Paralegal, safety and compliance, in-house counsel

AMRITA NIJJAR

647-***-**** – *************@*****.***

EXPERIENCE

MAY 2017 – MARCH 2019 IN-HOUSE COUNSEL & VP OF SAFETY & COMPLIANCE, CANADIAN FLATBEDS LTD.

• Revamped and restructured Safety & Compliance department.

• In-house counsel duties such as giving advice on labour and employment issues.

• Advise and make decisions regarding traffic, and provincial offences within Ontario.

• Regularly worked with insurance adjusters, lawyers, paralegals, courthouse staff, & dispatchers.

• Improved 2 company’s CVORs and American SAFERWEB scores.

• Integrated and trained employees on Hours of Service tracking technology.

• Wrote lease agreements, employment contracts, vehicle sale agreements, and various policies.

• Hiring drivers who met policy standards.

• Point of contact person with the Ministry of Labour.

• Started and led Joint Health and Safety Committee.

• Wrote and integrated disciplinary action policy.

• Self-audited maintenance files, insurance claims, and employment files.

• Regularly ran safety meetings, training sessions, and one-on-one training. AUGUST 2016 – DECEMBER 2016 EVENT ASSISTANT, CANADIAN RACE RELATIONS FOUNDATION

• Assisted with training and implementing digital cataloging system.

• Writing and editing policy initiatives, information guides, and conference material.

• Contacting diversity leaders and inviting them to participate in the annual National conference.

• Selecting candidates for applicable awards.

• Organizing and assisting in two-day national conference. MAY 2016 – AUGUST 2016 PARALEGAL INTERN, REENA BASSER AND ASSOCIATES

• Legal research, fillings, meeting with clients and assisting on cases.

• Specifically, researched construction contract clauses, employment law issues, and landlord/tenant law matters.

• Wrote legal memos, served witnesses and parties to filings.

• Observing and assisting in courts and tribunals.

• Participating in trial prep and contributed to trial strategy. SEPTEMBER 2015 – AUGUST 2016 PARALEGAL TUTOR & WRITING TUTOR, HUMBER COLLEGE

• Assisted students with assignments. Helped by clarifying grammar issues, and explaining legal concepts.

• Explaining APA guidelines, and proper citation practices.

• Teaching students how to write critical responses, persuasive/comparative essays and research papers.

• Teaching students how to better understand legal concepts such as: legal research, evidence rules, advocacy rules, ADR principles, paralegal rules of conduct, and more.

• Tutored in classes ranging from Legal Research, Criminal Summary Convictions, Provincial Offences, Smalls Claims Court, Business/Civil Law, Debtor/Creditor Law, Advocacy, and more. EDUCATION

AUGUST 2016 PARALEGAL EDUCATION, HUMBER COLLEGE

Honours Diploma completed in 2016. I was on the Dean's list for every semester that I attended Humber.

AUGUST 2013 HONOURS BA IN JOURNALISM AND CONTEMPORARY STUDIES, WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

Honours BA received in 2013. I minored in Criminology and earned 2 distinctions in Journalism and Contemporary Studies.

SKILLS

• Fast learner

• Analytical problem solver

• Management experience

• 10 + years of grammar and editing

experience

• 8+ years of Administration experience

• Strong writing background

• Long history of collaboration with

customers, vendors, Directors, VPs,

coordinators, & subordinates

• Strong oral & written communication

skills

• Self-starter and well organized

• Both a team player and a leader

• Strong and well-developed customer service

experience.

• Professional demeanor and high ethical

standards

• Able to complete tasks in a timely manner

and regularly completes tasks before set

deadline

• Detail oriented

• Thrives in busy workplaces

ACTIVITIES

Besides working on my career and learning about new legal concepts, I also enjoy volunteering at an emergency Women’s shelter, reading, writing, hiking and mentoring.

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