2023 10 Under 10 Honorees

This year’s luncheon will celebrate the following recipients for their outstanding achievements:

Bianca “Nicki” Aguilera Schalk (J.D. ’15)

Senior Staff Attorney, RAICES, San Antonio

Aguilera Schalk received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas–Pan American and graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2015, where she worked as a student attorney in the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. She also served as a staff writer on the St. Mary’s Law Journal. Aguilera Schalk is a senior staff attorney for RAICES, a nonprofit organization that specializes in immigration defense and advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees. Currently, she represents non-U.S. citizens who have been victims of domestic violence or victims of crimes.

Marisa Aragon (J.D. ’15)

Partner, The Huron Aragon Law Firm, PLLC, San Antonio

Aragon is a partner at The Huron Aragon Law Firm, PLLC.  Her specialties include family law, guardianship, probate, and estate planning. As a graduate of UTSA, Aragon holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in psychology. At St. Mary’s University School of Law, Aragon clerked for the 4th Court of Appeals.  She won several local and national moot court competitions. Her time at St. Mary’s University Center for Legal and Social Justice included assisting clients at Haven for Hope with their legal needs. She continues to work closely with the Center for Legal and Social Justice and continues to assist with cases as needed.

Gregg Gallian (J.D. ’14)

Managing Attorney, Gallian Firm, Dallas

Gallian graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2014. While at St. Mary’s, Gallian was selected into the Order of the Barristers and received the Patricia Scott Award naming him the best advocate of the external advocacy programs in 2014. Gallian started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Dallas County District Attorney’s office. Gallian tried over 30 jury trials in one year and was selected as the Prosecutor of the Year in 2015. In 2019, he opened Gallian Firm, where he exclusively handles state and federal criminal defense matters.

Sophia George (J.D. ’18)

Associate, Husch Blackwell, Houston

George, a 2018 law graduate, is a five-time regional and national moot court champion. George developed her advocacy skills in law school, winning multiple best speaker and best brief awards along the way. She finds joy in advocating for clients and developing effective litigation strategies, as well as the fast pace of litigation and trial work. Most importantly, George believes that a lawyer is very much a part of a business’s team. She takes pride in her role on the litigation team, supporting clients in a way that serves their needs and matches their corporate values. George has been described as a juggernaut when approaching client problems: whatever the issue, she is ready to find a solution that serves the client’s needs.

Alicia Grant (J.D. ’16)

Senior Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright, San Antonio

Grant is a Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright and former law clerk for the Hon. Tony M. Davis, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas. She currently serves in various leadership volunteer roles with SALSA, YOSA, LEAD Academy, Texas Minority Conference Program, SABA DEI Committee, and State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor Committees.  Grant, a 2016 law graduate was a member of the St. Mary’s Law Journal. She competed nationally with the External Advocacy Moot Court Team and was inducted to Order of the Barristers. She was also a member of the John Marshall Harlan Honor Society, the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas and recipient of St. Mary’s Presidential Award.

Austin M. Hagee (J.D. ’16)

Attorney, Austin Hagee Law Firm, San Antonio

Hagee is a dedicated criminal trial lawyer in San Antonio, Texas, with a passion for restorative justice and a deep commitment to helping his clients rebuild their lives and families. He graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2016, where he honed his legal and negotiation skills and developed a keen understanding of the importance of compassionate advocacy. During his time at St. Mary’s University School of Law, he was given the Outstanding Negotiation Award and inducted into the Order of Barristers. Hagee began his career as a prosecutor, and he now uses that experience to help good people through hard times with the goal of restoring families.

Hannah Hembree Bell (J.D. ’15)

Attorney, Hembree Bell Law, San Antonio

Hembree Bell is a lawyer, speaker, business owner, mom, wife, friend, and community member, and usually, at least one of these roles is getting the short end of the stick on any given day. But what defines Hembree Bell is not any of the titles or accolades she’s received —what sets Hembree Bell apart is her “all in” approach to life. Whether it’s helping marriages end well in the greater San Antonio and Austin areas through her family law firm Hembree Bell Law or speaking from a stage — Hembree Bell is building a revolution of people who dare to demand more from life because it’s time to wake up and people need a place to belong.

Naomi Howard (J.D. ’14)

Constitutional Defense Attorney, Austin

Howard is a constitutional defense attorney running her own solo practice in Austin. Howard’s practice includes trial and appellate advocacy in the state and federal criminal justice systems. Before starting her own practice, she was a litigator at Rusty Hardin & Associates in Houston, where she worked on a variety of criminal cases in state and federal courts as well as before government administrative agencies. Howard clerked for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, the Hon. Bert Richardson, in Austin after graduating from St. Mary’s School of Law in 2014, giving her insight into the judicial process and the death penalty in particular. Howard has litigated prisoner civil rights, has successfully argued for striking down a state criminal statute as unconstitutional, and has defended elected officials.

Lauren Victoria Leal Windham (J.D. ’15)

Senior Attorney, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Houston

Leal was born and raised in Port Lavaca, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2012 and her Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2015. While studying, she worked as a student attorney and research assistant for St. Mary’s law clinics representing indigent clients with a focus on Social Security Disability. Upon graduating, Leal worked at Heard and Smith LLP, a Social Security Disability firm ensuring individuals receive their entitled benefits. Leal then took a position at Catholic Charities providing legal services to victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders. She also provided representation to San Antonio’s impoverished community in civil suits advocating for liberties and equity. In 2019, Leal moved to Houston, Texas and joined Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Leal represents unaccompanied children fleeing from violence, abuse, and neglect by providing both direct and pro bono mentorship in immigration removal proceedings and at immigration offices

Julia Null (J.D. ’14)

Attorney, Clayton & Ramirez Law, Austin

Null attended St. Mary’s University School of Law from 2011 until 2014, and during that time, she was a leader among the students. Null participated in everything from Pro Bono legal clinics to the Innsbruck Study Abroad Program and student organizations (serving as 2013-2014 President of the Women’s Law Association) and was awarded the Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award in 2014. Null began working at Clayton & Ramirez Law following passing the Bar and became the Operations Partner in 2019. Her passion for giving back to her community is the foundation on which she became an attorney. Her drive to create a sustainable Pro Bono Clinic in the Austin area was born from her work at St. Mary’s University School of Law.