Litigation Paralegal Legal Assistant
Resume:
Brenda Otazu
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Bachelor of Art in Legal Studies Candidate and Pre litigation Paralegal experience of 5 years.
Motivated to currently improve and extend personal skills to and knowledge to attain increased responsibility and opportunities for professional growth. Experienced Paralegal successful at prioritizing diverse range of tasks and balancing demands of multiple high profile Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Attorneys. Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley
Pre litigation Paralegal
January 2022- Present
-Draft Demands
-Draft closing statements
-Negotiate bills
-Support team of 2 attorneys in complex
civil litigation matters, managing
caseload of 50- 65 active cases
-Draft and file pleadings, motions, and
discovery documents
-Maintain electronic and physical filing
systems for 300+ client matters
-Coordinate with expert witnesses, court
reporters, and outside counsel to
schedule depositions and hearings
-Scheduled client meetings, maintained
attorney calendars, and answered
phones
-Prepared legal documents under
attorney supervision
-Organized and digitized client files,
reducing physical storage needs.
-Handled sensitive client information with
strict confidentiality
-Serve as primary point of contact for
major clients, maintaining relationships
and coordinating communication
-Excelled in client relations and increased
influx of new clients who would seek out
our attorney based on the reviews clients
left on our firm’s website mentioning my
name based on the rapport built and the
success of my case management for my
attorney.
Law office of Darren Shull
(Closed because he is now Judge)
Paralegal/Legal Assistant to Litigating Trial Attorney(Previous Prosecutor/currently judge)
June 2021-October 2021
-Intense calendaring and preparing files for court.
-Drafted hearing letters to advise client whether appearance is required at court.
-Drafted advertising letters to potential new clients after looking at booking information every week.
-Advertised firm on social media platforms daily.
-Met with potential clients in person and via phone to access if their case met criteria to then meet with attorney.
-Provided interpretation and translation for phone conferences and in person conferences to translate for Spanish speaking clients meeting with the attorney to sign needed paperwork and receive settlement checks.
-Florida Registered Public Notary License & Remote Online Notary
-Scheduled Depositions, injunctions, hearings.
-Drafted Motions, Pleadings, Agreed Orders, Orders, Notice of appearances, Subpoenas to Appear, Affidavits, Engagements/Seals, DUI Hearings, Temporary driving permits after 30 day eligibility of hardship
Steinger, Greene and Feiner
Supervisor/Legal Assistant
8/2020-6/2021
-Case file maintenance, collecting and organizing documentation from insurance companies, hospitals, treating providers, police departments, drafting correspondence, etc.,
-Scheduled and prepared clients for recorded statements.
-Translated documents and interpreted during initial intake process, letters, mediations, and depositions etc.
-Reviewed and analyzed policy coverage limits for personal injury/slip and fall claims with varying degrees of complexity and severity.
-Investigated facts to obtain relevant issues necessary to determine causation, damages, and extent of injuries.
-Drafted correspondence, letters of protection and other legal instruments including following up with depositions etc.
-Communicated with insurance adjusters and outside counsel to reach a fair settlement for clients with specified limits. Performed legal research using reference materials generally available within a law library and electronic resource tools.
-Organized and prioritize workloads to accomplish daily task.
-Drafted correspondence to send to Spanish speaking clients to keep them updated on case status. Translated documents, retainer agreements and interpreted during initial intake process, letters, mediations, and depositions etc.
Precision Intake
(Closed due to COVID)
Legal Assistant
7/2019-3/2020
-Personal Injury Client Intake Firm responsible for serving as the first point of contact for prospective clients, current clients, and non-client callers.
-The office plays a vital role in determining the client's satisfaction from the initial point of interaction.
-Answering incoming calls, gathering pertinent information from caller and entering it accurately in the CRM platform while employing critical thinking skills to analyze information to determine the next step in the process.
-The specialist is responsible for making a great first and lasting impression.
-The specialist is required to memorize scripts, be professional, speak clearly over the phone, employ critical thinking skills, be able to pay attention to detail and be proficient in data entry. Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, & Zoeller
Legal Receptionist/Assistant
5/2009-5/2009
Relocated to NJ
-Complete various forms, such as accident reports and applications for clients.
-Drafted and typed office memos,
-Managed the calendar
-Scheduled appointments
-Managed busy switch board for multiple attorneys
-Assured all documents and confidential time sensitive correspondence was sent out and delivered to pertaining staff.
-Review legal publications and perform database searches to assist paralegals and attorneys.
Loving Home Care Agency
Medical Coordinator
4/2005-9/2008
Relocated to FL
-Staffed nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practicing Nurses, Certified Home Health Aides, companions to nursing homes, hospitals, and patient's homes.
-The agency staffed over 1000 aides for private cases and Medicare.
-Coordinated and scheduled referrals for new and existing home care services.
-Provided continuity of care in coordinating referrals.
-Communicated to each caregiver all pertinent information regarding client care.
-Kept caregiver calendars and client information accurate and current.
-Communicated to the Departmental Director all pertinent information regarding client/caregiver issues.
-Routinely interacted with personnel such as clients, family members, and care managers to facilitate home care services
-Coordinated and maintain weekly records of attendance for Home Health Aides.
-Provided administrative support to the president of the agency.
-Documented patient data in computer system.
-Created and executed numerous projects using excel and word.
-Facilitated communication between hospitals and nursing homes with Home Health Aides.
-Scheduled and greeted patients as well as potential aides, answered telephones, purchased supplies, performed data entry, and billing. Hudson County Department of Corrections
Internship(Translator & Assistant to the Sargent and Social Worker in Disciplinary Unit )
Internship concluded
-Intense documentation filing of medical and mental documents of inmates in disciplinary, chronic violation, Discharge, and not guilty.
-Documentation updates
-Assisted State licensed personnel review cases during hearings required for inmates pending determination of days in lock down
-Provided translation for inmates during hearings pending determination of days in lock down.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies/Psychology
Bergen College
Paramus, NJ
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Hudson County College
Jersey City, NJ
High School Diploma
Kearny High School
Kearny, NJ
Certifications & Licenses:
-FL Registered Public Notary(English/Spanish)
-Remote Public Notary
Skills:
-Translated documents and contracts from English to Spanish and vice versa for attorneys and clients
-Interpreted on important calls for potential clients for attorneys
Contact this candidate