undergrad, I spent two years working at a entertainment firm with only a few lawyers. I was able to complete meaningful, in-depth assignments while developing great relationships with my colleagues. I know I’m at my best when I can do work that’s intellectually stimulating in a close-knit environment, so I wanted to replicate the same experience for my 1L summer.

I was also drawn to the firm’s location in Houston and its roster of energy clients. I don’t know much about litigation, either, so I’m excited to get a front-row seat to real trial work. This experience will provide a lot of insight into operations you can’t see from the outside, like sitting in on depositions and watching oral arguments.

What do you hope to get out of your time at the firm?

I’d like to build strong relationships with the lawyers here. I want to learn more about what they do, how they do it, and why they’ve chosen this kind of work.

In terms of hard skills, I’d like to improve my legal writing and be able to collaborate with lawyers on creating written product.

What does diversity in the legal profession mean to you? Why do you think programs like the diversity fellowship are important to implement?

To me, diversity is about equity—making sure everyone has the same access to resources, no matter who they are or where they come from. Programs like this ensure that students with historically limited access can learn the same skills, make the same connections, and secure the same jobs as their peers.

SHJ offers three-week-long summer fellowships to 1Ls who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity. Fellows work closely with our legal team on substantive matters, gaining firsthand insight into life at a boutique litigation firm.