Legal Assistant Manager
Resume:
Dephann C. Edwards-Hatchett
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
Email: *******@*****.***
Objective: Professional, hard-working paralegal/legal secretary with thirty six years of experiences in full-time position to utilize strong management, administrative, marketing and technical knowledge of legal systems. Has broad experience in state and federal courts, including general litigation, corporate, criminal/personal injury and insurance law. Strong interpersonal skills have been demonstrated including client care, conflict resolution, teambuilding, goal setting/achievement and training.
PHILLIPS NIZER LLC
(May 2017 to Present) New Yorrk. NY:
Legal Assistant: Six Partners - Assisting attorneys with case management including drafting pleadings, correspondence and discovery documents. Assisting in training/and seminars for Environmental Law and Labor & Employment. Preparing conflict checks for new matters. Preparing engagement/retainer letter and sending invoices to clients on behalf of accounting department and attorneys. General office duties including .answering office telephones, entering timesheets and maintaining invoices. Review Federal Court docket search for new potential clients.
JACKSON LEWIS P.C: Labor and Employer Law
(October 2015 to May 2017) DETROIT, Ml:
Legal Assistant: to three Principal Partners and one associate - Prepared/revised correspondence, pleadings, discovery documents and calendar maintenance. Ran conflict checks and opened new client/engagement matters. Working relationships with internal departments and outside agencies. Assisted in making travel arrangements for attorneys.
SEGAL McCAMBRIDGE SINGER & MAHONEY LTO: General Litigation Firm
(July 2015 to May 2017) DETROIT, Ml:
Contract Assignment: Legal Assistant to Shareholder and Staff Attorney - assisted in status reports for clients, e-filing in State and Federal Courts, prepared documents/pleadings for production and discovery requests. Drafted complaints and summons for landlord tenant cases. Prepared expense reports and accounting documents for attorneys.
LAW OF BARTON W. MORRIS PC: (Criminal Defense Law Firm)
(July 2013 to July 2015) DETROIT, Ml:
Senior Legal Administrator- Managed very high volume Criminal Law Practice
- dealing primary with OWI/OWVI and Driver's License Restoration clients. Case managing files from opening and close of case. Including requesting all discovery from Michigan State Police and Local Police's FOIA/Records department, as well as Datamaster documents and police officers certifications for defense purposes. Opened all new clients, heavy telephone contact with District and Circuit courts through Metro Detroit and the State of Michigan.
Supervised the office staff and using time billing system.
Prepared Trial documents for court.
NEMETH BURWELL, P.C: (Labor and Employment Firm)
(May 2012 to July 2013) DETROIT, Ml:
• Lead Legal Secretary/Assistant- Assisted four senior managing partners for labor and employment law firm - resolving and litigating employment disputes. Assisted in arbitrations, mediations and trials in state, federal agencies, state and federal courts and appellate court. Trained all legal secretaries and assisted in managing support staff. Managed all cases in office, attorney's calendars and drafted all pleadings for filing with administrative agencies and federal and state courts. E-filing and scanning all documents into firm system/data system.. Assisted in preparation of seminars and labor and employment presentations.
AAA LEGAL DEPARTMENT: (Insurance Defense)
(June 2011 to May 2012) DETROIT. Ml:
I
• Legal Secretary - In-house law firm for AAA Insurance Company - Legal Secretary for three Insurance Defense Attorneys. Handled all new insurance defense cases, case management with claim adjusters and opposing counsel. E filing in, Macomb, Wayne and Oakland County Courts. . Opened files, review claims and drafted all letters and pleadings regarding cases.
DICKINSON WRIGHT, PLLC: (General Litigation Firm)
(December 2010 to June 2011) TROY. Ml:
• Legal Secretary - Assisted three attorneys: managed all calendars; filed pleadings for Civil Litigation and Appeal cases on Federal Pacer; prepare Table of Authorities and Table of Contents; reviewed and managed incoming documents; scheduled meetings.
