Michael V. Hernandez, J.D.

Bio

Professor Michael Hernandez joined the faculty of Regent University’s School of Law in 1992 and has taught Appellate Advocacy, Advanced Appellate Advocacy, Foundations of Law, International Human Rights, Property, and Race & the Law. While at Regent, he has served as the dean of the School of Law, director of the LL.M. degree programs, the director of the Honors Program, faculty advisor to the Moot Court Board and to the Hispanic Law Students Association, and as the head coach of Regent’s award-winning Moot Court teams.

Prior to teaching, Hernandez practiced law in the areas of products liability litigation at McGuire Woods and environmental litigation at McSweeney, Burtch & Crump, both law firms in Richmond, Virginia. He has served as a consultant for attorneys litigating cases in state and federal court, including before the United States Supreme Court.

Hernandez’s scholarship focuses on property law, race and the law, law and religion, law and public policy, and appellate advocacy. He is the author of the book, Unlocking Estates in Land and Future Interests, and co-author of Virginia Practice Series: Real Estate Closings with Professor Wade Berryhill of the University or Richmond School of Law.

Credentials

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law

B.A., with high distinction, University of Virginia

Publications

“In Defense of Pluralism: Religiously Affiliated Law Schools, Olympianism, and Christophobia,” 48 Toledo Law Review 283 (2017).

"Unlocking Estates in Land and Future Interests" (West Academic Publishing) Virginia Practice Series: Real Estate Closings (West ed.) (co-author with W. Wade Berryhill).

"The Rule of Law, Historical Equity, and Mexican "Contra Prohibition" Immigrants," 9 Regent Journal of International Law 29 (2012).

"Theism, Realism, and Rawls," 40 Seton Hall Law Review 905 (2010).

"Theistic Legal Realism and Normative Principles of Law," 2 Liberty Law Review 703 (2008).

"Restating Implied, Prescriptive and Statutory Easements," 40 Real Prop. Prob. & Tr. J. 75 (2005).

"Practice and Feedback in the Property (and on the Golf) Course, Teaching the Law School Curriculum," 340-42 (Carolina Acad. Press 2004).

"A Flawed Foundation: Christianity's Loss of Preeminent Influence on American Law," 56 Rutgers Law Review 625 (2004).

"Annual Survey of Virginia Law: Property Law," 35 University of Richmond Law Review 777 (2001).

"Lessons Learned from Teaching a Seminar on Race & the Law," 9:2 Education & Practice 5 (Spring 2001).

"Annual Survey of Virginia Law: Property Law," 34 University of Richmond Law Review 981 (2000).

"Bridging Gibraltar: Latinos as Agents of Reconciliation in Relations Between Black and White America," 11 La Raza Law Journal 99 (2000).

"The Right of Religious Landlords to Exclude Unmarried Cohabitants: Debunking the Myth of the Tenant's 'New Clothes,'" 77 Nebraska Law Review 494 (1998).

"In Defense of Moot Court: A Response to 'In Praise of Moot Court -- Not!'" 17 Review of Litigation 69 (1998).

"Cost Recovery or Contribution?: Resolving the Controversy Over CERCLA Claims Brought By Potentially Responsible Parties," 21 Harvard Environmental Law Review 83 (1997).

Affiliations

Member of Virginia State Bar since 1987

Admitted to practice before the following courts:

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Supreme Court of Virginia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• United States District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia American Bar Association

Awards

Who's Who in America (57th & 58th Eds.)

Who's Who in American Law (10th, 11th & 14 Eds.)

Who's Who in American Education (7th Ed.)

Academic Keys Who's Who in Law Education (WWLE) (2005-present)

Regent University School of Law 1L Professor of the Year, 2000-01, 1998-99, & 1993-94

Regent University Faculty Award for Excellence (Spring 2008)

Regent University Outstanding Faculty Advisor (Moot Court Board) (2011)

Appointments

Board of Governors, Virginia Bar Association (2017-present)

Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar Education Section (2015-present)

Board of Directors, Christian Legal Society (2018-present)

Member, Virginia Bar Association's inaugural Pro Bono Council (2015-17)