Legal Intern Property Manager

CHERYL LANGSTON

Cell: 469-***-****

Email: ****************@*****.***

Focus of Professional Experience:

A Versatile, Extensively Practiced Legal Professional with a Consistent Record of Achievement in the Field of Social Security Disability Law.

Admitted to Practice Before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Admitted to Practice in the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Federal District Courts of Texas.

Licensed by the Texas State Bar, May 1998

Key Skill Proficiencies

·Legal Research

·Legal Motion and Brief Writing

·Court Appearances

·Management

·Employment and Labor Law

·Excellent Client Relations

·Employment Law Experience

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·Disability Law Experience

·Management Experience

·Discovery

·Deposition Experience

·Legal Opinions on Complex Legal Issues

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·FOIA Experience (Freedom of Information Act)

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·Appellate Work

·Landlord Tenant Law

·Employment and Labor Law

·Extensive Experience Reviewing Medical Reports and Evidence

Work Experience:

The Law Office of Cheryl Langston 11/2011 – Present

07/2007 – 09/2010

Attorney/Owner

As the sole attorney and owner of this law office, I perform Social Security disability law work. My work in this area focuses in the areas of both Federal District Court Appeals and administrative hearings. In my practice, I work with other attorneys who require appeal of their client's cases to Federal District Court. I also have my own clients, and I handle their cases at all levels of the Social Security disability process, including hearings before administrative law judges, and appeals to Federal District Court.

Reyes & Reyes Law Firm 09/2010 – 11/2011

Lead Attorney – Dallas, Texas Office

In September 2010, I became the lead attorney for the Dallas Reyes and Reyes law office location. As an attorney for this firm, I was responsible for setting up all aspects of the office, including locating the office space, managing the day to day requirements of a new office, and managing a staff of four. My duties with this firm also included interviewing and representing clients from the time of their initial application for benefits and at the administrative hearings. When appropriate, I continued my representation of these clients before the Federal District Court and, in some cases, before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Social Security Administration’s Office of the General Counsel 07/1997 – 07/2007

Assistant Regional Counsel

I began my work with the Social Security Administration’s (Agency) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) as a legal intern. Prior to attending law school I had worked for the State of Texas, at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Aged and Disabled department. This experience led to my initial desire to focus my law expertise in the field of Social Security Disability law. As an Assistant Regional Counsel for OGC, I advanced quickly. My job duties included representing the Agency in appellate litigation before the Federal District Courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in labor arbitrations.

My work in Federal Appeals, includes appearances in Appellate arguments in Federal Court, as well as Motion and Brief Writing. I have written well over one thousand Motions and Briefs in Support of Summary Judgment in my legal career. I also provided Motions and Briefs to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. My brief writing experience has provided me with excellent research and legal writing skills.

My employment law experience, includes representing the Commissioner of Social Security at all levels of employment law. I have experience in depositions, discovery, negotiations, preparing for hearings, and attending and representing the Agency at the hearings. My labor law experience is limited to appearing in arbitration matters on behalf of the Agency and preparing for the arbitration.

As an Assistant Regional Counsel for the Social Security Administration, I was consistently called upon to draft legal opinions and provide legal advice on complex legal issues to agency officials at all levels of management, and also served as the leader of the Legal Opinion Team. I also served on the Disclosure team and, in doing so, responded to subpoena requests made to the Agency under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I was utilized as a “mentor” to new attorneys, and, upon request, regularly reviewed the work of my peers. In addition, I acted as the liaison between the Region VI OGC office and the Department of Justice for the Northern District of Texas. I received numerous awards, including, but not limited to, the Quality Service Award, an Individual Performance Award, and a Special Act or Service Award.

Columbus Realty Trust 1996-1997

Property Manager

I worked as a part-time property manager for Columbus Realty Trust during the end of my second year and beginning of my third year in law school. In this position, I managed a 124 unit condominium property. As the manager of this property, I was responsible for leasing all units owned by the management company, as well as collecting all rent (including evictions) and balancing the books. I assisted in writing the budget for the property and managed a staff of two. I also represented the management company (owners of 60 of the units) at Home Owners Association (HOA) meetings. I ensured the exterior of all units on the property was clean, attractive and properly cared for.

Texas Department of Human Services -- Aged and Disabled 1995-1996

Case Worker

During my second year of law school, I worked fulltime as a case worker for the Texas Department of Human Services. As a case worker, I was responsible for investigating and verifying the income and resources of clients seeking help from the Agency with matters involving Medicare and Medicaid.

Dallas County District Attorney's Office 1995

Family Violence Coordinator / Legal Intern

I worked with the Dallas District Attorney's Office my first year of law school. As the office's Family Violence Coordinator, I met with victims of domestic violence regarding the prosecution of the alleged assailant.

University of Texas at Arlington 1990-1993

Student worker - Business Office

As a student worker at the University's business office, I balanced student accounts. I also answered questions and helped to resolve disputes with students over balances owed for classes taken. I performed this work while also attending the University full time as a student.

Trammel Crow Company

Multi-Family Property Management 1984 - 1989

Property Manager (1985-1989)

Leasing Agent (1984 - 1985)

I began my career with Trammel Crow as a leasing agent/assistant manager. In this position I showed and leased vacant units. I excelled in leasing, winning awards for my work. I also learned to balance the books, and pay invoices. I ultimately performed all aspects of rent collection and resident retention as well. I was quickly promoted to property manager of a property having 164 units. In fact, at that time, I was the youngest person to work as a property manager for the company. This experience strengthened the knowledge I already had in the day to day management tasks involved in management of a multi-family property, and also allowed me to develop experience in the management of personnel, including leasing agents, maintenance workers, painters, make-ready persons, and cleaning crews. I also advanced my skills in marketing the property. After moving to a larger property having 324 units in approximately 1987. When I took over this property, the property had many delinquent rentals and high turn-over, with a high vacancy rate. However, after being there approximately seven months, all rents were being paid timely and the property was occupied between 98 to 100%. At this property I managed a staff of nine employees. As a result of my success at this property, I was promoted to the first Senior Property Management position in the Company. This promotion required me to manage two properties at the same time, each located in different parts of the city. My last years with this company provided me with experience writing budgets for the multi-million dollar assets that I managed. To advance further with the company required that I obtain a college degree.

Bennigan's Grill and Tavern 1983-1984

Waitress

My first job after graduating from high school was as a waitress at Bennigan's Grill and Tavern in Arlington, Texas. I loved this job and it provided me with so many skills that still benefit me today. Successful waitressing requires the ability to communicate with people of all socio and economic backgrounds. I learned to work as a team with the other servers and managers. Working this job also improved my self-esteem and allowed me to overcome shyness. I often expedited food by calling out food orders for the cooks, and running food for other servers. I learned to multi-task very well. I also learned to be of help to my co-workers and also ask for help from them when needed.

Education:

Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas -- Doctorate: Jan. 1998

University of Texas, Arlington, Texas -- Bachelor of Arts: May 1993

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