Lu-Ann G. Downes

Baytown, TX *****

adzf6h@r.postjobfree.com. 404-***-**** (c)

Paralegal ~ Legal Assistant

Skillful and dynamic Paralegal professional with demonstrated capacity to provide comprehensive, executive-level support within a legal environment.

Organized and efficient Paralegal with 17+ years of experience providing legal, administrative, and clerical support. Experienced in assisting lawyers in drafting legal documents, research, and trial preparation. Adept at developing and maintaining detailed administrative and procedural processes that reduce redundancy, improve accuracy and efficiency, and achieve organizational objectives.

Skills and Competencies

Legal Research Litigations Attention to Detail Proofreading & Editing Office Administration Report Generation Timeliness Negotiation Trial Preparation Billing & Collections Case Management Oral & Written Communications Laws & Regulations Due Diligence I Risk Analysis Database Management Project Lifecycle Class Action Mass Torts E-Discovery E-filing- Appellate, Federal and State Courts Rapid Government Software 2.0 Government Software HAIQ SharePoint Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook) Systems: Lexis/Nexis, Pacer, Trial Works, I Manage, Rapid, HAIQ, CDF, Neighborly Software

Professional Experience

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Workforce Group (Contractor)

QA/QC Specialist (Remote), 4/2023-6/2023

Reviewed applications for quality and comprehensiveness to be pushed for payment through Neighborly

Audited case files for errors, missing documents, or missing information to ensure every file is complete and accurate before submission for approval

Communicated with both tenants and landlords regarding developments in cases for tenants seeking rental assistance

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Authority

LHH/IEM (Contractor)

Servicing Specialist (Remote), 05/2022-03/2023

Performed research to obtain the contact information for third-party providers to complete the debt verification process

Created and maintain servicer onboarding process and policies

Maintained third-party provider Smartsheet that houses servicer information and required onboarding documents

Reviewed W-9 and ACH documents from third-party providers for accuracy and completeness

Performed quality review of applicant documents to ensure that the documents are completed in accordance with PAHAF program guidelines

Completed analysis of disbursements for each applicant to ensure that awarded disbursements remain under program cap

Managed a caseload of 1000+ applications to complete debt verification with a QC rating of 99%

U.S. Small Business Administration

Special Counsel &IEM/Highlight Technologies (Contractor)

Legal Assistant (Remote), 04/2020-12/2021

Maintained and updated funding spreadsheet with new file assignments

Prepared and reviewed legal and loan documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with SBA overarching policies, to assist individual borrowers with residential and business loans

Performed clerical functions focused on answering inquiries promptly, handling sensitive information securely and professionally, and dealing with controversial issues tactfully

Law Offices of Lee J. Rohn & Associates

Paralegal (Remote), 08/2013–12/2019

Provided administrative support to attorneys in all aspects of litigation management, including document preparation, trial preparation, and client support

Managed business calendars, contact lists, appointments, client interviews, court hearings, mediation, depositions, phone conferences, meetings, and travel arrangements

Utilized legal billing software to record attorney activities to present formal billing statements to clients.

Provided comprehensive legal support to general counsel, including due diligence reviews, contract negotiations, trial preparation, document and database management, and risk management

Georgia Department of Law, Atlanta, GA

Paralegal, 11/2012–05/2013

Prepared documentation necessary for cases to include: real estate purchases and sale closings, reviewed amendments, leases, subleases or purchase assignments, title insurance and tax bills, promissory agreements, legal descriptions of property and title affidavits, distributed real estate documents, conducting research, analyzing title documents and explaining real estate codes to clients

Examined documents and coded evidentiary database to gather information and support proceedings of lawsuits using LexisNexis and other search tools.

Researched and answered customer complaints, affidavits, court subpoenas, and interrogatories.

Law Office of Johnny A. Gaspard, P.L.L.C

Paralegal, 10/2010-10/2012

Calendared and scheduled: hearings, mediation, depositions, phone conferences, meetings

Dictation of documents to include: correspondence, memos and outgoing documents and acknowledged hearing requests

Prepared, drafted and finalized documents to include: complaints, notice of appearance, subpoenas, motions to withdraw, motions for summary judgment, motions to dismiss and settlement agreements

Organized and maintained case files to include: updating client information, notes, emails, miscellaneous documents

General office duties to include: filing, copying, scanning and faxing.

Researched factual and legal issues for the Attorneys

Law Offices of Lee J. Rohn & Carpenter

Legal Assistant, 8/2005-10/2010

Calendared and scheduled: Client interviews, court hearings, mediations, depositions, phone conferences, meetings and travel arrangements

Drafted documents to include: interrogatories and requests for production of documents, complaints, notice of appearance, subpoenas, motion for summary judgment, motion to withdraw and motion to dismiss

Deposition summarization

Education and Credentials

Associates of Applied Business in Paralegal Studies (2012) - Brown Mackie College – Atlanta, GA

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