Seasoned Legal Secretary

Maureen Kelly, MBA

*** **** ****** ***** *****, NJ 08861 732-***-**** **************@*****.***

Defense Litigation Legal Secretary

Quality Assurance + Technical Documents + Policies & Procedures

Adaptable, dynamic administrative professional with progressive experience successfully performing as a Senior Legal Specialist at a high level; executes and delivers under pressure ensuring proper execution of duties with the utmost quality. Excellent experience working in legally compliant environments that demand strong knowledge in federal, state and local policies and regulations; demonstrated ability to work well with cross-functional teams, management, vendors and co-workers, providing positive working atmosphere.

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

Microsoft Office Suite Outlook Access Dictaphone PATSY Docketing System Full Authority Worldox PC Docs Docs Open DM5/Hummingbird Time Matters Carpe Diem Time Slips Legal Key

CORE COMPETENCIES

Legal Secretary

Compliance

Technical Writing

Fraud Claims

Quality Assurance

Office Administration

Strategic Management

Training & Development

Relationship Management

Process Improvements

Business Acumen

Communication

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SUNRISE SYSTEMS, INC., EDISON, NJ OCT 2015 – NOV 2016

@ State of New Jersey, Division of Family Development, Program Assessment and Integrity Unit

Program Compliance Specialist

Served as Liaison between County Welfare Agencies (CWAs) Fraud Units and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food & Nutrition Service (FNS), for duties related to preventing, detecting and deterring Fraud, Waste and Abuse of Public Assistance Programs; Assisted with governmental compliance functions, to include, analyzing data, drafting/editing narratives, managing government procedures and conducting quality assurance; Ensured accountability by verifying information collected and reported was accurate, consistent, complete and timely.

Performed Data Mining of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) trafficking allegations forwarded from USDA, FNS.

Prepared a variety of bi-monthly and quarterly reports for FNS.

Processed manual receipt of Allegations of Welfare Fraud from the general public, governmental agencies and whistleblowers.

Independently closed all backlogged and past due – years 2010 to 2015 – Whistleblower Referrals and maintained and closed all current referrals as requested by FNS.

Researched, verified and finalized investigation requests; Performed special projects, as requested.

COTTRELL SOLENSKY & SEMPLE, P.A., NEWARK, NJ OCT 2014 – MAR 2015

Legal Secretary

Managed and administered all office activities of insurance defense litigation practice providing a productive environment and healthy business operations that are in accordance with all local, state and federal laws and regulations; conducted business critical projects from inception to acceptance; Performed Dictaphone transcriptions; completed deposition scheduling.

Developed spreadsheets and charts specifically designed for each project to interpret or assess information for use during all phases of litigation.

Drafted and/or proofread subpoenas, letters, memos and other legal documents related to investigations and litigation.

PURCELL, MULCAHY, O’NEILL & HAWKINS, BEDMINSTER, NJ AUG 2009 – DEC 2009

Legal Secretary

Composed, reviewed and edited technical legal documentation for insurance defense litigation practice; organized records and performed filing work, populate and maintain database; marked exhibits and created exhibit binders; Performed research and prepared documents, to include, pleadings, legal memoranda, briefs, motions, and interrogatories; Drafted letters of representation to client, answers and discovery, correspondence, pleadings, discovery; Operated multi-line phone system.

FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP, LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ APR 2008 – AUG 2009

Legal Secretary to IP Department Chair and Corporate Partner

Prepared legal memoranda, briefs, motions and interrogatories for patent and trademark litigation practice; provided verbal and written communications with clients, attorneys and officers of the court; Prepared and reviewed documents; drafted correspondence, pleadings, discovery; Generated, edited and finalized Tables of Contents and Tables of Authorities utilizing Microsoft Word; Prepared Trial Binders; Created and updated pleadings and discovery indices; Performed file audit of prosecution files; Provided Dictaphone transcription; completed deposition scheduling; processed complex international and domestic billing and vendor invoices.

