Paralegal

Objective To obtain a position that will enable me to utilize my strong organizational skills, educational background, and ability to work well with people in an environment which supports my community.

Experience

June 2014 – present Cook County Public Defenders Office

Volunteer Paralegal

Legal Research Division – Post-conviction and appellate work

Supported staff attorneys

oMotions and filings,

oAbstracting trial records

oIndexing Common Law Records

oResearch using LexisNexis, Circuit Court DB

oPreparations of exhibits, FOIA documents

oReviewed initial trial records

oAccompanied Attorneys on Prison visits as ‘prover’

2012 – 2013 The Lawyers Committee for Better Housing in Chicago

Paralegal Internship (4 months)

Prepared pleadings for review by attorneys.

Filed motions with County Clerk.

Maintained client files and electronic records.

Prepared client correspondence.

2009-2012 Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL

Director, Banner Support – Information Technology

Managed staff of eight technology professionals responsible for the maintenance, upgrades, and modifications to the University’s administrative software system.

Responsible for a budget exceeding 1.3 million dollars, excluding salary & fringe. Principal negotiator between University and third party vendors of software and services used to support the overall system.

Provided project management and guidance to internal and external staff in implementing new projects, scheduling recurring activities, and staff training.

Represented the Information Technology unit on various campus wide committees and conferences.

1997 – 2009 SunGard Higher Education, Malvern, PA

Senior Principal Student Consultant and Team Manager

Responsible for training, consulting, and implementation of Banner system focusing on the integration of student records information at higher education institutions, maximizing the flexibility of the Banner series in a unified manner.

Consulted with institutions on policy and procedural matters to ensure maximum results from their new student system.

Prepared Business Process Analysis for clients in the preparation for the implementation of the Banner system.

Served as Student Project Management for long-term implementations.

Advised client administration, programming and technical staff, in matters of conversion, to ensure a smooth transition to Banner Student.

Provided hands-on training of the Banner Student system to all team members and selected staff.

Made recommendations on building rules, populating tables, and configuring the Banner system during implementations.

Wrote documentation and procedure guides for clients on a case by case basis.

Created Test Plans and Task Logs to monitor implementation progress.

Developed presentations and training materials as needed for clients with specialized needs.

Reviewed and revised procedures with long-term Banner clients to ensure maximum usage of Banner capabilities after system upgrades.

Performed troubleshooting when a Banner process is not working properly at a client site, finding the problem, and offering solutions.

Provided management support to a staff of ten (10) traveling consultants.

1985 – 1997 Farmingdale State College (SUNY), Farmingdale, NY

College Registrar - Responsible for the organization and supervision of all activities within the Registrar's Office, along with serving as part of the Senior College staff.

Residence Director (1988 – 1991) - Responsible for providing an environment that enhanced the educational, cultural, and social development of 46 single female students.

Instructor/Academic Advisor - Adjunct faculty member.

oDepartment of Sociology (1990 – 1991).

oCollege Studies Department (1989 – 1990).

1979 – 1985 University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL;

Assistant to the Director of Records and Admissions - Acted as liaison person working closely with the Offices of Financial Aid, Business Affairs, Records and Registration, Admissions, and Computing Services to provide integrated student services in an effective and efficient manner.

Military experience:

1964-1968 United States Marine Corp, Washington D.C.

Major duties: Service in the Republic Of South Vietnam (1965-66) as basic infantry rifleman, platoon leader; security detachment in both Europe and US. Honorably discharged with rank of Sergeant (E-5).

Education

Certificate: ABA-Approved Post Baccalaureate Paralegal Studies Program

- Roosevelt University, Chicago 2013

Masters Public Administration – University of Illinois, Chicago 1984

Bachelor of Arts - University of Illinois, Chicago 1976

Skills

Business Process Analysis (BPA)

Business Process Modeling (BPM)

Project Implementation/Management and Planning

Public speaking and training

Customer Service

Additional Areas of Knowledge

Microsoft Office suite

WestLaw

Legal Server, PS Technologies Inc.

Best Case – Bankruptcy

CaseMap suite

Summation

Concordane

Microsoft Internet Explorer,

Raindance and WebEx

GotoMeeting

Past Organizations and Offices

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).

New York & New Jersey Assoc. of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (NYNJACRAO).

State University of New York Registrars Association (SUNYRA).

Vice-president Region IV 1990-1992.

National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA).

Illinois Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers

(IACRAO) 1980 - 1985.

Community Involvement

Friends Chicago Animal Care Control, Chicago IL 2005 – present

State approved Animal Foster Care Provider, 2010 - 2011

Nassau County Democratic Party, Nassau County, New York 1986 - 1992

American Jewish Committee, Chicago, Illinois 1973 - 1978.

New Regular Democratic Organization of Lyons Township, Summit, Illinois 1974 - 1978.

Member Young Democrats of Lyons Township; Co-chairperson Charter

Reformation Committee; Chairperson Speakers Committee.

SAFER Foundation, Chicago, Illinois 1974 - 1975.

Staff associate in the CHALLENGE program working with former prison inmates.

Kent County Democratic Party, Grand Rapids, MI 1970 - 1974.

Elected delegate, Democratic State Convention 1972.

Grand Rapids Junior College VETS Club, Grand Rapids, MI 1970 -1974.

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