ANNA M. PLANERA-OHREN

*** **** **** ****** – CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60411

(708) -7428 • gqi99z@r.postjobfree.com

PARALEGAL

Professional Summary

Experienced, Certified Paralegal with over 20 years of experience in a law firm setting with drafting and critical thinking experience, proven client relation skills, the ability to multitask multiple projects at a time, and maintaining legal documents in a highly organized, efficient and precise manner.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Law Offices of Mary L. Sfasciotti, P.C. • Chicago, Illinois 60603• May, 2011 to Present

Immigration and Civil Litigation / Paralegal support to Mary L. Sfasciotti, sole practitioner. Previously employed by Ms. Sfasciotti in 1996 to 1998 and 2001 to 2003.

• Proficient in all areas of administrative work including receptionist duties, file organization, maintaining court and office appointment calendar and drafting general correspondence.

• Provided efficient service to clients.

• Prepared and electronically filed motions, orders and briefs with the US Court of Appeals and District Court for the Northern District of Illinois using PACER electronic filing.

• Prepared appellate court briefs by creating Table of Authorities and Table of Contents utilizing WordPerfect for the Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals.

• Drafted and filed pleadings and motions for family law cases;

• Prepared all immigration forms and supporting documents and exhibits

• Conducted legal research for complex immigration matters, family law and criminal cases

• In 1996, increased office efficiency by developing a filing/documenting system for electronic client directories and files.

• Performed accounts receivable duties using Timeslips, including billing, applying client payments, researching billing issues, discrepancies, and responding to client requests for documentation.

Reich, Jumbeck & Associates, L.L.P. • Joliet, Illinois 60432 • February, 2010 to May, 2011

Family Law / Paralegal support to Scott R. Reich, managing partner.

•Prepared discovery requests and responses, including all pertinent motions and pleadings to enforce discovery compliance

•Prepared exhibit binders for trial and depositions.

•Performed legal research on WestLaw for complex issues involving asset distribution, custody, dissipation, parental rights and pension plans.

•Created, maintained and organized master client asset list utilizing Excel

•Extensive client contact to review financial documents responsive to discovery requests and organized same for depositions, settlement negotiations, pre-trial and trial.

Law Offices of Thomas Zimmerman • Chicago, Illinois 60603 • September, 2009 to February, 2010

Civil Litigation, emphasis on product liability and class action lawsuits/Paralegal support to Thomas Zimmerman and associate.

•Drafted and filed motions and pleadings for filing with Circuit Court of Cook County and US District Court-Northern District of Illinois

•Prepared for trial by organizing exhibits and discovery

•Utilized TimeSlips for attorney and paralegal time and billing

•Prepared discovery requests and responses, including all pertinent motions and pleadings to enforce discovery compliance

•Prepared and drafted all outgoing correspondence in a timely manner.

Urban & Burt, Ltd. • Oak Forest, Illinois 60452 • May, 2003 to September, 2009

Family Law / Paralegal support to Cheryl C. Zeleznak - sole practitioner.

• Systematically increased office organization by standardizing Ms. Zeleznak’s client file directories by developing more efficient electronic filing/documenting system and client database protocols. Format was ultimately adopted and utilized by the firm as the groundwork to store electronic files for all clients.

• Prepared witness lists, trial and exhibit binders for divorce trials.

• Drafted and filed pleadings and motions in Circuit Courts of Cook County and Will County

• Extensive client contact to review financial documents for discovery and trial preparation.

• Prepared adoption cases from filing of Petition to final Orders.

• Managed attorney court docket and calendar utilizing in-house electronic calendar.

• Prepared Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO) and Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Orders (QUILDRO) by communicating directly with pension plans, corporate counsel and unions.

• Performed legal research utilizing Lexis/Nexis on various family law, pension plan, dissipation, marital asset division, and other pertinent issues as relating to family law

• Prepared and drafted all outgoing correspondence in a timely manner.

• Excelled within deadline-intensive environment, ensuring accurate and on-time completion of all projects assigned.

• Trained new employees and attorneys on using the Firm's internal client database, time entry program and docket/calendar program.

EDUCATION

Legal Assistant Certificate, Honors in Legal Writing and Research

Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois

Bachelor of Arts-Philosophy

Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois