Legal Assistant / Paralegal

Uzoma E. Okeke

*** (***) / Business: (***) ***

Mississauga, ON | L4W 4S1

******@*.***********.***

Objective: To obtain a position as a Paralegal/ Legal Assistant within the

Legal Sector

PROFILE

Summary of Experience

. 4 Years as a customer service representative and legal assistant

. Licensed Paralegal with ability to plan, organize and follow through

on day-to-day issues

. 4 years of being a 'team-player' over-seeing 6 in-takes

. 2 Years of assisting new-intakes in their transition to the job

. 2 Years of handling high-volume incoming calls and keeping a call log

and message pad

Computer Skills

Advanced knowledge and use of;

. MS Word of 40 wpm with 80% accuracy, MS Excel, PowerPoint

presentations, PDF documents, Adobe LiveCycle Designer and Microsoft

Outlook.

Legal Search Engines & Software

'Working-knowledge' of Amicus Attorney, ACL (Automated Civil

Litigation), PC-Law, Ministry of Attorney Generals webpage, LAO (Legal

Aid Ontario), E-Laws, CanLII and Quicklaw Nexis Lexis; Comprehension

of Federal Regulations and Statutes of Ontario

Interpersonal Skills and Professional Skills

. Familiarity with legal terminologies

. Detail oriented and pleasant telephone manners

. Demonstrated ability to work as a team and independently with little or no supervision

. Employed logic and critical analysis in constructing arguments and memorandum

. Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment

. Communicated ideas eloquently and tactfully

. Displayed effective oral communication and professional writing skills

CERTIFICATIONS

. Conflict Management Workshop Certificate

- The training enabled me to thrive better as a team player at my place

of work

- Heightened my productivity at my place of work

. AODA Customer Service Training (Accessibility for Ontarians With Disability Act)

- Enabled me to provide courteous customer services that meet the needs of clients

. Safe TALK Certificate (Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep Safe) - Suicide Alertness for Everyone

- Heightened my awareness to the demands of the more vulnerable in society

- Enabled me to apply due-diligence in my interactions with those I encounter at my place of work

. Workplace Safety Training - HR Info Session

- Heightened my alertness to health dangers in the work place

- Helped me to take a preventive approach with respects to workplace safety

- Conversant with various health hazards

WORK EXPERIENCE

Legal Assistant

Kingsley Jesuorobo & Associates (Immigration law) 2012

. Drafted correspondences with IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board), Prepared PIF (Personal Information Form) on behalf of client, reviewed opinions to Legal Aid of Ontario, and assisted with legal memo

application for Leave of court

. Prepared and compiled Application for Permanent Residence on behalf of

client under H&C (Humanitarian and Compassion) grounds and Protected

Persons ground

. Applied for Work-Permits on behalf of clients

. Drafted counsels' corresponding submissions in support of claim,

Prepared Disclosures of Supporting Documents using Excel, notified and

updated the IRB of clients' change of address, Followed up with

requested disclosures of client's Personal Documents in support of

their claim and reviewed the documents as they become available

. Enlisted and organized closed files in boxes to allow for easy access

of files and created a spare room as a result

. Scanned closed files which helped to create more room at the work

place

. Maintained a computerized tickler system to meet with strict

deadlines, scheduled appointments with clients on behalf of counsel,

inputted clients deadlines in sequence

. Corresponded with the IRB and Federal Court in scheduling hearing for

clients, making general inquiry of status of clients claim and any

further requests of other nature

. Demonstrated initiative and organizational skills by keeping a call- log and message pad

. Frequented the mail room and attended to urgent mail inquiries under

little to no supervision

Legal Assistant - Field placement 2012

John Paul Evans & Associate Law Firm

. Expedited transactions by paying clients' monies (cheques / money orders etc.) to the appropriate financial institution on behalf of firm

. Filed motions at the Small Claims Court

. Drafted clients Pleadings, Plaintiffs Claim, 'Defence to Plaintiffs claim' on a civil dispute

. Filed for relief in 'Landlord and Tenant' dispute

. Prepared Motion for Garnishment of Wages on behalf of client

. Filed an application for renewal of permit at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and filed civil claim on behalf of respondent at the Small Claims Court (Toronto)

. Attendance at Small Claims Court

. Created Client file using PC law

. Prepared 'a Pardon' (Record Suspension) on behalf of client

Sheridan College

2011

Student Admissions Representative (STAR)

. Integrated new students in their transition to the college environment

. Displayed Professional interpersonal Skills in responding to inquiries

. Initiated positive and helpful customer service assistance by professional interactions

. Promoted college programs to potential new students

Marc's No-frills, Mississauga, ON 2007-2010

Cashier

. Assisted new-intakes in their transition into the work force

. Accurately processed sales transactions in a fast-paced

environment

. Provided courteous and helpful customer service

. Maintained knowledge of promotional merchandise

. Inventory control; stock replenishment; loss prevention

awareness

. Flexible and cooperative team player

. General housekeeping and reporting health and safety concerns

EDUCATION

Paralegal Diploma 2010 - 2012

Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Brampton,ON

- Actively participated in mock trials in civil disputes and quasi-

criminal cases

- Attendance and observance at the LTB (Landlord and Tenant Board)

- Attendance and observance at the Small Claims Court

- Hands-on-Learning to sharpen computer skills for paralegals and

Accounting skills

High School Diploma (equivalent to Canadian High School Diploma) 2006

West African Examination Council, Lagos, Nigeria

St Jude's Private Secondary School, Lagos

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contact this candidate