Deadline-focused and highly experienced Legal Assistant eager to contribute extensive talents toward supporting a dynamic law firm in achieving business goals and objectives.

 

 

• Significant experience with civil litigation, class action/mass tort, collections, construction/lien law, construction defect, commercial/business litigation, complex litigation, and insurance defense.

         Considerable background in family law, life and disability insurance, malpractice, personal injury, pharmaceutical litigation, product liability and toxic substance/asbestos.

         Display a collaborative work approach, adaptability, initiative, and project management abilities.

         Highly skilled in performing broad-scope legal research, interpreting and drafting complex legal documents, supporting and expediting litigation activities, and handling firm s administrative functions such as filing, creating/merging documents, preparing reports, and training staff.

         Reputation for solid problem solving abilities and innovative thinking skills.

         Appreciated for unparalleled integrity and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

         Adept at managing and docketing of multi-user and individual calendars.

         Well-versed in a wide variety of legal codes, court procedures, and precedents.

 

 

Lewis and Roca, LLP, Phoenix, AZ, 2001 to  Present

Legal Assistant / Lead Secretary to two Senior Partners and Senior Associate

• Spearhead preparation and filing of documents related to mass tort pharmaceutical litigation involving Phen-Fen and HRT, product liability, personal injury/wrongful death, and life and disability insurance (ERISA).
• Coordinate arbitration/mediation and appeal matters in state and federal courts for Arizona and Nevada and matters assigned to MDL (multidistrict litigation).
• Effectively and efficiently assist attorneys and paralegals in full spectrum of case management from inception through mediation, arbitration, or trial.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in drafting, preparing and filing complaints, answers, removals, discovery requests and responses, disclosure statements, dispositive, discovery and trial motions, page/line summaries, exhibit, witness, and expert lists, deposition, document production and trial subpoenas, correspondence and memoranda.
• Contribute extensive administrative talents toward devising schedules, coordinating coverage and travel, performing comprehensive calendar management, preparing expense reports, and reviewing billing records for accuracy.
• Facilitate seamless communication among national counsel, clients, carriers, witnesses, experts and vendors.

 

Continued

 

 

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Professional Experience continued

 

Eugene F. Cristiano, ESQ., Covina, CA, 2000 to 2001

Legal Assistant / Paralegal to Sole Practitioner

• Independently oversaw handling and work-up of personal injury and family law cases including drafting, preparation and filing of complaints, petitions, answers, discovery requests and responses, motions, correspondence, subpoenas, pre-trial and trial documents.
• Applied sharp organizational skills toward reviewing, coordinating and managing court-appointed and private arbitration matters, performing calendaring and docketing, and maintaining files.
• Conducted in-depth client interviews, recorded critical information, and corresponded directly with carriers, witnesses, and experts.  
• Adhered to established budget parameters in purchasing office equipment, software and supplies, and fostered and maintained strong vendor relationships.
• Oversaw monthly financial functions inclusive of accounts payable and receivable, client billing statements, and firm financial reports.

 

                         

 

Prior Background:

 

McClaughtery & Associates, Pasadena, CA, 1999 to 2000

Legal Secretary to two Senior Associates and Paralegal

 

Schroeder &Associates (Formerly Mills & Schroeder, Pasadena, California), Brea, CA, 1992 to 1999

Legal Secretary to Managing Partner and Senior Associate

 

Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, Los Angeles, CA, 1989 to 1992

Legal Secretary to Senior Partner, Senior Associate and Human Resources Director

 

Molfetta & Raymond, Glendale, CA, 1988 to 1989

Legal Secretary to Senior Associate

 

 

Office Programs: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel); WordPerfect; RightFax; Adobe Acrobat; MetaStorm; iManage

 

Litigation Support: Summation; Legal Solutions; Judicial Counsel Forms; LexisNexis File & Serve; Wiznet E-File & Serve; eFiling Online; USDC CM/ECF

 

Calendaring & Billing: CarpeDiem; Compulaw Docket; Proforma; GroupWise; Timeslips

 

Other:  transcription speed of 65-70 WPM; typing speed of 80-95 WPM; Fast Notes