Daniel Hernandez, a 2016 JD graduate, has been named Young Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. Award winners must be nominated by a member of the HLAI and then a nominee is selected by an HLAI committee.
“Receiving awards like this one is a testament to the phrase ‘hard work, pays off,'” Hernandez said. “This is a humbling experience that is filled with great honor. I owe much of this recognition to my mentors. Without them, I would not have the confidence and poise needed to zealously advocate for my clients and the LGBTQ and Latinx communities.”
During his time at John Marshall, Hernandez served as Student Bar Association President and was a member of the Latino Law Student Association, the Middle Eastern Law Student Association and OUTLaw. Hernandez also competed in the Williams Institute Moot Court Competition and served as a teaching assistant to Professor Maureen Kordesh.
Since graduating, Hernandez has opened a boutique law firm with his law partner, and fellow John Marshall graduate, Timothy (TJ) Walczak (’16). Together they have started Walczak Hernandez, P.C.
Hernandez also works with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services to provide pro bono services in child representative cases and serves as Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors for Between Friends Chicago, a nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence.