Edward Hernandez, III

Education
Undergraduate, University of Notre Dame, B.B.A. ‘02
Law, University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D. ‘07

Edward was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas.  He graduated from Lubbock High School in 1998 with honors.  Edward was the Boys and Girls Clubs Texas State Youth of the year in 1998 for his service to the Lubbock Community, athletic accomplishments, and public speaking skills.  Through the Boys and Girls Club’s Youth of the Year Program, Edward was one of many students chosen to attend the Oprah Winfrey show where he received a scholarship from the Oprah Angel Network that enabled him to attend the University of Notre Dame.  Edward then achieved his dream of graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2002.  He returned to work in Lubbock for a couple of years before he decided the best way to help and serve his community was to continue his education to gain knowledge in the field of law.  In 2005, Edward enrolled in the University of Notre Dame Law School where he graduated in 2007. While in law school Edward clerked in Washington, D.C. at Stein, Mitchell & Muse, LLP, under the guidance of Robert Muse.  Desiring to get back to his roots, Edward then returned to Lubbock to clerk for longtime supporter and friend Sam Fadduol, of Fadduol, Cluff & Hardy, PC.  Upon graduation from the Notre Dame Law School, Edward chose to make the law firm of Fadduol, Cluff & Hardy, PC his home.

Edward has always given back to the community and has participated as a mentor and volunteer at the Optimist Boys and Girls Club since his days as a teenager.  He has extensive experience working with at-risk youth and has supervised and participated in multiple life skills and gang prevention programs.  While in South Bend, Indiana, Edward continued to participate in a variety of volunteer programs associated with the Notre Dame Law School.  Edward volunteered at La Casa de Amistad Youth and Community Center, taught a street smarts program at John Adams High School, served as a keynote speaker for Sueños Sin Fronteras (program designed to encourage at-risk Latino teens stay in school and seek higher education), and participated as a public defender advocate in the St. Joseph’s County Misdemeanor Court with attorney Rudy Monterrosa.  Additionally, he served as Treasurer of the Hispanic Law Students Association and participated in their many charitable ventures. 

Edward believes his volunteer work and community service, involvement with the church, education at Notre Dame and many life experiences have developed within him a sincere desire to help serve persons in need.  Consistent with this desire, Edward has chosen to practice law in the area of personal injury and wrongful death to help those during their most difficult times.  Edward faithfully stands by the propositions that “everyone has the right to adequate legal representation” and that “access to competent legal services should not be influenced by wealth or power”.  This is why Edward enjoys working for injured persons and the families of those who have passed because “far too often large insurance companies, unscrupulous employers, and greedy businesses manipulate, deceive, and control individuals and families during their most trying times, the times when someone to trust is needed the most”.  Edward enjoys being able to provide legal services to injured persons and their families without having them pay anything up front and being able to look them in the eye and say, “If we don’t recover for you, you don’t owe us a dime, period.”  Edward is ready to work for you, “so that the voices of the injured will be heard just as loud as the grumbling of the corporate giants”.

Edward is licensed in both Texas and New Mexico.

Notes of Interest:
Edward began boxing at an early age and is a former Texas State Champion and Nationally Ranked welterweight. In 1998, Edward was selected as the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) male athlete of the year for his boxing accomplishments.  During law school Edward continued to fight, winning two Toledo Golden Gloves Championships (2005 & 2006) and reaching the National Golden Gloves quarterfinals (welterweight).  Today, Edward continues to serve the youth of Lubbock through coaching and mentoring with the Lubbock Warriors Boxing Club and mentoring at the Optimist Boys and Girls Club.

In A God of Incredible Surprises: Jesus of Galilee, Author and Priest Virgilio Elizondo credits Edward for providing “valuable insight” to him during his development of the book.