Paralegal

CONNIE J. GRACE-LAKE

PLS, CLA, B.S., B.A., J.D.

e-mail: *******@*******.***

**** ********** *****, **********, ** 75077

817-***-**** Cellular

EDUCATION

Law School: Texas Wesleyan University School of Law--J.D. (Juris

Doctor), 12/04

College: Texas Wesleyan University--B.A. in English (magna cum

laude), 5/00

Texas Wesleyan University--B.S. in Paralegal Studies (magna

cum laude), 5/00

Tarrant County Junior College--South Campus (97-98)

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK (79-80)

Continuing

Education: National PLS Certification--passed on first sitting 11/89

National CLA Certification--passed on first sitting 1/91

Legal Assistant Certificate 12/88--University of Texas at

Arlington, TX

Paralegal Certificate 5/00--Texas Wesleyan University (4-

year degree program)

Mediator's Certificate (40-Hour Course) 12/04--Texas

Wesleyan University

Family Law Mediator's Certificate (30-Hour Course) 7/04--

Texas Wesleyan University

Educational

Awards: National Honor Society, Dean's Honor Roll,

Principal's Honor Roll, Dean's List (80, 97, 98, 99); Phi

Theta Kappa; Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors)

SKILLS Software and Applications: Windows; WordPerfect,

Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Money, Microsoft

Office (including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook),

Needles, PCLaw, Totality, X1, Skype, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe

Acrobat, Lexis/Nexis Practice Advantage, Time Matters,

QuickBooks, Lotus AmiPro, Q&A, Juris, PCDoc, PRODoc, DOCS Open,

Staff Punch, Dazzle, Lawbase, Barrister System; Various Legal

Research Databases, including Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw; Internet

Research; experience in e-filing (state and federal); average

typing speed 80-90 wpm

WORK

EXPERIENCE

9/12-3/13 Paralegal/Personal Assistant-Law Office of Cynthia F. Solls,

Dallas, TX

Management/administration of 100+ mediation files for

attorney/mediator, including scheduling and assisting with

numerous court-ordered and requested mediations; assistance with

a minimal number of plaintiffs' personal injury and guardian ad

litem files; maintenance of office database and other varied

administrative/managerial duties; assist attorney with personal

projects

12/11-9/12 Senior Paralegal-Nationwide Insurance/Law Office of Michael L.

Fox, Irving/Las Colinas, TX

Senior paralegal duties in managing 300+ subrogation files,

including all aspects of subrogation litigation and post-

judgment work; senior paralegal duties in defense section,

including all aspects of defense litigation; miscellaneous

administrative duties for managing attorney

3/10-12/11 Consultant/Freelance Paralegal-Lewisville, TX

Freelance/consultant work at the senior paralegal level

involving (including but not limited to) preparation, editing,

and review of documents in the areas of family law, contracts

(personal and commercial), probate, litigation/motion practice,

and other miscellaneous documents for various attorneys and/or

pro se litigants

10/09-3/10 Paralegal-Ramey Law Firm, Dallas, TX

Senior paralegal duties for plaintiffs' personal injury

practice; integral duties regarding functions and work flow of

legal secretary and legal assistant/medical records clerk

6/09-9/09 Operations Manager/Legal Liaison--CCRG Equities Management

Group, Irving, TX

Draft, edit, review/analyze, and negotiate real estate

contracts and addenda for building/construction, acquisitions,

and brokerage; assist in start-up administrative phases of CCRG

subsidiary companies and "building project" companies;

draft/edit website information; edit/revise

building/construction "specs" and spreadsheets

7/08-1/09 Senior Paralegal--Jenkins Babb, Dallas, TX

Executive paralegal duties for general practice with an emphasis

on plaintiffs' personal injury, commercial litigation, criminal

law, and collections; delegation to legal assistant staff

12/07-5/08 Legal Administrator/Operations Manager-Elsey & Elsey, Flower

Mound, TX

Complete administration of general practice with emphases on

plaintiffs' personal injury, commercial litigation, family law,

probate law, and estate planning; supervision of legal and

support staff

4/05-12/07 Paralegal/Case Manager/Office Administrator--Law Office of Greg

Jackson, Fort Worth, TX

Complete administration of general civil practice with an

emphasis on plaintiffs' personal injury, plaintiffs' medical

malpractice, and commercial litigation

6/01-3/05 Paralegal (on Contract)--Law Office of David B. Cantu, Fort

Worth, TX

Contract/freelance duties as designated for general practice

with an emphasis on plaintiffs' personal injury and criminal law

2/99-6/01 Office Administrator/Paralegal--Law Office of William B.

