 In 1959, he obtained his degree in law from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, graduating "magna cum laude" and as valedictorian of his class.Between 1961 and 1965 he was a lecturer on civil procedure at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce.Hernández Colón affiliated himself with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico ("Partido Popular Democrático", PPD).