Katie Mesner-Hage Chosen First Theodore I. Koskoff Public Interest Fellow
BRIDGEPORT, CT, June 11, 2013 – The law firm of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder today announced that Katie Mesner-Hage, of Montpelier, VT., has been chosen as the first Theodore I. Koskoff Public Interest Fellow.
The firm established the fellowship to provide an opportunity for an exceptional recent law school graduate to spend a year working on public interest projects. The fellowship honors the legacy of Theodore I. Koskoff, who founded the firm and is widely regarded as one of the greatest trial lawyers of his generation.
Ms. Mesner-Hage is a 2013 graduate of the Yale Law School, where she was selected as a finalist in the Harlan Fisk Stone Moot Court Competition. Ms. Mesner-Hage’s performance was described as “spectacular” and “very impressive” by Judge Rosemary Barkett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. She also distinguished herself in law school by being selected for the Yale Trial Advocacy Team and competing in a national trial advocacy competition sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition, she was selected as a Connecticut Bar Foundation Fellow in recognition of her commitment to public interest litigation and social change. She also worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Shira Scheindlin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“My grandfather was dedicated to using the law as an instrument to improve the lives of people, and to even the playing field with those in power. He was motivated by a core sense of empathy and justice. Finding a candidate right out of law school who has already demonstrated these qualities was a tall order,” said Joshua Koskoff, the third generation of trial lawyers in the Koskoff family.
“The firm was overwhelmed with worthy candidates with very bright futures,” he said. “In the end, though, Katie made our decision easy. We are thrilled that she will be the standard-bearer for the Theodore I. Koskoff fellowship.”
Prior to law school, Ms. Mesner-Hage worked as a paralegal at the civil rights law firm Relman, Dane & Colfax, PLLC in Washington, D.C., where she served as lead paralegal in several civil rights cases. Ms. Mesner-Hage has previously worked as the Joan Bauer Domestic Violence Fellow at Vermont Legal Aid and was a Senior Fellow with Humanity in Action in Berlin, Germany. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Macalester College where she earned a degree in Political Science and was named the Dorothy Dodge Scholar for outstanding academic achievement.
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, is a nationally known law firm that has achieved record verdicts for people who suffer serious personal injuries or economic harm from medical malpractice, violation of their civil or constitutional rights, dangerous products, negligence, drunk drivers, corporate or governmental abuse and commercial misconduct. www.koskoff.com.