Hancock, Jr., Fort Worth, TX

Complete administration of general practice with an emphasis on

plaintiffs' personal injury, family law, criminal law,

commercial litigation, and probate law; supervision of legal

assistant staff

ADDITIONAL

WORK

EXPERIENCE (Details upon request)

12/97-11/98 Litigation Paralegal-- Snell, Hancock & Cantu, Fort Worth, TX

1/96-8/96 Litigation Paralegal/Department Supervisor--Mark S. Stewart &

Associates, Fort Worth, TX

3/95-10/95 Litigation Paralegal--Law Offices of Paul Snell, Fort Worth, TX

11/92-4/94 Litigation Paralegal--Wallach, Jones & Moore, Fort Worth, TX

10/91-11/92 Office Administrator/Litigation Paralegal--Miller & Stallings,

Fort Worth, TX

6/91-10/91 Litigation Paralegal--Kugle & Frederick, Fort Worth, TX

10/89-3/91 Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant--Murphy, Moore & Bell, Fort

Worth, TX

10/86-9/89 Administrative Legal Secretary/Departmental Secretarial

Supervisor

Tarrant County District Attorney's Office/Civil Division, Fort

Worth, TX

PRESENTATIONS Lecture: "Written Communications"--PLS Study Course, Fort

Worth Legal Secretaries Association, 9/92, 8/91, 8/90

Lecture: "Written Communications"--PLS Study Course,

Arlington Legal Secretaries Association, 1/91

Lecture: "Records Management"--VTI Legal Secretarial

Program, 2/88

Presentation: "WordPerfect Print Functions"--In-House

Training, Murphy, Moore & Bell, 11/90

Presentation: "Interviewing and Selecting Personnel"--UTA

Legal Office Management Class, Legal Assistant

Program, 3/88

Workshop: "The Attorney/Support Staff Team"--UTA Pre-Law

Society, 10/88

Workshop: "Records Management"--Fort Worth Legal

Secretaries Association, 10/88

ASSOCIATIONS Member Phi Theta Kappa, Rho Chi Chapter (97-Present)

Member Sigma Tau Delta, Nu Zeta Chapter (English Honors)

(00-Present)

Former Member Fort Worth Paralegals Association (95-97)

Former Member Fort Worth Legal Secretaries Association (87-

97)--President (93-94), Vice President (92-93),

Recording Secretary (90-91), Corresponding Secretary

(89-90), Audit Committee (95-96), Day in Court

Chairman (91-92), Legal Education Chairman (88-89),

Membership Chairman (87-88)

Former Member Texas Association of Legal Secretaries (87-

97)

Former Member National Association of Legal Secretaries (87-

97)

Former Member Texarkana Association of Legal Assistants

Former Member National Association of Legal Assistants

Former Member Academy of Country Music

Former Member Country Music Association

Former Volunteer Fort Worth ISD Adopt-a-School Program

Former Volunteer Senior Citizens' Fair

Former Volunteer Fort Worth Women's Center (120 clock hours

at retail facility)

MayFest Volunteer and Performer (88-99)

Oktoberfest Volunteer (Performer 96-99)

Participant in various charity fundraising efforts,

including United Way, Paralyzed Veterans of America,

Disabled American Veterans, Toys for Tots, Boys and

Girls Clubs of Fort Worth, SPCA, and Tarrant County

Food Bank

MEDIATION Volunteer Mediator--Tarrant County Settlement Week;

Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas (multiple

cases)

Co-Mediator on multiple cases at Dispute Resolution

Services of North Texas, Dispute Mediation Services

of Dallas, Tarrant County Juvenile Court (Fall

04/Spring 05)

OTHER Home Visitor (Guardianship Regulation; student course

work) through Tarrant County Probate Court No. 1,

Fort Worth, Texas (30 clock hours)

Notary Public-Commission expires 7/14/13

REFERENCES Mr. Michael L. Fox, Nationwide Insurance (Retired); e-

mail: ************@*****.***; Ph: 972-***-****

(cell)

Mr. Greg Jackson, Attorney, Bailey & Galyen, 1300 Summit

Avenue, Suite 650, Fort Worth, TX 76102; Ph: 817-

471-1244, 817-***-**** (cell); e-mail:

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

Mr. David Cantu, Attorney, 1833 North Beach Street, Fort

Worth, TX 76111; Ph: 817-***-****

Mr. Jason Babb, Attorney, Jenkins Babb, LLP, 2727 LBJ

Freeway, Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75234; Ph: 214-220-

2022

Mr. Sullivan Bradley, Assistant District Attorney

(Retired), 6680 FM 1689, Sidney, TX 76474; Ph: 254-

842-5492

Ms. Trisha Graham, Executive Director, Tarrant County Bar

Association, 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX

76102; Ph: 817-***-****

Mr. Frank Elliott (Former Law School Dean/Professor at

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law)

Ms. Kay Elliott (Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan

University School of Law, Private Practice Attorney-

Mediator, Instructor at Texas Women's

University/Denton)

1609 Sunset Terrace, Fort Worth, TX 76102; Ph: 214-

546-3338 (Ms. Elliott--cellular)

Additional references, letters of reference available upon

request

Contact this candidate