Tess L. Hardesty

Tess was born and raised in Round Hill, Virginia. She graduated manga cum laude from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Public Law and Political Science. She spent a semester studying abroad in Ireland at Maynooth University, where she received a certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage.

She later obtained her Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University College of Law. During law school, she served as an extern for West Virginia United Health System and student attorney for the West Virginia College of Law Veterans Advocacy Clinic. In her externship, she gained experience working with in-house counsel for healthcare systems. As a student attorney, she helped veterans with a variety of civil litigation issues and Veterans Affairs disability benefits.  While attending West Virginia University, Tess served as president of the Health Law Society and Intellectually Property Legal Society. She also maintained membership in the Marilyn Lugar Mock Trial Association and Black Law Student Association. Tess has been published in the WV Medical Journal and ABA Landslide Magazine. Tess also spent time in law school working at a boutique patent prosecution firm in Virginia and clerking for Judge Debra McLaughlin in West Virginia.

In her spare time, Tess enjoys volunteering with the Louisville Metro Animal Services. She spends her weekends taking shelter dogs on field trips to give them a break from the shelter. Growing up an active member of 4-H and FFA, she enjoys giving back to the local community and spending time with animals.