Tess joined Harris, Hunt & Derr, P.A. in September 2024. She has primarily practiced marital and family law since becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 2019. Prior to sitting for the bar, Tess worked in family law, estate planning, and probate as a law clerk and paralegal since 2015.
A proud Double Gator, Tess graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 2016, earning a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Criminology. She went on to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2019. During her time in law school, Tess was a Certified Legal Intern for the Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic, where she represented child-clients in dependency and delinquency proceedings. Her passion and dedication to these cases earned her the book award for the highest grade in the clinic.
Tess was elected to the Executive Council of the Marital and Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. She is an active member of the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Tampa. She also volunteers with Bay Area Legal Services through their Volunteer Lawyers Program assisting pro se litigants in completing family law forms.
Education:
- University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
- Juris Doctor, 2019
- Certified Legal Intern for the Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic, 2019
- Executive Research Editor for the University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy, 2017-2019
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude,2016
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, cum laude, 2016
- Phi Mu Fraternity, 2014-2016
- Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, 2014-2016
- Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law Fraternity, 2015-2016
- Research Assistant for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2015
Experience:
- Assistant Tutor for Mind Over Legal Matter LLC, 2019-2023
- Content Tutor for the University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida, 2016-2019
Organizations:
- Executive Council Member of the Marital and Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Member of the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Tampa
- Member of the BNI Platinum Chapter of Tampa Bay