• Estate Planning: drafted estate planning documents; prepared final bills to
clients: prepared conflict check on new clients; opened and closed cases; managed accounts for arbitration of retirement funds for clients; notarized during client meetings.
LAW OFFICE OF RAY E. RICHARDS II PLC: (Criminal Federal and State Firm)
(October 1999 to December 2010) DETROIT, Ml:
Titles included "Office Manager", "Secretary", "Legal Assistant", "Paralegal"
• Managed a criminal and personal injury law firm. Duties included extensive client contact with court and other law firms. Maintained all cases in office, drafting pleadings and letters to clients and courts. Marketed for the firm using social and business network. Ordered supplies, equipment and all in-house work. Accompany clients and attorney to court. Answered multi-lines phones, time keeping.. bookkeeping... heavy contact with insurance adjusters and outside counsel for insurance company defense.. dealt with personal injury clients for household services and medical evaluations, in and outhouse claims, review police reports and medical reports.
• Set case for mediations or arbitrations
• Filed/posted online using the Federal Pacer System for criminal and civil cases
• Filed legal documents in courts
• Negotiated settlements for cases
• Managed law clerks/paralegals
• Handled claims and insurance cases for personal injury clients
• Supervised staff, legal research and manage over 200 files; knowledge of federal and district courts; this included training/coaching new hires
• Researched technology to improve effectiveness/efficiency of firm
• Followed-up with billing, payment and collection
• Firm Marketing, legal seminars, workshops for clients
CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION(Legal Supervisor)
(August 1996 -October 1999) SOUTHFIELD. Ml:
• Manager of legal department, assisted employees with the Hubbard collection computer system to help clients make collection payments
• Provided human resource including time keeping, hiring, payroll, coaching
• Opened and assigned cases to out-of-state law firms, managing all accounts
• Supported work in the bankruptcy department
• Managed 25 plus employees, involved in department head meetings;
troubleshooting/problem solving for company and other law firms.
LEWIS WHITE & CLAY, P.C.- (General Litigation firm- Paralegal)
(September 1992-August 1996) DETROIT, Ml:
Paralegal to the Litigation department manager, assist with clients and managed heavy volumes of cases including Auto Dealers, the Detroit Board of Education and the City of Detroit, drafted pleadings and correspondence, extensive time keeping billable hours, went to court, supported attorneys with trials.
EDUCATION:
1988 Graduate from Bloomfield College (New Jersey) - Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Degree
SKILLS:
Jackson Lewis programs, NetDocs, Concur Expense, Dashboard, lnforCenter, InterAction, Nuance, Psship, SharePoint, Clio Case Managing System, Time Matters System, Microsoft, Word, Window XP, fax, on-line legal services, data bases, Microsoft Outlook, Windows 7, professional time keeping for billable clients, handling multiple office phone lines, Acrobat 10, Federal Pacer court filing (ECF/filings e-filing all USA courts}, Amicus, Wiznet E-filing, Oakland County Circuit Court, Fax Press, Cisco Unity telephone system, Metadata, Lotus Notes-Database, 1,2,3, Hummingbird DM, PDF DOCS/PFD DOCS form filler, \Workshare Compare, Meeting Place
Manager, PowerPoint, Summation, Time Slips billing, Binding Documents, SharePoint Docket Management System, Case Management filing, Scrub Word Doc file, Index Table of Authorities, Indexing Cases. Elite 3E, Worksite and Workspace software programs (Notary Oakland County Ml)
KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
• Highly skilled in assisting attorneys with managing legal documents;
• Hands-on experience in organizing and handling document productions for litigation;
• Assist in litigation procedures and project management;
• Response to client inquires;
• Ability to work well under moderate supervision;
• Good organization skills;
• Familiar with advanced legal terminology;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Team player, always willing to help others.'
REFERENCES:
Attorney Ray E. Richards: 313-***-****- **************@*****.***
Attorney Shawn Danette Glaza 917-***-**** or 248-***-**** *****@********.***
Mary Jane Craig, Human Resource Manager at Phillips Nizer 212-***-**** ******@*************.***
Contact this candidate