Human Resources Management

S usan Stephan

** ********* ***

Bella Vista, AR 72715

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

Phone: 479-***-****

Fax: 858-***-****

SUMMARY:

An analytical, solution-focused professional with extensive experience in all aspects of civil and commercial litigation,

immigration and employment-related legal aspects. Responsible for highly confidential information and projects with time-

sensitive deadlines. Experience managing an office, training, supervising and motivating staff. Cost conscious and

enterprising, I like thinking out of the box.

E XPER I E NC E :

IMMIGRATION/LITIGATION PARALEGAL, 2006 to 2010

Walmart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas

Corporate Legal Department Paralegal: Tasked by corporate attorneys in the litigation department supporting 3rd Party

Subpoena Duces Tecum, RECON commercial litigation, Garnishments and HIPPA for Litigation Support Group. Duties

include obtaining documents and information through various computer software applications, including but not limited to,

Retail Link, Team Connect, Legal Net, Claims Zone, Law Pack, Adobe, People Soft, Connexus, and legal research

through LexisNexis for various state and federal civil procedure rules and regulations.

Immigration Paralegal: Worked closely with immigration attorney in setting up the in-house immigration department

utilizing Immigration Tracker and later conversion to LawLogix databases. Duties include preparation of all petitions and

applications for sponsored foreign nationals employed by Company ; i.e., visa holders in H-1B and L-1A/B statuses

locatedin all states and in the Home Office in Bentonville, Arkansas. Additionally prepared, monitored and interacted with

all LPR-statused employees for expatriate assignments throughout the 18 countries where Company had wholly-owned or

majority-owned subsidiaries. Interacted wth all visa-sponsored associates and outside counsel in compiling information

and supporting documents for preparation of all documents necessary for work authorization from the inception of

nonimmigrant status through and including acquisition to green card (LPR) status.

Maintained databases and routinely monitored of all current status for renewals of visas, transfers of visas to Company

sponsorship and initiation of visas for foreign nationals coming into U.S. for various multinational/skilled professional

positions. Conducted research through various databases of USCIS, Department of Labor and Department of State as to

priority dates for H-1B associates and for updating sponsored associates of prospective expirations of their work-related

documents. Routinely prepared NIV expiration reports for Human Resources personnel at the Home Office and in the

field as well as assisting HR personnel in updating I-9s of visa-sponsored associates in the online I-9 system and

participated in researching work-related ethical investigations into possible falsification of documents, with instructing HR

personnel on corporate policy regarding same.

FREELANCE PARALEGAL, 2004 to 2006

Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida

Provided freelance work for various law firms and personnel agencies during short term assignments in all aspects of civil

and commercial litigation.

LITIGATION PARALEGAL, 2005 to 2006

Ruden, McClosky, Schuster & Russell, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Duties included working for three of the equity partners in commercial litigation. Predominant work involved preparing

substantive pleadings, coordinating discovery and case management.

LITIGATION PARALEGAL, April, 2005 to December, 2005

Seiden, Adler & Matthewman, P.A., Boca Raton, FL

Resume of Susan Stephan

Duties included working for two of the equity partners in commercial litigation and medical malpractice defense cases.

Predominant work involved preparing substantive pleadings, coordinating discovery and case management.

SENIOR LITIGATION PARALEGAL, October, 2004 to March, 2005

The Mager Law Group, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Duties included working for the named partner in medical malpractice defense cases. Predominant work involved

preparing substantive pleadings, coordinating discovery and case management.

LITIGATION PARALEGAL, July, 2004 to October, 2004

Special Counsel, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Duties included temporary employment, contract work and short-termed assignments while looking for full time

employment after relocation to Southeast Florida area.

OT H ER E XPER I E NC E :

FREELANCE PARALEGAL, 1997 to 2002

d/b/a Certified Legal Services, Fort Collins, CO

Assisted general public and law firms on with civil litigation matters, including but not limited to, preparation of contracts,

legal research, case management, discovery and substantive pleadings, trial preparation, demand letters, client

interviews, witness statements, liaison with experts in such areas as accident reconstruction, biomechanics,

neuropsychological profiles, for law firms and miscellaneous other matters for general public; i.e., assistance in evictions,

small claims, civil suits, name changes, etc. where client acts pro se.

CERTIFIED LITIGATION PARALEGAL, 2001 to 2002

Hill and Hill, P.C., Fort Collins, CO

As freelance paralegal, independently worked from home for partner of law firm and independently handled all legal

matters from the inception through and including appellate proceedings. As employee of law firm, I prepared and

conducted legal research on all civil/commercial litigation cases which involved plaintiff personal injury, plaintiff

employment law, commercial litigation defense, and appellate proceedings. Prepared all pleadings and memoranda of law

for partner of law firm, and assisted in all cases at trial, mediation and/or arbitration. Participated in direct contact with all

clients through all phases of civil/commercial litigation, including pre-suit claims, initiation of lawsuit, contacted,

interviewed and assisted in retaining experts for specialized areas. Prepared, attended and assisted attorney at all

depositions and trial through and including the appellate process. Interviewed and pre-screened prospective clients of law

firm and met daily with th partner as to prospective cases, status of pending cases and monitoring of all time-sensitive

deadlines in discovery and pre-trial proceedings.

COURT CLERK II, 2000 to 2001

Clerk of Combined Courts, Larimer County, Fort Collins, CO

Responsble for docketing initial all civil cases for both District and County Courts. Attended and assisted in FED hearings.