BROWN RAYSMAN MILLSTEIN FELDER & STEINER LLP, MORRISTOWN, NJ APR 1997 – AUG 2005

IP Legal Secretary to Managing Partner and Associate, Patent/Life Sciences Practice

Performed as Docketing Paralegal; Created and maintained client specific Active Cases Reports; Drafted, revised and finalized documents and correspondence; Proofread, formatted and prepared domestic applications for filing with the USPTO; Independently managed, organized, indexed and maintained records, reports.

Created and maintained electronic document logs, summaries and charts in various spreadsheet applications in order to preserve the chain of custody.

Coordinated creation, implementation and follow-up of practice group guidelines and procedures.

Executed domestic and international travel arrangements; scheduled appointments and meetings and input attorneys’ time and expense reports.

Legal Secretary to Senior Partner and Senior Associate, Labor/Employment Law Practice

Legal Secretary for employment law defense litigation practice in both State and Federal courts in New Jersey, Appellate Division and some New York courts; completed trial preparation; transcribed various hearings utilizing Dictaphone. Drafted, revised and finalized correspondence; prepared, proofread, and formatted motions and pleadings for filing; managed calendar and performed deposition scheduling.

Office Manager

Acted as Office liaison with the building manager, subtenant, vendors and computer support regarding all problems; Operated multi-line phone system; Provided administrative support handling all office matters, to include, scheduling, expenses, research and other assigned tasks; created invoices, and expense accounts. Scheduled and carry out daily workflow procedures. Processed invoices for payment, order office supplies and equipment; update organizational charts. Arranged support staff vacation and personal time; coordinated of all phases of the merger of the two NJ offices including, but not limited to, interaction and scheduling with movers and attorneys’ offices set-up.

ROBERTS & FINGER, LLP, PARSIPPANY, NJ APR 1997 – NOV 2001

Legal Secretary to Senior Partner and Senior Associate, Labor/Employment Law

Performed as Legal Secretary for defense employment law litigation practice in both State and Federal courts in New Jersey, Appellate Division and some New York courts; executed trial preparations. Attended 8-week trial in Federal court in Trenton; provided heavy Dictaphone transcription. Drafted, revised and finalized correspondence; Prepared, formatted and proofread motions and pleadings for filing.

Office Manager

Managed complex work and personal affairs for legal firm; Operated multi-line phone system; Prepared and processed billing and expense reports; Facilitated, maintained and updated consistently changing calendars that demanded last-minute scheduling modifications; Opened, sorted and routed incoming correspondence; Processed invoices for payment, ordered office supplies and equipment; Updated organizational charts.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

CTU Student Mentorship Program – Mentor, 2010-2013

Certificates: Management, March 2011; Business Concepts, August 2010; IP Paralegal, July 2009

Online Internship

Mogul Inc.

Human Resource Director May 2011-Feb. 2012

Responsibilities:

Designed and finalized employment agreements; Maintained awareness of and compliance with local, state (NJ) and federal labor laws

Recruitment, selection and on boarding; Employee record-keeping and confidentiality procedures

Organizational design and development

Business transformation and change management

Performance, conduct and behavior management; Industrial and employee relations

Human resources analysis and workforce personnel data management

Compensation and employee benefit management

Training and development

Employee motivation and morale-building

Underwrote corporate documentation

Participated in acquisition and financing negotiations

Orientation Ambassador “Pilot” Program

Colorado Technical University November 2012

The Orientation Ambassador specifically assisted with engaging new students in the orientation process. The Orientation Ambassador’s role was to coach, mentor and guide students through the beginning processes while assisting in their learning.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Colorado Technical University

3.76 GPA, Graduated: Honors – 11.12.2013

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, International Business, Colorado Technical University

3.99 GPA, Graduated: Summa cum Laude – 08.14.2012

Associate of Science, Business Administration, Management, Colorado Technical University

3.73 GPA, Graduated: Honors – 03.27.2011

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Sigma Beta Delta (ΣΒΔ) – Lifetime Member

VOLUNTEER

Animals Can’t Talk Feline Rescue & Adoption Service, PetSmart, Stroudsburg, PA 2009-2011

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