Folakemi Margaret Praise

Silver spring, MD; TEL: 240-***-**** ado3he@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/folakemi-margaret-praise-5076b446/

Work Authorization: US Citizen

Professional History: I have a vast number of years of law firm and/or in-house experience; I am a well-organized and efficient Paralegal. I am skilled in preparing most if not all Legal documents and correspondence. I manage case files and coordinate effectively with witnesses and experts. I also possess excellent data collection and analysis abilities. Above all, I am a focused professional, pays attention to details with excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills.

SKILLS: Case file organization Records Management Exhibit preparation Attorney support

Certifications and Training:

Lexis-Nexis certified,

Westlaw certified, MS Word, Excel, HTML, Concordance, Summation, Krollontrack, Microsoft Access and DocuMatrix, Certified for Licensing Support Network (LSN) search, SIRSI, FY07 United States Department of Justice Computer Security Awareness Training certification (DOJ CSAT), MY CASE and DOCKETWISE

Notary Public of the State of Maryland

Advocacy, writing, counselling, teaching and reading

Typing: about 30 wpm

Professional Summary:

Law office of Oti W. Nwosu, Arlington, Va December, 2019 to Current

Senior Paralegal

Developed a plan and timeline of work.

Developed and maintained an active list of clients

Participated in Client’s interview for Immigration and Personal Injury cases.

Filled out appropriate USCIS forms using MY CASE and DOCKETWISE Law office and case management software and sent the forms to appropriate agencies for process.

Organized meetings and ensure follow ups with clients and with relevant government agencies.

Gather facts of cases and research information on relevant laws and regulations to prepare drafts of legal documents for attorneys and help them prepare for a case.

Responded to discovery requests, correspond with outside/inside counsel and maintained an information database and reports regarding office litigation.

Participated in the day-to-day management/running of the law firm.

Margsolu Legal Practitioners & Consultants – Lagos, Nigeria June 2012 – May 2019

Partner

Responsible for general administration of the law firm.

Assigned briefs to junior lawyers and ensured adequate filing and preparation for client’s cases.

Interviewed, investigated, talked to clients, carried out necessary legal research, as well as prepared most legal documents

Made appearances in all courts up to the supreme court of Nigeria.

Managed day to day effective running, assigning tasks are all management functions.

Managed 10 people.

Kayode Filani & Consultants – Lagos, Nigeria 2012 – 2014

Head of Chamber

Developed a plan and timeline of work.

Developed and maintained an active list and assigned duties/cases as necessary.

Developed and oversaw the chamber’s program implementations and effectiveness.

Made court appearances at the High Court, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court

Generally, in charge of effective day to day running of the Chambers

Organized meetings and ensure follow ups with clients

Falana & Falana – Lagos, Nigeria January 2009 – July 2012

Head of Chamber

Acted in the capacity of solicitor and advocate

Provided legal counselling to victims of domestic violence

Filed processes and appeared in the State High Court, Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court

Provided crisis intervention, advocacy and ongoing services in matrimonial causes.

Obtained discovery (police reports, affidavits) and interviewed witnesses and prepared witnesses for trials by having a pre-trial briefing.

Instituted, pursued, directed, and supervised civil suits and administrative litigations in which the government and its agencies were parties.

Organized seminars and lectured clients on contract, labour and employment related issues.

Drafted and registered with appropriate government agencies including, but not limited to Assignments on land, obtained Governor’s consent on mortgages.

Registered and incorporated local companies and business names.

Drafted legal documents including, but not limited to wills, memoranda and articles of association, loan agreements, and mortgage agreements.

Participated and supervised the general law firm administration, and day to day running of the chambers.

CACI International – Arlington, VA January 2005 – December 2008

Legal Analyst

Assisted CACI International in privileged document review and coded documents for issues involving Homeland Security.

Worked on Yucca Mountain Project by performing document review and classifications. Searched the ADIIS, Workflow, Excel, HSC other databases. Certified for Licensing Support Network (LSN) search.

The LSN web site is administered by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Panel of the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

Helped Attorney in cite checking, filing and archiving documents for cases involving WINSTAR.

Spherion – Washington, DC March 2004 – December 2004

Analyst

Reviewed and analysed legal mortgage/loan agreements involving Freddie Mac and other companies to determine if the terms and conditions in the contracts creating the trust meet the statutory requirements of Qualifying Special Purpose Entity (QSPE) as required by Financial Accounting standards (FAS 140, 146 and 125) for a QSPE.

Reviewed and analysed various pulling service agreements and prospective supplements to determine whether Freddie Mac has absolute authority to determine the status of the trust, and the extent of such control.

Assisted Attorney at Winston and Strawn in document review and production in a case involving L-3. L3 is a major provider of homeland defense products and services for a variety of emerging market

Legal Source – Washington, DC January 2004 – December 2004

Legal Analyst

Reviewed and coded medical documents at Steptoe & Johnson law firm, in a case involving harm caused by exposure to silica (dust) and the bi-products of welding rod fumes in preparation for trial and dispositions in a class action by asbestos workers.

Assisted the law firms of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans, and Sullivan & Cromwell with document production for antitrust litigation cases. Reviewed documents for antitrust issues in response to the Department of Justice’s requests regarding the merging of two high-speed Internet service companies and violation of Sherman Antitrust Act.

Conducted document review in telecommunication litigation especially in the area of Federal Communications Commission’s regulations concerning Digital Subscriber Line’s market.

Assessed and redacted documents for any evidence that would have revealed privileged information.

Analysed documents to determine their responsiveness and non-responsiveness to issues in the case. Reviewed and coded documents for deposition preparation.

Requested to stay on after the initial project ended to review and edit privilege log documents.

Performed legal researches using diverse data bases especially Lexis-Nexus and Westlaw.

Special Counsel – Washington, DC March 2002 – December 2003

Paralegal

Assisted attorney at Williams and Connolly in a Client-Attorney’s case, under strict deadlines for preparation for trial, depositions and document production for 2nd request. Analysed legal and regulatory issues

Education:

LL.M. in International Legal Studies, (with special interest in Environmental Law, Trade and Investment Law, International Comparative Antitrust Law, Intellectual Property, Project Financing, International Finance and Development Law, and Advocacy in Human Rights)

American University, Washington College of Law – Washington, D.C.

Presentation:

“Trade and Investment in Nigeria: The Impact of WTO policies/regulations” presented at the International Law conference, American University (WCL)

Research:

Analysed the decisions and functions of the Governing Council in the United Nations Organization as it might affect the outcome of the 2002 Summit held in Johannesburg

Bachelor of Law

Nigerian Law School – Lagos, Nigeria

LL.B. (honors)

University of Jos – Jos, Nigeria

Female Halls, Elected Chairperson

Research Project:

Law and Practice of Life Insurance Business in Nigeria.

Professional Affiliation: Active Member Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

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