Criminal defense advocacy in death penalty cases during Federal Habeas proceedings.

Zealous advocacy of indigent people accused of federal misdemeanors and felonies.

As President of Hernández López & Associates, LLC, I hold myself and my staff to the highest standards and accountability to ensure all clients are treated with dignity and respect. I pride myself on my ability to effectively communicate with clients to make sure they feel heard. One thing you should know about me is I am persistent. If someone says something cannot be done, I will literally sit and analyze a brief sentence by sentence until I find a solution or another way to counter… Show more As President of Hernández López & Associates, LLC, I hold myself and my staff to the highest standards and accountability to ensure all clients are treated with dignity and respect. I pride myself on my ability to effectively communicate with clients to make sure they feel heard. One thing you should know about me is I am persistent. If someone says something cannot be done, I will literally sit and analyze a brief sentence by sentence until I find a solution or another way to counter the argument. I know how to work hard, and I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves. I go above and beyond, working endless nights to research and compile evidence to ensure only the best outcomes for clients. I have represented clients in a wide range of cases within this role, including foreclosure cases, mortgage closings, child support/custody, etc.I find great satisfaction in delivering a compelling argument and have been successful in:• Acquiring new clients, all by word of mouth/referrals—which is a testament to my ability to connect with people on a personal level and deliver results.• Serving as legal counsel on behalf of the Board of Directors for a high-end residential building complex and Homeowners Association, winning all claims before the Puerto Rico Consumers Affairs Department.• Saving clients thousands by negotiating flexible rates and/or doing work pro bono. Show less

As one of the University’s utmost respected Professors & DNA Post-Conviction Project Coordinator, time management is paramount. Over the past year, I have become not only an amazing life juggler but an on-demand lecturer, publisher, and avid researcher. I love teaching, and anytime I can get my hands on a professional learning opportunity, I grab it by the horns and run with it. Whether it be conducting my own research, publishing an article, giving a lecture, speaking at an engagement or… Show more As one of the University’s utmost respected Professors & DNA Post-Conviction Project Coordinator, time management is paramount. Over the past year, I have become not only an amazing life juggler but an on-demand lecturer, publisher, and avid researcher. I love teaching, and anytime I can get my hands on a professional learning opportunity, I grab it by the horns and run with it. Whether it be conducting my own research, publishing an article, giving a lecture, speaking at an engagement or conference, or preparing 2Y and 3Y students for admissions to law school, I consistently deliver rich and engaging content time and time again. Some of my greatest triumphs in this position have been my ability and drive to:• Attain a federal grant for $397K to fund the first post-conviction relief projects for the University, becoming the only state-based institution to receive said distinction in Puerto Rico. • Boost test performance in areas of criminal law, criminal procedure, and constitutional law on Puerto Rico Bar exam by focusing on the fundamentals of wrongful conviction causes and criminal law procedures. • Authored and published first sources of statistics in Puerto Rico regarding wrongful conviction and causes (currently in progress). Show less

As a high-performing Associate at Marin Law, I became a mastermind in criminal law and procedures, appellate practice, and evidence management, including discovery in criminal cases. Leveraging my expertise in these areas I have been successful in building a broad portfolio encompassing areas of account claims, financial and property disputes, and custody/child support cases to name a few. In this role, I was able to hone my skills in research and successfully:• Draft and prepare… Show more As a high-performing Associate at Marin Law, I became a mastermind in criminal law and procedures, appellate practice, and evidence management, including discovery in criminal cases. Leveraging my expertise in these areas I have been successful in building a broad portfolio encompassing areas of account claims, financial and property disputes, and custody/child support cases to name a few. In this role, I was able to hone my skills in research and successfully:• Draft and prepare effective narratives and defense strategies in over 20 cases before the courts, all resulting in favorable rulings.• Shorten sentencing and/or dismiss charges altogether for indigent clients. Show less

Hon. Antonio J. Fas Alzamora As Legislative Assistant for Senate of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, I took on many special assignments including but not limited to juridical research, advisement and legislative reform of bills or initiatives. Additionally, I headed lobbying legislative bills that sparked new growth across the tourism, film, and sports industry. One of my greatest achievements in this role was my ability to produce five (5) legislative bills that became signed into… Show more Hon. Antonio J. Fas Alzamora As Legislative Assistant for Senate of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, I took on many special assignments including but not limited to juridical research, advisement and legislative reform of bills or initiatives. Additionally, I headed lobbying legislative bills that sparked new growth across the tourism, film, and sports industry. One of my greatest achievements in this role was my ability to produce five (5) legislative bills that became signed into acts by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; particularly the Senate bill that awarded $50M to bolster finance film industry projects for large networks such as HBO, TBS, and ABC. Show less

As Associate Partner for Santana Rabell & Hernández Law Firm Vega Alta, I leveraged my knowledge in complex litigation and juridical research to promote swift court resolution. Some things that made me an effective and collaborative partner were things like keeping up to date on legislative amendments and policy changes. I am a native Spanish speaker, so I was a huge company asset helping clients with limited to nonexistent English language proficiency. One area I excelled in was… Show more As Associate Partner for Santana Rabell & Hernández Law Firm Vega Alta, I leveraged my knowledge in complex litigation and juridical research to promote swift court resolution. Some things that made me an effective and collaborative partner were things like keeping up to date on legislative amendments and policy changes. I am a native Spanish speaker, so I was a huge company asset helping clients with limited to nonexistent English language proficiency. One area I excelled in was representing clients across a vast array of criminal and civil litigation, including felony and misdemeanor defense counsel, and preparing certioraris and appeals to Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Show less

As a Professor for American University of Puerto Rico, I was able to sharpen the college's curriculum offerings by introducing the course "Introduction to Criminology" as part of the Criminal Justice Major. By incorporating this course into the syllabus, it gave students an in-depth analysis and look at the history of criminology, including definition of crime theories from a sociological lens as well as criminal profiling factors.