Legal Assistant

Posted on: 2008-05-08

Patricia A. Torres 2207 Old Fort Hills Dr., Ft. Washington, MD 20744 301-292-1975(h) 202-273-2969(w) [email protected] SUMMARY OF SKILLS • 14 years of legal experience with sole practitioners and federal government • Skilled in Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook • Works quickly and accurately under pressure to successfully meet short deadlines • Able to analyze complex and detailed material and solve problems • Excellent attention to detail; very well organized • Consistently take initiative to learn new tasks and increase job responsibilities ______________________________________________________________________ EDUCATION • KAPLAN UNIVERSITY, Davenport, IA September 2007 Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, GPA 3.33, Dean’s List • KAPLAN UNIVERSITY, Davenport, IA December 2005 Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, GPA 3.1, Dean’s List ______________________________________________________________________ EMPLOYMENT HISTORY National Labor Relations Board 6/2005 - present Legal Assistant • Knowledge of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedures, Research, verifies citation, statutes, orders, decisions presented in the briefs • Electronic case filing using CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Filing with the various U.S. Court of Appeals • Research case information using Pacer • Prepare indices and tables of cases for inclusion in appellate briefs, prepare briefs for printing in the appropriate format; official itinerary for oral arguments; motions, certificate of services, appearance forms, and timely and accurate filing of the briefs with the U.S. Court of Appeals • Maintains Litigation Information on the Network (LION) with case information • Complimented by supervisors for professional phone skills when dealing with the courts, region offices Department of State (A/OPR/ALS) 6/2003 - 6/2005 Office Manager • Detailed to the Office of Allowance September 2003 and developed filing and record keeping system resulting in faster access to data • Prepared the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), Foreign Per Diem Supplement published on the Intranet/Internet, general country allowance/differential papers for Assistant Secretary of Administration briefings, wrote office procedures for this position • Served as the Office of Allowances\\\' liaison to \\\"A\\\" bureau\\\'s IRM and PA • Responded to all incoming e-mail\\\'s for per diems, cost of living, danger pay information • Complimented by supervisors for professional phone skills while dealing with difficult clients Secretary • Received, sorted and distributed incoming and outgoing mail • Logged in/out OPF files from records • Answered high volume of telephone inquiries 50 per day for retirement • Performed general office procedures: maintain file system for active/retired federal civilians and Foreign Service officers Law Offices of Wilmer R. Ticer 9/1999 - 9/2001 Law Offices of James H. Taylor 4/1999 - 5/1999 Law Offices of Ronald G. Maurice 4/1990 - 2/1998 Legal Secretary • Generated, typed, formatted, edited letters, documents, motions, briefs • Handled incoming calls, scheduled appointments for client consultations, research of state statutes and municipal codes to support client cases • Managed case files, maintained the calendar system, transcribed tapes • Prepared court pleadings for the courts in Maryland and D.C. Superior Court, personal injury, real estate, probate, bankruptcy, corporation books, criminal and civil cases, subpoenas for individuals to appear in court for trial, witness declarations, exhibits and calculated special damages for settlement cases • Communication with clients/courts regarding status of cases, court dates • Complimented by supervisors for professional phone skills while dealing with difficult clients • Reviewed case files in preparation for settlement negotiations • Corresponded with health care providers, insurance adjusters, and clients • Trained in drafting documents such as summons, complaints, and wills • Developed filing and record keeping system resulting in faster access to data • Interviewed and processed new clients intake for bankruptcy • Prepared bankruptcy petitions for review/filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, notices to agencies that bankruptcy petition had been filed, clients for appearing in bankruptcy court, clients how to maintain their agreements with the bankruptcy court ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Past Lt. Governor of the Capital District Kiwanis Division 22 - 1999-2000 Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Lower Prince George\\\'s County - 1997-1998 Past Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Lower Prince George\\\'s County - 1995-1997 Fifteen-Year Government Service Award - 2006 Performance Award – 1998 Ten-Year Government Service Award – 1998 Letter of Commendation – 1987 REFERENCES Furnished upon request