Administrative Support Legal Secretary

ERIKA L. VASQUEZ

**** ******** ****, ********, ***** 77584

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

Mobile: 832-***-****

OBJECTIVE

Highly accomplished professional seeking a career where I can utilize my passion and strengths and employ my work ethic with others. Exceptionally organized, disciplined, and driven for success and skills to be admired. Dependable and flexible to ensure and meet the needs of the business. Twenty-five years’ experience and highly skilled at providing exceptional administrative support, effective written and verbal communication skills, as well as proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. I can direct, support, motivate, and lead a successful team in any areas of priority, while maintaining and supporting the needs of the business. WORK EXPERIENCE

BOOKOFF MCANDREWS PLLC, Washington, D.C – Remote (Texas) Patent Specialist 12/2021 – 04/2024

§ Assist partners and a team of associates in the management of client matters. Draft reporting emails to clients on behalf of attorneys. Handle domestic, foreign and PCT prosecution in its entirety. Such as preparation and filing of National Stage applications and Track One applications including Information Disclosure Statements, Oaths/Declarations, Assignments, Power of Attorney, Office Action Responses, Notice of Appeal, Notice of Allowance Checklist, Issue Fee Payments, PPH Requests, Request to Correct Filing Receipt, Supplemental Application Data Sheets, Rule 92bis, and Statement In Lieu of Oath/Declaration, Maintenance Fees/Annuity Reminders and Reporting USPTO Correspondence to Clients. Research and investigate whereabouts of non-cooperative inventors and former employees of clients. Manage and update electronic files. Generate, monitor, and maintain docket reports and due-date-reminders report to working attorneys.

HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP, Houston, Texas

IP Legal Secretary 11/2014– 10/2021

§ Assist section partner and team of associates in the management of client matters and administrative duties. Draft transmittal letters to clients on behalf of attorneys. Handle domestic and PCT prosecution in its entirety. Such as preparation and filing of National Stage applications and Track One applications including Information Disclosure Statements, Oaths/Declarations, Assignments, Power of Attorney, Office Action Responses, Notice of Appeal, PPH Requests, Request to Correct Filing Receipt, Supplemental Application Data Sheets, Rule 92bis, and Statement In Lieu of Oath/Declaration, Maintenance Fees/Annuity Reminders and Reporting USPTO Correspondence to Clients. Research and investigate whereabouts of non-cooperative inventors and former employees of clients. Manage and update electronic, physical and transfer case files. Generate, monitor, and maintain docket reports and due-date- reminders report to working attorneys. Open new client matters. Arrange travel arrangements, assist with time entry, coordinate with accounting department regarding client invoicing, and manage expense reports and vendor invoices. Train new personnel in assisting with proformas/billing system. NOVAK DRUCE CONNOLLY BOVE + QUIGG LLP, Houston, Texas IP Document Coordinator 03/2007 – 11/2014

§ Assist managing partners, executive partners, senior partners, and team of associates in the management of client matters and with special administrative duties as needed. Process all incoming United States Patent and Trademark and foreign attorney correspondence, maintaining a mail log up to date, scanning, saving documents to proper folders and reporting to working attorneys and assistants. Manage and update electronic, physical and transfer case files. Primary trainee for new receptionist as needed. Primary back-up to receptionist which duties include phone coverage, maintaining postage meter, lounge, copy room, supply room, electronic faxes, photocopying and mail-outs. Arrange travel arrangements, set up conference calls, coordinate special projects within the office, handle maintenance requests with building management. Supervise ongoing projects within the office and receptionist. IP Legal Assistant

§ Directly communicate with clients to provide status updates, report filings, and request information for filings. Coordinate with file-runners for retrieval of documents from Patent Office repository. Draft transmittal letters to clients on behalf of attorneys. Assist managing partner, executive partner, senior partners, and team of associates in the management of client matters. Research and investigate whereabouts of non-cooperative inventors and former employees of clients. Research and investigate contact information of potential defendants for service of process. Prepare electronic filings with United States Patent and Trademark Office and monitor status of same. Directly coordinate with foreign counsel to manage foreign patent filings. Generate, monitor, and maintain docket reports and due-date-reminder reports for attorneys. Manage and update electronic and physical case files. Open new client matters. Train new receptionists and file/reporting clerks. IP Receptionist

§ Handled all incoming calls, faxing, filing, photocopying, mail-outs, maintained postage meter, maintained lounge, maintained copy room, maintained supply room, arranged travel arrangements, set up conference calls, assisted with yearly partnership meeting, coordinated with building staff to handle maintenance requests of attorneys, and assisted staff in any requested clerical duties.

MATTHEWS & FORESTER, League City, Texas

Receptionist 04/2002 – 03/2007

§ Interviewed plaintiff-clients, attended depositions and translated for Spanish clients, provided case summaries and status updates to attorneys, translated documents from Spanish to English and vice versa, conducted research and investigations of clients and issues pertaining to personal injury and oil and gas-related injuries, directly communicated with clients, opposing counsel, and witnesses, handled all incoming/outgoing calls, faxing, photocopying, maintained file expenses, set up MS PowerPoint presentations for partner, deposited payroll taxes and settlement checks, mail- outs, handled data entry on discovery for secretaries when needed, set up appointments for attorneys, set up conference calls, and closed files.

PRIMARY SERVICES-EQUILON, Houston, Texas

Credit Card Specialist (Temporary Contract) 02/2002 - 03/2002

§ Credit Card Specialist for Equilon, and processed Credit Card transactions for Buyers. THE OB/GYN CENTRE, Houston, Texas

Front Desk Receptionist 09/2000 - 11/2001

§ Data entry for new patients, revised information for former patients, insurance verifications, set up appointments, handled monies, set up ultrasound appointments, ran errands & translator CONN’S APPLIANCES, Houston, Texas

Customer Service Representative 06/2000 - 09/2000

§ Assisted with customer relations, incoming calls, handled pick up orders & data entry. KELLY SERVICES-EL PASO ENERGY, Houston, Texas

Administrative Assistant 06/1998 - 06/2000

§ Assisted supervisor of Compliance Services manager & drafting team, photocopying, maintained supply room, faxing, incoming calls, route calls to designated department, handled incoming /outgoing mail, handled fed-ex packaging, expense reports and travel arrangements.

SKILLS

§ Fluent in Spanish – Speak, Read and Write

§ Proficient in MS Office Suites 1997-2003 & 2007

§ 60 WPM

§ Proficient in Adobe

§ ScanSoft PaperPort 9.0

§ Internet Explorer

§ USPS &FedEx – Online Tools

§ Foundation IP Docket Managing System

§ Chrome River

§ SharePoint Time Entry and Client Matter Management Software

§ Worldox Document Management

§ USPTO – E-filing System

§ Desksite – Document Management System

§ Elite 3E System

§ Pattsy Wave Docketing System

§ NetDocuments

§ AppColl Docketing System

EDUCATION

§ CHARLES MILBY HIGH SCHOOL, Houston, Texas

High School Diploma 05/1995 - 05/1999

Contact this candidate