Ms. Melissa A. Festa

Objective

To obtain an entry-level paralegal or legal assistant position in an law-related environment.

Education

American Institute for Paralegal Studies, 10/07-present. GPA of 94.7/100. Awarded Certificates of Distinction in Torts and Personal Injury, Estates and Trust Law, and Legal Research and Writing. Experienced with Lexis Nexis. Expected graduation date March 2009 (one course remaining).

Masters in Education, University of Bridgeport, 1997

Bachelors in English, University of Connecticut, 1991

Skills & Attributes

Legal research & writing

Discreet with sensitive information

Familiar with MS office

Time & project management

Effective spoken and written communication

Record management

Productive independently & as a team

Lexis Nexis

Recent Relevant Experience

Elementary School Teacher Highland Elementary School, Sanford, NC (2005-2008)

• Established positive and effective rapport and relationships with colleagues and parents of all backgrounds

• Coordinated lesson goals with grade level team through weekly team building meetings

• Prioritized group and individual goals to maximize effectiveness and achieve tight curriculum deadlines

• Managed highly confidential file and database information with access to over 1700 student records

• Initiated daily written, phone, and face to face correspondence with parents and families

Administrative Assistant to School Director Temple Israel Religious School, Westport, CT (2003-2005)

• Performed all aspects of office management for Hebrew school with an enrollment of 600 students

• Developed positive relationships with colleagues and members of community

• Managed timely postal, email, and fax correspondence with Temple members, supervisors, and colleagues

• Prioritized multiple time sensitive projects independently

• Generated frequent mail merge mailings for entire school and specific segments of Temple community

• Learned new database, transferred student information, registered students, and maintained current data

• Maintained sensitive records containing personal and financial information on a daily basis

Editorial Assistant Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, CT (February to July 2003)

• Assisted five acquisition editors, accommodated others on request

• Read partial manuscripts

• Researched academic reviewers, authors, and book series

• Managed heavy phone and email correspondence with authors and editors, both foreign and domestic

References and work experience prior to 2003 are available upon request.

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