Legal Assistant Case Management
Resume:
Yolanda Bonner Thompson
JB Andrews, MD ***** / 202-***-****/ *************@*****.***
Driven and professional paralegal with 9+ years of experience in legal documents, drafting
contracts/documents, time-management, organizational skills & attention to detail.
WORK EXPERIENCE
U.S. Department of Justice / Washington, DC / February 2022 – May 2023
Paralegal
Performed the following duties as a paralegal reviewing files, documents and contracts in the Tax Division. In charge of maintaining files, contracts, either from the database or loads of paper file. Communicates well with internal personnel dealing with the contracts/documents with the legal teams assigned to and external contacts (i.e., superior courts, district courts, federal courts, etc.), or other representatives of the client(s) involved in the legal matter.
Assume the responsibilities of ensuring confidentiality of sensitive documents.
Making sure paperwork (i.e., spreadsheets, contracts, etc.) is updated daily or as needed to monitor the progress of the contracts and whether the issue will continue to a federal trial, or a successful agreement between the government and the opposing personnel(s).
Maintain outstanding organizational skills in files and electronic files and give oral briefing to the team to ensure communication always remains at the highest level.
Always keep the attorneys and other personnel involved with the case informed of any changes that might occur.
Supervisor: Mr. Tyrone Bowie / 202-***-****
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services / Arlington, VA / October 2020 – February 2021 Legal Assistant
Performed the following duties as Legal Assistant/Hearing Clerk in receiving Administrative Law Judge folders where I entered the Medicare Appeals System (MAS) date from the mid-level adjudicating appeal section.
I identify discrepancies within the file while conducting research to resolve procedural issues and contact the lower level adjudicating legal assistant when files do not contain information needed to proceed at my level of appeal.
I maintain case files in the ECAPE (Electronic Case Adjudication and Processing Environment), events, and materials related to the case to prevent delays in scheduling hearings for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
Case management: Case file – initiate and closure of file(s), extensive research, intake and compile information, indexing documents for easier review, case briefs review, monitor and update information, pre-trial preparation and post-trial assist and assistance during trial (if needed).
Bonner Thompson
If needed, I will contact the appellant or the representative for the appellant (e.g., attorney, family member, etc.) to secure documents available for their appeal. I continue to monitor hearing schedules, track timely notifications, and notify parties/participants that are legally involved in the case.
Before the hearing, ensure all parties are present during the specified date and time and inform the ALJ and other team members if the appellants/parties cannot attend the hearing as scheduled. I will then cancel the hearing and reschedule at a later date and time that is feasible for the parties and the government. I make records of the parties present to include witnesses on behalf of the client, summarize events (in case of audio failure), and important points made during the hearing in my notes while ensuring pertinent data on hearing proceedings and outcomes.
I arrange the electronic administrative records exhibits to identify all the evidence considered in making the ALJ decision, including all materials received in the case file. Set up a hearing room according to protocols. Still, during the pandemic, I arrange for telephone hearings and ensure audio equipment is set up appropriately and in operational condition.
I communicate effectively with team members in meetings or make quick decisions about all aspects involving the team. I volunteer assistance to other groups if they need extra help to meet deadlines to prepare files/contracts and ensure timely and efficient adjudication of the Medicare appeals. I inform my superiors of any discrepancies and respect their decision and guidance in proceeding in circumstances that appear unexpectantly.
Supervisor: Ms. Cheryl Jones-Gross / 240-***-****
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate / Ft. Moore, GA / June 2015 – October 2020
Legal Assistant
Performed the following duties as Legal Assistant for the Staff Judge Advocate's Office, combined with experience and education. While assigned to a cavalry brigade, I gather data from military and commercial sources to complete the assignment, examine documents and contracts to ensure contract is ready to be signed by higher military officials, and proof-read/site check to correct any grammatical errors to prevent delays.
Case Management – from start to finish I analyze pertinent cases from high to low priority while tracking issues on the legal tracker/calendar of assigned active files and updating data as needed while handling a high volume of documents by strategically planning and organizing workload to process promptly. Prepare cases or testimonies for court or administrative proceedings while summarizing case reports about legal issues, obtaining factual evidence of assigned records(s), copy documents, and managing all files for review by the attorney(s).
Assist attorney(s) in interviewing expert witnesses, government, and defense witnesses, and summarizing narrative statements regarding pertinent testimonies. Prepare conference rooms for Article 32 hearings, by checking and securing equipment, ensuring recording devices are set up and checked before hearing, notify witnesses, and that all designated personnel are present to prevent delays.
Bonner Thompson
Receive final deposition from the Article 32 Hearing Officer whether to proceed to trial or submit memorandum issuing no probable cause for conviction. If there is a probable cause, begin trial preparation. These actions may include cases ranging from domestic abuse, drug possession to distributing, aggravated assault, sexual assault, absent without leave, child abuse, and other criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Arrange paperwork, evidence, tag exhibits, assemble important information as requested, observe courtroom activities, continue to perform administrative duties during trial proceedings, assist with post trials instructions and documents. I always keep counsel informed of any delays or corrections to packets recommended by the Chain of Command and follow instructions by the counsel for further guidance as needed.
Set up meetings between attorney and client(s) via telephone, Webex, or in person. Reach out to court clerks about trial dates or any changes and consult with the trial attorney for pretrial instructions to ensure accuracy.
Assist commanders and first sergeants in gathering information to draft General Officer Memorandum of Reprimands (GOMOR), Article 15’s, Officer Eliminations, and Enlisted Separation packets per regulations, citing other citations and present completed packets through the Chain of Command to the Separating Convening Authority. Prepared Administration Separation Packets for enlisted Service Members to be reviewed by Administration Law attorney(s) for legal review and forward to transition center for processing and preparing orders to discharge service members from the military.
Forward Officer Elimination packets to the Criminal Law division Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) to be upload through Human Resource Command (HRC) for final review. Upload/Update all final decisions in the Military Justice Online (MJO) through the JAGCNET website and keep paper files for the three years in the legal office per the Army Records Information Management System (ARIMS).
I also perform the duties to research effectively while analyzing and organizing incoming and outgoing correspondence. Receive office phone calls, take messages, respond to requests for routine information, and refer the caller to the appropriate staff member or attorney for assistance. Provides administrative support for ordering and receiving supplies, services, equipment, receiving reports, receiving calls, and taking messages for the staff.
I am a Notary Public, compose Special Power of Attorney(s) (POA) for military personnel and spouses to determine the request's type. I have experience utilizing Lexis Advance, Westlaw, Blue Book, Microsoft Word, Spread Sheets, PowerPoint, and other commercial software.
Supervisor: Colonel Lane A. Bomar 760-***-****)
Department of Justice / Washington, DC / September 2012 – August 2013
Paralegal
Performed the following duties as a Paralegal for the Antitrust Division. I demonstrated and excelled in the following responsibilities:
Legal research/analysis and writing by utilizing Westlaw Classic, Westlaw Next, and LexisNexis. Demonstrate the ability and trustworthiness of performing independently without supervision on assignment(s) delegated from my superiors.
Bonner Thompson
Provide critical litigation support as part of an antitrust litigation team, including 3-5 attorneys and other paralegal specialists in the group engaging in multi-million-dollar contract(s) cases on behalf of the U.S. Government.
Receives assignments from the lead attorney and organize assignment(s) from low to high priority by analyzing the landscape of the project and investigating corporations initiating to merge into one corporation. Perform research through Lexis Advance, Westlaw Advance transcripts, and the internet to supply needed information for inclusion in memorandums, briefs, contracts and other legal documents.
Duties include faxing authorization into the Department of Justice Call Conference Center to obtain assigned phone line and call-in code(s). Forward information to clients(s)/competitor(s) of the meeting(s), distribute copies to the legal team informing date and time of the forum and ensure the assigned conference room is available.
Take notes during an interview via telephone conference or party meetings, initiate Memorandum of the assigned meeting(s), forward Memo(s) to the Lead Attorney for review/approval for processing or disposition of the case, and file documents/Memo(s) in iManage folder as instructed by Lead Attorney. File information of assigned case(s), closing and maintaining case files, set up the calendar for team meetings or appointments for the team to review while updating the calendar of any changes.
Conducting preliminary research and background on individual companies or organizations about the assigned case(s) and maintaining information for the team. Maintain spreadsheets of calls to customers or competitors and inform the Lead Attorney of any customer(s) that preferred not to be interviewed by the Department of Justice.
Assist the Lead Attorney with citing specific questions from a deposition and return designated questions for the attorney to check by giving the page number and the line number of the answer found in the deposition file (which may contain 250+ pages). Review assigned documents, compiled and cited pertinent information to be forward to team members, compose relevant details of the given case, and prepare surveys of companies involved in the transaction.
Inform the Lead Attorney of any complications or foreseeing any delays about caseloads or new issues that might have occurred.
Supervisor: Mr. Steve Duplicki 202-***-****
EDUCATION
May 2017 American Military University
Manassas, VA
Master of Arts in Legal Studies
May 2007 Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
Bachelor of Arts in History
Cum Laude
AFFILIATIONS
Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Studies – Member
Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society – Member
Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society – Member
Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, International – Member
SECURITY CLEARANCE
Secret
REFERENCES
1. Anthony Franklyn
Attorney
***************@*****.***
2. Jennifer Rounds
Paralegal
********.********@*****.***
3. Lorri McCullum Lohmann
Registered Nurse, BSN
********@*****.***
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