Aaron J. Irving
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.
Jacksonville, Florida
Aaron joined Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA) as the Director of Pro Bono and Family Law Low Bono (FLARE) in September 2022. Previously, he owned and operated his own Jacksonville law firm focused on family law, probate and estate planning, and personal injury, while also serving as a pro bono volunteer attorney for JALA. He is an adjunct professor of law at Florida State College at Jacksonville, a volunteer judge on the Teen Court Bench, and has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2010. Connect with Aaron.
How are you meeting the needs of the middle market? Launched in 2018, JALA’s Family Law at a Reduced Expense (FLARE) program provides moderate-income families with reduced-fee legal assistance in family law matters. Designed as a “low-bono” service model, FLARE helps bridge the justice gap for those who earn too much to qualify for traditional legal aid but cannot afford private counsel.
The program emerged in response to the significant statewide shortage of family law representation. In 2016 alone, Duval County saw 9,122 family law filings, with the vast majority involving at least one unrepresented party. Statewide, civil legal aid programs offer almost no general family law representation outside of VOCA-funded cases, underscoring the need for an alternative approach.
To address this gap, the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice launched a pilot project focused on innovative case-triage strategies, drawing inspiration from ideas developed by Ed Marks of New Mexico Legal Aid. After that pilot ended, JALA created its own model, ultimately leading to the development of FLARE.
FLARE operates as a low-bono referral program to the private bar and is the first—and currently the only—legal aid low-bono program in Florida. Eligible cases include divorce (with or without children), paternity matters, and post-judgment modifications.
Clients apply online and are screened to ensure they fall within 0–400% of the federal poverty guidelines. Once approved, they may choose from several reduced-fee service options, including consultations, document preparation, or full representation. Deposits and retainers are held in trust by JALA, and participating attorneys submit invoices through the program for payment. Full-representation clients pay an initial retainer plus monthly trust deposits based on FLARE’s sliding scale.
Since 2018, the program has served nearly 1,000 individuals and currently partners with about 25 private attorneys. Approximately 30% of clients choose low-bono consultations, another 30% request document preparation, and about 40% receive full representation—demonstrating both the program’s impact and its ongoing importance.
What do you most value about ATLN? What I really value about Above the Line Network is that it goes beyond networking—it’s about learning, sharing ideas, and finding ways to strengthen and grow our existing low-bono programs.
What have you found to be the most valuable resource as you build your firm/program? The most valuable resource growing the FLARE program has been the support and active participation of the private bar and judiciary.
What change to the justice system do you think would have the biggest positive impact on serving the middle market? Improving access to affordable and efficient civil legal services can include financial support for legal aid low-bono programs, funding for additional court staff to assist with family law services such as alternative dispute resolution, enhancements to self-help family law forms, and increased state-wide support for legal aid, pro bono, and low-bono advocates.
Share one fun fact about yourself. I enjoy visiting places of worship for their architecture and their stained-glass windows. Beyond their beauty, these windows tell stories. I even have a quarter-sleeve tattoo of a stained-glass window that tells the story of my life and the things I hold most dear.
Daniel R. Hernandez
NextLevel Law, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
Daniel R. Hernandez is the founder of NextLevel Law and serves as its CEO and Principal Attorney. The Chicago-based firm provides affordable, transparent legal services to middle-income families, with a focus on family law and LGBTQ+ advocacy. He serves as the National Secretary for the Hispanic National Bar Association and its charitable arm, the HNBA VIA Fund. Daniel is a passionate innovator in access-to-justice reform and a proud member of the Above the Line Network, working to make legal services more inclusive and client-centered. Connect with Daniel.
How are you meeting the needs of the middle market? At NextLevel Law, we’ve built our entire model around serving the middle market—those who are often “above the line” for legal aid but still struggle to afford traditional legal services. We offer transparent, fixed-fee subscription pricing, which removes the fear of unpredictable legal bills and makes high-quality representation accessible. Our focus on family law and LGBTQ+ issues allows us to serve communities that are often overlooked or underserved. By combining affordability, empathy, and legal excellence, we’re closing the justice gap for middle-income individuals and families in Chicago and beyond.
What do you most value about ATLN? What I value most about ATLN is its collaborative spirit and bold mission. It’s a space where innovators, socially conscious firms, and justice advocates come together to share ideas, resources, and best practices. ATLN doesn’t just talk about the justice gap—it actively works to transform the delivery of legal services for the middle class. Being part of a network that amplifies the voices of middle-income Americans and pushes for systemic change is both inspiring and essential.
What have you found to be the most valuable resource as you build your firm/program? The most valuable resource has been community—both professional and client-based. Listening to the real needs of our clients helped shape our pricing model and service delivery. On the professional side, mentorship, collaboration with other forward-thinking attorneys, and involvement in networks like ATLN, and the Chicago Bar Foundation's Justice Entrepreneurs Project have provided insights and support that helped NextLevel Law grow with purpose. Also, being part of Chicago’s vibrant legal and social justice community has been a constant source of inspiration.
What change to the justice system do you think would have the biggest positive impact on serving the middle market? The biggest impact would come from reforming the regulatory framework to allow for more flexible legal service delivery models—including educating the judiciary on alternative fee structures and expanding the use of technology within the courts and legal service delivery. The current system is built around traditional, high-cost models that exclude middle-income Americans. If we can reimagine licensing, service delivery, and funding, we can make justice truly accessible for all.
Share one fun fact about yourself. I’m a huge fan of rollerblading along Chicago’s lakefront path—it’s my favorite way to unwind and recharge. There’s something about the rhythm, the skyline, and the lake breeze that clears the mind and fuels creativity.