Education

Ms. Hickingbottom received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2018 where she majored in Sociology and minored in Film, Television, and Digital Media. She then earned her law degree from California Western School of Law in 2021, graduating magna cum laude.

While in law school, Ms. Hickingbottom served as the executive lead article editor for the California Western International Law Journal and as an associate editor for the California Western Law Review. She was also a research assistant to faculty and a large group tutor for the Contracts I and II, Business Organizations and Evidence courses.

Employment Background

Before joining the firm, Ms. Hickingbottom served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Ms. Hickingbottom served as a judicial extern and judicial law clerk to the same judge when she was a magistrate judge before being elevated.  Ms. Hickingbottom also worked as an intern in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and as a law clerk at Selman Breitman LLP.

Professional Affiliations & Admissions

• State Bar of California
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
• Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter

Community Affiliations

Mock Trial Team Coach, Central Union High School (2021-2022)

News

• SCMV Welcomes Dakota Hickingbottom as an Associate

Personal

Ms. Hickingbottom enjoys attending UCLA football and basketball games and spending time near the beach.