Daniel R. Hernandez

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Daniel R. Hernandez practices law at NextLevel Law, P.C., serving as the firm’s CEO and principal attorney. Concentrating his practice primarily on family law and LGBTQ+ law, he extends his practice to the surrounding counties of Chicago. 

Attending the Florida International University, Mr. Hernandez obtained his bachelor’s degree in health service administration in 2011. He pursued law at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Law and received his J.D. in 2016. At the law school, he was the president of the student bar association and the Latino ambassador of the Multicultural Leadership Council.

Even before graduating from law school, Mr. Hernandez interned at law firms, and for the Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities of the American Bar Association (ABA). He has also worked as a judicial extern to the Honorable Pamela Meyerson at the Chancery Division – Circuit Court of Cook County. 

Mr. Hernandez follows an innovative business model at his firm which charges their clients monthly for legal services. He has immense experience of over six years handling family law, working with clients from a wide range of the social spectrum. He gives out learned counsel and often takes the role of guardian ad litem to represent children’s interests in cases concerning them. As a compassionate attorney, he guides families through difficult legal situations and strives to give them the support they require to recover from them.

Taking the role of an adjunct professor, Mr. Hernandez imparts his knowledge in the field of law to his students at the UIC School of Law and has obtained the Favorite Adjunct Professor Award. He is also a social entrepreneur who is the president of a nonprofit organization named Between Friends Chicago, devoted to ending domestic violence. He was the recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services’ Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Hernandez currently serves as the vice president of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Region IX and has taken several roles at various organizations:

·       LGBT Committee Chair for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI)

·       Membership Chair of the LGBT Division of the HNBA

·       Vice Chair of the ABA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee of the Young Lawyers Division

·       Commissioner for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations

The long list of honors that Mr. Hernandez has received for his merits in the field of law includes being selected to the Business Equality Magazine’s list of 40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40, the Windy City Times’ list of 30 Under 30 and the Negocios Now’s Latinos 40 Under 40. Furthermore, he was recognized with the HLAI’s Young Lawyer of the Year title and the Business Network International’s Top Contributor Award, and was rated “Superb” on Avvo.