Real Estate Software
Resume:
CHRISTINE M. OPAL
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
SUMMARY
Legal Secretary with over 30 years of Civil Litigation, Workers' Compensation, Social Security, Veterans, Real Estate and Municipal law experience.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky 4/07-3/11
Legal Assistant
Provided support for one partner in the areas of real estate, school and municipal law, while also providing support for two associates in civil litigation and contract cases. Provided support for additional partner for periods of time.
Prepared legal documents for all cases
Formatting of documents and troubleshooting prepared documents
Utilization of Hummingbird, OmniPage, Time Matters and Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word and Excel
Preparation of complex legal documents, including briefs, reproduced records and appendices for state and appellate courts
Handled assigned attorneys' schedules, including travel
Organization and preparation of new files, maintenance and documentation in existing files
Use of scanning and OmniPage document software
Rotating backup on switchboard duty when necessary
Electronic filing of documents in District and Common Pleas Court
Internet research
Organization and analysis of large discovery productions.
Provided backup support for all attorneys
Internet and telephone research regarding real estate issues, mortgage histories; handling of property preservation issues on foreclosed properties
Abes Baumann, PC 5/06-12/06
Legal Secretary
Prepared legal documents and support for Workers' Compensation, Social Security and Veterans cases
Utilization of Needles case management software
Preparation of complex legal documents, including briefs and reproduced records for appeals
Handled attorney's schedule, including travel
Organization and preparation of new files, maintenance and documentation in existing files
Dictation for group pool system
Use of Scantrip document software
Main backup for new client intakes for Workers' Compensation, Social Security and Veterans cases
Filing of online documents in Workers' Compensation cases
Utilization of Quick & Easy software for Workers' Compensation filing documents
Internet search
Main phone backup
Manion McDonough & Lucas, PC 2/04-1/06
Senior Legal Secretary
Prepared complex legal documents, Bankruptcy, Orphan's, Supreme and Superior Court materials and pleadings
Handled senior attorney's schedule, including travel; scheduling and set-up of conference calls, depositions and mediations
Organization, preparation and maintenance of complex files and information for trial, exhibits and/or settlement discussions
Digesting of deposition and trial transcripts
Use of DataWorks dictation system
Performed internet and legal research
Handled overflow from four senior partners
Computer troubleshooting for assigned attorneys
Timekeeping and preparation of monthly billing letters
Internet Court records search and e-filing
Phone coverage 10-12 hours per month
Bashline & Hutton (formerly Baginski & Bashline) 4/78-6/03
(In-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company)
Senior Legal Secretary
4/84-6/03
Prepared complex litigation documents in insurance defense cases at various court levels, workers’ compensation materials, and other typing tasks, including composing letters, memos, and pleadings
Handled several attorneys’ schedules, coordinating and initiating scheduling depositions and meetings
Handled a wide variety of telephone inquiries without supervision
Reviewed incoming mail, respond when necessary
Performed legal research
Handled all areas of the office law library
Office computer coordinator, knowledgeable in operation of many computer programs
Handled troubleshooting on all computer-related problems for office
Trained employees on the various facets of the computer
Performed extensive work in timekeeping, file management and record-keeping systems, including inputting daily time data for the entire office
Created forms and templates used internally and in other Liberty Mutual Insurance Company offices
Skilled in recognizing potential difficulties and creating solutions
Train new staff members
Clerk/Secretary 9/80-4/84
Created files, copied and filed all correspondence
Delivery trips
Up-keep of attorneys’ offices
Empty out-boxes and distributed correspondence
Performed court filing responsibilities
Typed workers’ compensation petitions and answers
Typed correspondence from dictation and hand-written materials
Legal Clerk 4/78-9/80
Created files, copied and filed all correspondence
Delivery trips
Up-keep of attorneys’ offices
Emptied out-boxes and distributed correspondence
Performed court filing responsibilities
Performed light secretarial duties
SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE
Needles Case Management software, Quick & Easy Workers' Compensation software, Scan-Trip Workers' Compensation software, Pa. Department of Labor & Industry electronic submission, DataWorks Dictation Software, Microsoft Word, Extra, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Word Perfect, Exacct (expense), Adobe, OmniPage, Time Matters, E-mail systems, various timekeeping software, various scheduling software. E-filing training and participation for District and Common Pleas Court.
EDUCATION
Attended Penn State University for Paralegal courses
References and letter of recommendation furnished upon request.
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