Management Office
Resume:
SHARON S. M. RAJAPAKSE-RAWANA
********@*****.***
Jersey City, NJ Tel: 954-
Obj
ective: To obtain a career-oriented position providing opportunities for advancement while
allowing me to utilize
my experience and adaptable work skills.
Experience:
Katzman Garfinkel & Berger, Margate, FL February 2011 –
June 2013
Senior Litigation Secretary to Managing Partner
Effectively composed various legal documentation including, but not limited to, pleadings,
discovery, subpoenas and draft correspondence. Cleaned up scanned documents with the use
of DocXStyles and DocXTools. Handled heavy e-filing with the courts.
Reviewed incoming mail to determine urgency and worked with attorneys accordingly.
Provided necessary telephone assistance including, but not limited to, answering routine
questions.
Maintained attorney calendar as well as diary and tickler dates. Reviewed calendar daily and
proactively handled upcoming events and determined dates upon which various pleadings
must be served and filed.
Inputted and maintained information in case management system and ensured data
integrity.
Maintained, organized and indexed all case files for staff attorneys in an accurate and timely
manner, including file correspondence, pleadings and other documentation.
Scheduled/coordinated depositions, medical examinations and other court designated
hearings. Retained court reporters and interpreters when necessary.
Acted as a liaison with experts and witnesses in scheduling/coordinating appearances and/or
depositions with documentation retrieval.
Acted as a liaison between client and Staff Counsel office by furnishing and requesting
information as needed and assisted in completion of administrative reports.
Assisted with trial preparation.
Summarized discovery responses and drafted standard discovery motions.
Conducted preliminary legal research when necessary.
Knowledge of Document Management systems or PC Docs.
Able to work with the court clerks to accommodate the firm with difficult opposing counsels
agreeing to dates.
Weinstock Manion Reismann Shore & Neumann, Los Angeles, CA February
2010 – December 2010
Senior Litigation Secretary to Shareholder/Managing Partners - Long Term Temp Assignment by
contract (Trusts and Estates)
Temp Assignments (Various Temp Agencies) January 2009
– February 2010
Kaye Scholer, LLP, Los Angeles, CA (NY Main Office)
December 2007 – January 2009
Senior Litigation Secretary/Floater Secretary
Completed all word processing projects including, but not limited to, memos, letters, charts,
spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, check requests, File Opening Memos, briefs,
pleadings, agreements, deeds, leases and other documents specific to the timekeepers area
of practice. Projects involved hand written copies, Dictaphone, verbal dictation or edits on
existing work product.
Proofread all work, which included reading documents for content and context.
Prepared and maintained client and office files and chronological daily letter and memo files.
Maintained up-to-date pleading indexes for legal documents. Updated periodicals and loose-
leaf publications.
Answered and screened routine telephone calls. Prepared appropriate telephone billing
information by programming information into the telephone and completing telephone
expense reports. Provided backup telephone coverage for others in work area.
Inputted lawyer time into the accounting system.
Prepared client billings and maintained lawyer files containing statements and related billing
data. Maintained accurate and up-to-date databases such as contact list, client/matter
numbers and marketing mailing lists.
Scheduled meetings and arranged for conference rooms. Requested conference room service
for meals and beverages. Scheduled outside vendor services such as court reporters or expert
witnesses.
Coordinated timekeeper calendar and placed reminders of various meetings, appointments
and court dates.
Made travel arrangements, including air transportation, automobile rentals and hotel
reservations. Prepared and submitted proper expense reports to the Accounting Department.
Secondary Duties and Responsibilities
Assisted as a back-up secretary for other timekeepers in the area when floater replacements
were not available.
Assisted other secretaries with overflow work.
Greeted clients and provided assistance when needed.
Performed other related duties required based upon the unique practice of the lawyer,
including, but not limited to, Department Head administrative work, practice development
initiatives and committee project work.
Liner Yankelevitz Regenstreif & Taylor LLP, Beverly Hills, CA
October 2005 – November 2007
Senior Executive Litigation Secretary/Paralegal
Prepared Complaints, Answers, Motions and Briefs for filing with various courts, including
State Courts, Federal Courts and Court of Appeals. Handled Default Judgments, Writs, Wage
garnishments, Orders, E-filing with the Central District Courts. Had an excellent relationship
with all court clerks.
Scheduled and coordinated client meetings, depositions and all trial management calendars.
Created, prepared, drafted and “redlined” documents/pleadings with MS Word.
Composed all legal correspondence, responded and propounded discovery and deposition
through trial preparation. Cleaned-up scanned documents with the use of DocXStyles and
DocXTools.
Was responsible for all general office duties including, filing, faxing, photocopying,
transcribing, formatting, inputting, editing, retrieving, copying and transmitting text, data and
graphics.
Maintained inter-office calendar and kept track of schedules/appointments for attorneys.
Knowledge of Document Management systems or PC Docs.
Prepared client billings and maintained lawyer files containing statements and related billing
data. Maintained accurate and up-to-date databases such as contact list, client/matter
numbers and marketing mailing lists.
Milberg, Weiss, Coughlin & Stoia, Beverly Hills, CA (NY Home Office)
June 2003 – October 2005
Senior Litigation Secretary
UBS Painewebber Inc., Los Angeles, CA (NY/NJ Home Office)
February 1993 – June 2003
Senior Executive Litigation Secretary/Paralegal Assistant
Law Office of Gary A. Rosenberg, Woodland Hills, CA
February 1990 –1993
Litigation Secretary/Paralegal Assistant/Administrative
Education:
Watterson College – Paralegal course in all areas of law (Certified) 1985 –
1986
Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys, CA (Associate Degree) 1980 –
1984
Courses in Business Management, Child Psychology, Office Administration and Science
Computer Skills:
Excellent PC skills with experience in current software programs – Particularly advanced use of MS
Word. (Including Table of Contents, Auto Numbering, Cross-referencing, Charts).
Familiar with a case management system and other software applications and able to pick up various
software programs with ease.
References upon request
Contact this candidate