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ALECIA F. GERARD

* Poway, CA ***** * 310-***-**** * ad3nyi@r.postjobfree.com

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT LEGAL SKILLS:

• Sr. Litigation Paralegal with over 20 years of solid understanding and proven experience in litigation and the court system

• 98%-win rate on all assigned court trials/arbitrations/mediations

• Lead Paralegal in the war room, in the courtrooms, in arbitrations, and mock trials

• Talented in drafting a variety of legal documents, including complaints/answers, incoming/outgoing discovery, jury instructions, trial subpoenas, deposition notices, and other documents as requested

• Experienced in filing cases with state, federal, appellate, and California Supreme Courts

• Upload trial exhibits to trial software (Trial Director/Trial Pad) and present the exhibits in courtroom/arbitration/mock trials

• Ability to interpret and apply legal statutes, codes, regulations, and policies to complex legal problems

• Perform legal research via Lexis, Westlaw, and various internet sources

• Skilled in the usage a of variety of Docketing Management Systems

• Supervised and trained new paralegals and administrative support staff on the following duties:

Support the professional development of junior paralegals through the implementation of a variety of ongoing training programs and knowledge

Create lunchtime training classes for junior paralegals and legal secretaries

Develop training on the proper way to calendar incoming documents

Explain trial procedures to better understand the flow of the trial and become an asset to their assigned attorneys

Train staff on the set up of a new office filing system which created a more efficient process for filing and retrieving case files

• 8 years of teaching experience in the Paralegal Program at Miramar College currently teaching Civil Litigation, Legal Secretary Skills and Procedures, and Law Office Technology WORK EXPERIENCE:

CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, Los Angeles, CA Title: Senior Legal Analyst, 09/2020 to present

• Review and analyze client agency (DFEH, EEOC, etc.) requests for legal services

• Project manager on large, high-profile cases/investigations (AB3121 Reparations, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Natomas Unified School District, etc.)

• Design and conduct investigations

• Interview witnesses for upcoming hearings

• concerning the handling of the issues

• Review incoming documents from clients via Relativity

• Create lunchtime training classes for junior paralegals and legal secretaries

• Aid in the preparation, review, filing, and service of pleadings, motions, discovery, and subpoenas with the state, federal, and appellate courts

• Conduct legal research, prepared outgoing and incoming discovery, and other writing assignments

• Coordinate and schedule hearings, and meetings, and communicate with clients and expert witnesses

BOWMAN AND BROOKE, LLP, San Diego, CA

Title: Senior Litigation Paralegal/Mentor, 06/2019 to 04/2020

• Performed paralegal duties on assigned product liability/personal injury cases and warranty litigation cases for auto manufacturer clients

• Supervised and trained new paralegals and administrative support staff

• Supplied pre-trial and trial support for litigated product liability matters of moderate to high complexity

• Drafted Settlement and Release Agreements and settlement check requests

• Drafted jury instructions, trial subpoenas, on-call letters, deposition notices, trial exhibit lists, and other legal PAGE 2

documents as requested

• Prepared a variety of pleadings, motions, discovery, and subpoenas

OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C., San Diego, CA Title: Litigation Paralegal, 01/2018 to 06/2019

• Performed employment/labor paralegal duties on assigned litigation and class action cases for national employers

• Prepared Public Records Act and Freedom of Information Act requests for documents related to assigned matters

• Assisted with trials and mock trials with high dollar values

• Drafted jury instructions, trial subpoenas, on-call letters, deposition notices, trial exhibit lists, and other legal documents as requested

• Helped in the drafting, review, filing, and service of pleadings, motions, discovery, and subpoenas

• Conducted legal research, prepared outgoing and incoming discovery, and other writing assignments

• Coordinated and scheduled depositions, hearings, and meetings, and communicated with clients and expert witnesses

• Prepared medical chronologies, deposition summaries of facts

• Analyzed/summarized deposition transcripts, employment, education, and medical records.

• Searched, coded, and redacted documents in Relativity

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, San Diego, CA

Title: Office Manager/Confidential Executive Assistant, 01/2017 to 08/2017

• Office Manager in the Labor Relations Department

• Supervised and trained administrative support staff on new department procedures

• Functioned as a resource/liaison between district staff and the public

• Confidential assistant to the Executive Director of Labor Relations

• Aided with the fact-finding of the labor grievances filed by district staff and personnel

• Prepared agenda items for Board meetings

• Researched items for Board meetings

SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, Chula Vista, CA Title: Paralegal/Office Manager, 09/2015 – 12/2016

• Office Manager in Legal Services Department

• Prepared court-ordered Quarterly Title IX Reports in Ollier v. Sweetwater matter

• Drafted all vendor contracts/agreements, memorandum of agreements, and memorandum of understanding

• Responded to all incoming subpoenas and Public Record Act Requests

• Performed Title IX inspections to ensure continued compliance at assigned schools

• Supervised and trained administrative support staff on litigation procedures

• Investigated parent complaints received against the district staff and personnel

• Prepared litigation hold notices for applicable personnel and departments SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, San Diego, CA Title: Adjunct Professor- Paralegal Program, 08/2015 to present

• Teach classes in Civil Litigation Procedures and Legal Secretary Skills/Procedures in the classroom and online

• Design a syllabus and curriculum for assigned classes

• Manage a classroom of a minimum of 35 students, current class has 55 online students

• Enforce district policies in the areas of plagiarism, cheating, and disruptive classroom behavior

• Evaluate student learning and assign grades

• Respond to student needs and questions

• Create a high-performance environment in which students of diverse backgrounds are motivated to succeed

LITTLER MENDELSON/EXCLUSIVELY LEGAL, San Diego, CA Title: Litigation Paralegal, 07/2014 to 02/2015

• Performed employment/labor paralegal duties on assigned litigation and class action cases for national employers

• Prepared Exposure Analysis for class action matters for assigned clients

• Researched witnesses via Lexis Accurint, Facebook, and various internet sources

• Prepared documents/privilege logs for production, and served the same on all interested parties

• Trial support for complex and high-dollar cases

• Drafted jury instructions, trial subpoenas, on-call letters, deposition notices, trial exhibit lists, and other legal documents as requested

• Aided in the preparation, review, filing, and service of pleadings, motions, discovery, and subpoenas

• Coordinated and scheduled depositions, hearings, and meetings, and communicates with clients and expert witnesses

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Microsoft Word Suite of Programs

• iManage Document System

• Adobe/Nuance

• Relativity

• Law Manager

• Westlaw/Lexis

• West Case Timeline

• Case Note

• Compulaw Vision

• Timeslips/Time Matters

• Chrome River

• Trial Director/Sanctions

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Paralegal Certificate from an ABA Approved Paralegal Program October 1995

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

Master of Science, Criminal Justice December 1993

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice May 1991

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