With over 30 years of experience in the legal industry as a legal secretary and litigation paralegal, I have acquired experience in many areas of law, including but not limited to personal injury, family and domestic relations, criminal defense, and legal malpractice. Paralegal certificate. Always available for overtime work.
My Practice Areas
Family Law
Marriage, Divorce, Child Custody, Visitation and Support, Parental Rights and Responsibilities, Domestic Violence, Enforcement and Modification of Orders
Constitutional Law
Civil rights and discrimination, Criminal Defense
Personal Injury Law
Auto Accidents, Slip and Fall, Medical Malpractice, Dog Bites, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful Death
Legal Malpractice
Administrative, Complex Civil Litigation, Municipal and Government, LLC and Nonprofit creation
Real Estate
Purchase and Sale, Landlord Tenant, Property Liability, Property Rights and Disputes, Zoning
Probate, Wills and Estates
Adoptions, Contested Wills, Intestate Succession, Disputes over Assets, Unclear Intentions in Will
What I Do for Law Firms
Perform all elements of litigation case management, including file management, discovery, and trial activities.
Implement case calendaring system to track filings and appropriately distribute information.
Utilize existing systems and procedures and/or establish new procedures to facilitate the organization and retrieval of documents by and for the attorneys on the case team.
On a case-specific basis, coordinate and oversee the tasks of more junior paralegals and other support staff as needed on large litigation matters and/or investigations in all phases of litigation from discovery through trial/arbitration.
Liaise between case team attorneys and support staff as needed to ensure that case-specific paralegal services are meeting the team’s expectations.
Proactively identify opportunities to improve systems and procedures, implementing new systems as appropriate.
Interact with outside entities (e.g. courts, government agencies, expert witnesses, corporations, vendors, and other law firms) to gather information or coordinate activities as needed in support of firm activities, specifically trials and arbitrations.
Lead discovery and witness preparation support efforts.
Draft, review, and/or analyze routine legal documents as requested by attorneys; conduct legal research under attorney supervision.
Provide formal and/or informal guidance and training to more junior paralegals regarding firm and litigation procedures and best practices.
Create and maintain effective working relationships with others to facilitate a positive and productive work environment.
Manage relationships with peers in co-counsel or virtual law firm organizations.
Continuously refine, develop, and expand skills in anticipation of changes in the work environment or profession.
Adhere to Firm policies, practices, and priorities.
Perform other duties as requested by Firm management.
Uphold high standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity, particularly with respect to all sensitive and/or confidential firm and client information to which this position will have access.
My Experience
Over 5 years of experience as a litigation paralegal, 25 years as legal secretary.
All stages of litigation, including intake, discovery, and trial.
Prepare for and attend trials/mediations/hearings.
Coordinate trial/mediation logistics, including negotiating for workspace, setting up remote office space, and coordinating with vendors.
Develop and maintain processes to collect, store, and maintain paper and electronic case files.
Strong sense of accountability and attention to detail.
Ability to convey information to individuals at all levels within and outside of the firm courteously and professionally, strong service orientation.
Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work concurrently on a variety of projects with changing priorities and short deadlines.
Ability to work equally well as part of a team in both a leadership and subordinate role.
Ability to maintain stable performance under pressure with continually changing priorities; ability to integrate special assignments or projects into workflow.
Excellent judgment demonstrated by the ability to make appropriate decisions in high-pressure situations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communications that are clear and concise, use proper grammar, and appropriate vocabulary.
Court and administrative agency filings, including electronic or e-filings.
Proficient with Microsoft Office software products including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Proficiency using LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Adobe Acrobat in a legal setting.
Proficient with cite-checking and Bluebook rules.
MY CASE RESULTS
The client suffered bodily injuries from bedbug infestation caused by the landlord's refusal to eradicate the bedbugs for a year. Sued the landlord and won $27,000 in bodily injury compensation from the landlord's insurance company at mediation.