Conducted filings and entries of all pleadings pertaining to civil lawsuits; i.e. garnishments, small claims, county court and

district court pleadings in addition to judgments. Processed e-filings in all district court cases. Additional duties included

cross-training in criminal cases fordocketing criminal cases, cancellations of warrants, scheduling arraignments, assisting

in entries of appearances and pre-trial matters.

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Resume of Susan Stephan

Resume of Susan Stephan

CERTIFIED PARALEGAL/ADMINISTRATOR, 1998 to 1999

The Metier Law Firm, LLC, Fort Collins, Co

Administrative Responsibilities: Set up the legal practice and business of named attorney after separation from former

law firm; learned and implemented two billing/accounting programs; performed all administrative duties associated with

running a sole practitioner practice; trained personnel; prepared and implemented legal forms for the firm’s use;

responsible for accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll taxes and year-end 1099 forms.

Paralegal Responsibilities: Performed intake interviews with prospective new clients; assisted attorney in trial preparation

and attendance at trial; conducted investigations of cases; i.e., taking recorded statements, interviewing prospective

witnesses and clients for depositions. Essential responsibility was taking a case from inception through and including

settlement or trial and post-trial matters; routinely drafted motions, responses to motions, discovery, and all pleadings for

plaintiff personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense and commercial litigation cases. In addition, performed legal

research, prepared all settlement brochures, briefs, pleadings and correspondence. Named attorney specialized in brain

trauma and closed head injury cases and complex commercial litigation. I have extensive experience in County, District

and Appellate Court levels.

CERTIFIED LITIGATION PARALEGAL, 1997 to 1998

Doyle, Otis, Frey & Hellerich, LLC, Greeley, CO

Performed legal research, prepared settlement brochures, briefs, pleadings and correspondence for attorney Henry Frey,

in his practice of personal injury plaintiff, employment and general commercial litigation matters. Duties included, but were

not limited to, intake interviews with prospective new clients; trial preparation and assistance; conducted investigations of

cases; i.e., taking recorded statements, interviewing prospective witnesses and clients for depositions. Essential

responsibility was taking a case from inception through and including settlement or trial and post-trial matters. Drafted for

attorney all motions, responses to motions, discovery, and correspondence. This practice specialized in personal injury

and wrongful death in County and District Court levels

SUPERVISOR OF LITIGATION PARALEGALS/CERTIFIED LEGAL ASSISTANT, 1988 to 1997

Tripp, Scott, Conklin & Smith, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Administrative Responsibilities: Interviewing and/or hiring of departmental paralegals for a commercial litigation

department that handled a variety of litigation; such as, general commercial, employment, products liability, personal

injury, malpractice, admiralty, appeals and securities; assignment of cases to paralegals; evaluated commercial litigation

paralegals supervised. Assisted and participated with the Firm’s administrator in employee-related matter. Other duties

included training of law clerks, paralegals, and new associates in the Commercial Litigation Department.

Paralegal Responsibilities: Intake interviewing of potential clients, legal research, preparation of motions, memoranda of

law, pre-trial stipulations, settlement releases and agreements, correspondence, discovery pleadings and deposition

summaries. Participated, attended and prepared for depositions; conducted investigations of cases; i.e., taking recorded

statements, interviewing prospective witnesses and clients for depositions,. Essential responsibility was taking a case

from inception through and including settlement or trial and post-trial matters. Specialized in federal law with extensive

experience in federal courts, state courts and appellate courts.

LITIGATION SECRETARY/PARALEGAL, 1983 to 1988

Russell L. Forkey, P.A., Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Initiated and participated in the setting up of the sole practitioner in law firm. Administrative and paralegal duties included

all those listed above in latter employment. This law firm specialized in securities litigation. All litigation was in federal

court and/or arbitration before the NASD and NYSE.

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Resume of Susan Stephan

Resume of Susan Stephan

CER T I F I CA T I O NS, A F F I L I A T I O NS A N D E D UCA T IO N :

Concord Law School, 2002-2004

Los Angeles, CA

Certified Legal Assistant, 1991-2003

National Association of Legal Assistants, specializing in Litigation

Nova Law School, 1984-1985

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Bachelor of Science in Education, 1970-1974

Truman State University, f/k/a Northeast Missouri State University

Kirksville, MO

Dean’s List, 1971-1974

National Honors Society, 1968-1970

Army Reserves, 1978-1981

Honorable Discharge

SKILLS:

Clerical: typing, 120 wpm; shorthand 100 wpm; Database/Computer Experience: IBM Mag Card, IBM

Displaywrite; Xerox 750, Xerox 850; Lanier, Wang, ICON, MS-DOS; Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2003,

Windows 2007; Wordperfect Corel Suite 5 through 11; Amicus Attorney Database; Soft Solutions; Paradox Database;

Netscape Navigator; Internet Explorer; Outlook Express and Today

Internet Research: Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, Lois and Findlaw, state websites and various other search engines;

JusticeLink; PACER; E-Filings; Immigration Tracker, Department of Labor ICert portal (LCAs and PERMs)

US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS); Department of State (Visa Bulletin) and U.S. Embassy websites;

Summation; LawLogix; Retail Link; Legal Tracker; Autotrak, n/k/a Choicepoint; Team Connect; Legal Net; Claim Zone;

People Soft; Law Pack

Accounting Software Programs: TABS; TABS III; Tuscan Accounting; Quickbooks; Timeslips; Quicken; Time Matters

REFERENCES:

Will be provided upon request

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Resume of Susan Stephan

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