Nia K. Fernandez
Nia K. Fernandez graduated from Gonzaga University (B.A. in International Studies and Political Science) and the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law (J.D.). She was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended Sacred Hearts Academy.
After her first year of law school, Ms. Fernandez was a summer extern with the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (MLPC), where she helped families faced with eviction issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following her second year, Ms. Fernandez served as a summer law clerk for the Honorable Matthew J. Viola, Senior Judge of the Family Court.
During her second and third year of law school, Ms. Fernandez worked directly with families involved in the child welfare system with the goal of reuniting parents and their children. As a second and third year, she also worked with Stacy Fukuhara-Barclay to gain experience and understand the role that a best interest fact finder (BIFF) provides in family court cases. Also during her third year, Ms. Fernandez was selected to be a research assistant to Richardson’s family law professor, Professor Calvin G.C. Pang. Throughout law school, Ms. Fernandez served as a tutor in Criminal Law, Evidence, and Torts and was a member of the Ulu Lehua Scholars Program.
In her free time, Nia enjoys spending time with her two younger sisters and practicing yoga.