Legal Assistant Executive

Christina M. Merrell

Covington,GA/ 404-***-**** / *******.*******@*****.*** SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Strong organizational skills with attention to detail. Ability to handle multiple assignments in highly pressured situations. Ability to consistently meet tight deadlines, strong sense of responsibility. Proactively communicate across organizational levels, displaying positivity and enthusiasm. Self-motivated and team player.

Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Outlook, PeopleSoft, Taleo, Concur, Elite, RIA Checkpoint.

EXPERIENCE

3/2014 - Present Sierra-Cedar, Inc. - Alpharetta, Georgia HR – Benefits and 401(k) Specialist

• Provide support to Vice President of HR, General Counsel, Payroll and approximately 900 employees nationwide.

• Responsible for on-boarding new hires and processing personnel changes.

• Manage current I-9 process; completed I-9 audit project.

• Initiate pre-employment background check.

• Manually process benefit elections with various vendors.

• Develop and implement policies governing corporate procedures.

• Complete compliance filings, including 5500 filing, OSHA, and Worker’s Comp.

• Regularly provide direction and guidance to employees regarding company policies. Act as a mediator between employees and management on conflict resolution.

• Prepare offer letter/package.

• Prepare termination letter/package. Conduct exit interview.

• Focus on retention strategies to retain and motivate professional talent.

• Approve 401(k) withdrawals/hardships.

• Serve as point of contact for employment verification, FMLA, STD, LTD, COBRA.

• Manage Annual Open Enrollment.

• Prepare monthly Newsletter.

• Coordinate travel arrangements, meetings and social events. 6/2001 - 3/2014 Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Atlanta, Georgia Senior Legal Executive Assistant / Office Administrator Assistant

• Assist with the preparation of benefit plans, IRS submissions, government forms, plan termination documents, participant communications, and distribution forms (i.e., hardship withdrawals, loans, beneficiary designation forms, etc.).

• Research, collect, and organize data with respect to clients.

• Prepare/file motions with various courts; maintain files; conduct interviews.

• Coordinate travel arrangements, meetings, client seminars, and annual social events. Provide support to HR Administrator.

• Administrative duties (e.g., time entry, expense reports, etc.),

• Distribute prebills, make edits, and prepare/send final bills to clients; monitor various ebilling systems; assist accounts receivable; prepare monthly reports.

• Order office supplies

• Interview for staff positions

11/1997 - 6/2001 Holland & Knight LLP - Atlanta, Georgia Senior Legal Assistant/Paralegal - Labor and Employment

• Prepare letters, motions, briefs, etc. - requiring speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.

• File motions, briefs, etc. with various courts.

• Research case law.

• Extensive telephone contact with clients, attorneys, and courts.

• Organize and maintain files, coordinated travel arrangements; and administrative duties.

3/1994 - 11/1997 Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C - Atlanta, Georgia Recruiting Coordinator and Senior Legal Assistant

• Firm-wide recruiting - organize 2-day orientation/training program; conduct interviews; assemble handbooks and training materials.

• Coordinate meetings, seminars, and social events.

• Maintain files.

• Prepare/file motions, briefs, etc. with various courts.

• Research case law.

1/1992 - 3/1994 Clark, Paul, Hoover & Mallard - Atlanta, Georgia Senior Legal Assistant

• Manage all phases of the billing process.

• Interview/train new employees.

• Extensive telephone contact with clients, attorneys, and courts.

• Organize and maintain files.

6/1988 - 7/1991 Department of Corrections/Personnel - Atlanta, Georgia Senior Clerk/Administrative Assistant

Duties—60% of time spent entering employee data (i.e., fingerprint cards, leave records, tax information, insurance information, retirement information, etc.); 40% of time spent conducting orientation/training with new employees. EDUCATION

Dekalb College -- Administrative/Business Assoc. Degree – May 1994 Certified Nursing Assistant – September 2019

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