Debbie Metzger

Management Professional

adksgk@r.postjobfree.com

*** ********* ****.

Burlington, ON L7N2S4

647-***-****

Skills:

• Ability to meet changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to multitask, meet deadlines and make informed decisions.

• Ability to interact with all levels of an organization in a professional, objective manner.

• Strong sense of initiative, self-starter, able to work well independently and as part as a team.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills along with maintaining high quality of work.

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail

• Ability to recognize problems and initiate solutions.

Summary:

•Experienced Senior Litigation Paralegal and Department Manager with over 30 years’ experience including management of multiple complex litigation projects as well as management of a paralegal department at a large Insurance Defense Firm in Chicago, IL.

•Transitioning management experience into Supply Chain Management. Expected April 2021 Graduation with Honors Ontario Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management from Mohawk College McKeil School of Business in Hamilton, ON.

•Honors graduate of ABA-Approved Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate Program in the US.

•Experienced in managing multi-party national litigation for large law firm and assisting senior litigators in all aspects of case preparation and trial management - from investigation and fact discovery through trials. Research, case analysis, document analysis, managing daily aspects of mass-tort litigation on a national counsel level. Significant legal project management experience.

•Experienced in utilizing time and resources efficiently and effectively as part of day to day management responsibilities. Tasked with hiring, training and evaluation of professional staff. Responsible for meeting departmental budgets and goals and participating in overall firm objectives. Including implementing change management and strategic planning initiatives.

•Extensive technical computer skills including Microsoft Office, Westlaw, Lexis, Trial Director, numerous databases and litigation support software programs.

•Integral part of litigation team assisting counsel at more than 25 trials to verdict on large, complex cases in various State and Federal Courts throughout the US focused primarily in the areas of defending domestic and multi-national companies in the automotive, medical devices and other and life sciences industries.

Professional Experience:

Metzger Consulting, Ltd.

July 2016 – present

Freelance paralegal concentrating in personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice for US firms.

Case preparation and analysis of claims, analysis of medical records, abstract testimony and assist with fact discovery.

Review, analyze and extract important medical data to create a meaningful, summary for attorney use.

Examine records for completeness, responsiveness and relevance.

Summarize medical records to ensure continuity of health care, noting omissions and/or gaps in treatment or relevance to the subject claims.

Consult with counsel and provide input on medical records analysis issues.

Marketing and communication with clients.

Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney - Chicago, IL

1991 – June 2016

Senior Litigation Paralegal and Litigation Paralegal Department Manager

26 years as lead litigation trial paralegal specializing in insurance defense, medical malpractice, medical device and products liability matters.

National Coordinating Counsel and National Trial Counsel Lead Paralegal for complex litigation in various State and Federal Courts throughout the US.

Worked closely with shareholders, clients, experts, opposing counsel, regional and local counsel, courts and litigation support suppliers on litigation projects and cases.

Performed senior paralegal functions on large complex cases from inception of case through trial with significant responsibilities in document review and production, all phases of fact discovery, investigation, research and case management.

Worked closely with information management department, database developers, subject matter experts, legal technology suppliers, etc.

Heavy emphasis on analytical review of documents for relevance, privilege, responsiveness, witness preparation, defense strategy, etc.

Extensive Trial experience including preparation and presentation of electronic exhibits and materials at over 26 trials and many other hearings, presentations, etc.

Developed and implemented departmental policies, procedures and firm-wide case management system.

Directly managed and lead department of up to 20 legal professionals.

Responsible for recruitment, hiring, training and management of diverse team of paralegals and law clerks including resource planning, acquisition, integration, and oversight of work assignments, individual goal setting, performance management and development, policy and practice compliance.

Loyola University Chicago, Institute for Paralegal Studies - Chicago, IL

Adjunct Faculty, 2008- 2010

Designed curriculum and instructed students in a Post-Baccalaureate courses as part of Loyola’s ABA Accredited Paralegal program under The College of Continuing Education.

Served as Program Advisory Board Member for over 10 years.

Templeton & Associates Legal Staffing - Chicago, IL

Vice President, Paralegal and Attorney Division Manager, 1998 – 1999

Responsible for marketing, recruiting, and managing legal employment agency Chicago office. Sourcing and developing employees for law firms, legal publishing companies and corporate law departments throughout the Chicago area. Successful in exceeding all established financial goals for both the Paralegal and Attorney Divisions in the Chicago office.

Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office, Murphysboro, IL

Paralegal, 1988 – 1991

Assisted Prosecutor’s Office (same as Crown Attorney) with criminal, civil, regulatory and environmental matters. Heavy trial experience with fast-paced case preparation and analysis, investigation and witness preparation.

EDUCATION:

Mohawk College, Hamilton, ON – April 2021

Supply Chain Management Ontario Graduate Certificate with Honors

Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL - 1987

ABA approved, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in paralegal studies with Honors in Litigation.

Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL - 1983 - 1987

Bachelor of Arts Degree: Journalism

Minor(s): Pre-Law and Sociology

Technology:

Vast experience with Document Management Systems, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, Internet, Summation, Trial Director, Case Logistics, Relativity, Case Logistics, and numerous proprietary databases and software applications. Developed and maintained Extranets and Intranets and shared on-line document repositories. Experienced in litigation support, electronic records production, and electronic trial presentation.

Numerous professional courses in continuing legal education, project management and legal project management.

Professional Memberships:

Former Member: International Paralegal Managers Association (IPMA)

Former Member: Illinois Paralegal Association

Former Advisory Board Member: Loyola University Chicago, Institute for Paralegal Studies

American Women’s Club of Southern Ontario Executive Board Member since 2017

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-metzger-111b956/

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