CAROL CUNNINGHAM

*** ********* ****, ******, ***** 78734 Home: 512-***-**** - Cell: 512-***-****: ac3bf6@r.postjobfree.com

EXPERIENCED FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY SEEKING CAREER CHANGE

•Organized boxes of real estate documents and labeled; set up filing system

•Brought company's corporate records and licenses into compliance and created database

•Worked through complicated probate matters with Travis County Probate Court

•Served as Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee and processed large case load each month with additional personnel

•Always served as own paralegal in document preparation

•Maintained own office and supervised 1 - 7 employees; managed all purchases and equipment

•Trained communicator and grief counselor with persons from all educational levels and backgrounds

•Served as Arbitrator for AAA; trained mediator

•Freelance writer

•NOTARY PUBLIC

•Have used KrollOnTrack and Relativity

•MS Office Suite; e-filing; MERS

Education

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX

Political Science and History

B.A - Phi Beta Kappa

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Austin, TX, USA

M. A. - Theology

University of Texas

Austin, TX

J.D. – with honors

Clinical Pastoral Education at Austin State Hospital - interned at ASH mental hospital

Licensed to practice in Texas; Federal District Court for Western District of Texas; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; Supreme Court of the United States

•Excellent researcher and writer

•Organized and computer literate

•Problem-solver

•Familiar with federal and state court documents

•Office management

•Excellent people skills

•Mediation and settlement

•Processed large volume of similar cases on a regular basis

Experience

Self-employed attorney

April 2011 to Present

Lakeway, TX

Working with several clients on complex probate and estate problems; court appointed attorney ad litem in heirship cases; litigated several family law cases involving complicated mental illness and procedural problems to satisfactory results (custody for two fathers in complex cases; involved in UCCJEA matter against pro se dad filing numerous motions with settings); termination and adoption pending in Bastrop County. Won family law case appeal to Third Court Court of Appeals, Austin, TX

Corporate counsel

August 2010 to May 2011

CertifiedPLUS International – Lakeway, TX

Brought multi-million dollar niche car contract sales company into licensing and corporate compliance state by state and verified statutory requirements through Internet research. Existing files created by two predecessors were in total disarray. Dealt extensively with states' corporate and insurance departments. Created accurate maps and data bases for future use. Established due date renewal system database and worked with staff on licensing and compliance projects. This required much use of internet research into state laws and requirements. Familiar with NAICC SERFF system. Reviewed and audited internal documents, promotional materials, and existing/proposed sales contracts for compliance with in-house standards and licensing requirements. Have always had strong recordkeeping and file/data management skills through work experience. Prepared several NDA agreements approved by owner. Evaluated commercial lease between Employer and Building Owner – only invalid commercial lease ever seen – know ways of measuring space

Attorney of Counsel

March 2010 to September 2010

Sergi & Associates, P.C. – San Marcos, TX

Attorney of Counsel with Sergi & Associates, P.C., 329 S. Guadalupe Street, San Marcos, TX 78666

•organized trial notebooks, pleadings, completed extensive discovery and production requests for real estate litigation; researched applicable statutes in unique situations; met with clients; reviewed production and amended pleadings; organized and labeled numerous boxes of documents related to complex litigation.

•Contact David Sergi at 512-***-**** or 512-***-**** for information.

•1500/month on average).

Paralegal for late criminal defense attorney husband

November 2000 to May 2007

•Assisted with courtroom calendar (including case status), financial records, and other office management problems; kept equipment up to date and working; prepared contact letters, pre-trial motions and briefs; transcribed dictated police reports and other matters.

•Performed considerable legal research on criminal defense issues; worked nights and weekends as needed.

•Explained court procedures and options to his clients who phoned.

•Dealt with many arrest-prone clients.

•Reported case status to Travis County on TCAMS system.

•Cared for terminally ill husband until he was admitted to hospital and placed in hospice. Probated will and managed estate.

Private practice of law in North Austin

November 1971 to 2000

•Private practice of law - civil litigation, family law, probate, real estate, guardianships and others -- all involving lengthy litigation at multi-court levels plus many temporary and final divorce hearings.

•All cases involved interviewing willing and reluctant witnesses, tracking down parties and witnesses, taking and transcribing statements and depositions, and preparation of pleadings and courtroom exhibits.

•Organized and outlined witness' statements, legal issues, pre-trial forms, motions, and briefs Tried complex contested cases (estimate 10/year major trials X 20 years = about 200 cases lasting one day or more, involving numerous witnesses, depositions, required mediation, preparation of witnesses (including experts - physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists), pleadings, exhibits, courtroom exhibits, and final documents.

•Organized all trial documents in folders or notebooks Tried shorter contested cases involving fewer witnesses (estimate 2 a month for 10 months = 20/year X 15 years = 300 cases.

•Family law practice included representation of clients owing and owed child support.

•Dealt with emotionally disturbed clients and violence on a regular basis, referring same to psychiatrist and social worker

•Served as Chapter 7 Bankruptcy trustee for about two years, supervising 1 - 7 employees and reviewing 40 cases/month for many months

STATE BAR OF TEXAS: Former Secretary and protégé Subcommittee Chairman of State Bar of Texas Mentor Program. Committee established and implemented a nationwide prototype program to provide mentoring assistance and advice by experienced attorneys to newly licensed attorneys and attorneys entering private practice. The Committee worked as a team to set and meet definite goals and timetables. Served as recording secretary. Committee prepared and presented suggested videotape and other materials for use by counties to start mentoring program.

FEMA RELATED QUALIFICATIONS

Used normal and abnormal psychology; advanced statistical analysis

Familiar with triage in crisis situations

Conducted seminars, retreats, taught classes

Have always been consistent and accurate with information provided to others

Have always had to organize information into courtroom presentations

Trained mediator and problem solver in stressful situations

History buff – have read books on world changing events including disasters – “Isaac’s Storm”; The Little Ice Age; Bubonic place occurrences. Watched events on Hurricane Katrina as they unfolded

Very good at analyzing situations to determine causation

Familiar with flood maps and learning about insurance relationships

ADDITIONAL REAL ESTATE QUALIFICATIONS

Treasurer of my condominium association during bad financial era. Used to budgeting process.

Rebuilt late husband’s “Topsider” house to correct construction flaws. Family with “oak wilt” problems, wild fire control problems, County Tax Protest procedures, Lakeway building code. Managed rent property

Familiar with real estate closings and requirements. Called head of major lending institution to find out why its lien was not released on property client purchased.

Know how to find real estate documents on line in most counties

E-filing adept

Contact this candidate