Mr. Pentheny joined Hake & Schmitt as an associate in 2024, after working for the firm as a law clerk between his first and second years of law school. His practice focuses on J-1 and J-2 visa waiver applications and representing clients in federal litigation.
Aaron graduated from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in May 2024. He has a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and international and global studies from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York (2016).
While attending law school, Aaron served as a member of Maryland Carey Law’s International Moot Court Team, which involved complex research of international business arbitration issues for the 30th Vis Moot competition. He also served as a member of the Military Law and Veterans Society.
Prior to attending law school, Aaron worked as an active-duty U.S. Army intelligence officer, graduating from the Army’s Military Intelligence school in April 2017. He worked on a variety of training, multi-service, and joint-military international missions. He left active duty as a First Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in the Individual Ready Reserves.
Legal Experience
Hake & Schmitt, Law Clerk, Summers 2022 and 2023. Aaron drafted civil complaints for filing in federal district courts based on federal immigration and administrative law. He also worked on Freedom of Information Act issues, conducted research on a variety of legal questions, and co-authored an academic paper on J-1 hardship waiver adjudications.
Maryland Carey Law, Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, Student Attorney, Spring Semester 2023. Aaron represented clients before the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the Comptroller of Maryland to resolve tax disputes. Additionally, he provided hundreds of hours of free legal services to the Maryland community, handling complex tax and administrative law issues.
Admissions
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 2025.
- Maryland Supreme Court (and all lower courts in the state), 2024.
Memberships
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association