Legal Secretary/Assistant, Proofreading, Typing, General Office

Education

Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant Program

Renton Technical College

April 2007 to April 2008

• Familiar with legal terminology and transcription.

• Typing speed 60 wpm.

• Work well with MS Office Word, Outlook

• Have some knowledge of MS Office Access and Excel.

• Can prepare letters, memos, envelopes, labels, pleadings, and briefs.

• Can open, organize, index and close files.

• Familiar with legal resources and citations.

• Completed law office procedures courses including ethics, confidentiality, telephone and receptionist duties, handling mail, records management and client intake.

• Very skilled in proof-reading and editing (in fact, I enjoy it!)

Soft Skills and Important Traits

• Old Fashioned Work Ethic

• Dependable

• Reliable

• Honest

• Excellent communication, written and oral

• Strong public relations skills

• Patience

• Tolerance

• Great listener

• Calm and even tempered

• Ability to work under stress

• Great attitude

• Maturity

• Great life skills

• Work and play well with others

• Flexibility

Work Experience

General Office

Type 60-65 wpm

Data Entry

Cashier

Journalism (Interviews, writing)

Proofreading

Editing

Elder/Disabled Care

Work History

(Nearly every position I have had has required a background check and confidentiality agreements)

Care Giver (Full Time and On-Call)

State of Washington DSHS/COPES Program

December 2004 to December 2006

▪ Cared for stroke patient in her home providing physical, mental and emotional support, and tended to daily hygiene needs; worked with therapists and doctors to best provide care for patient’s health, mobility, and emotional well-being.

▪ Was responsible for administering patient medications and monitoring overall condition of patient; kept detailed daily records of medications, vital signs, solid and liquid intake and outgo; carefully watched for, and reported changes in physical and mental health.

▪ Worked with government, medical and insurance agencies, sometimes working through red tape and opposition, to obtain equipment and supplies necessary for superior patient care; reported concerns and followed up with physician, nurses, and DSHS. Background check required

Care Giver (while on medical hiatus)

October 2001 to October 2004

▪ Sustained serious injury to right hand and was confined to plaster casts for two years following multiple surgeries. During rehabilitation was able to care for stroke patient and provided services similar to the duties listed above. Supervised two caregivers who also assisted this patient.

Cashier and Floor Clerk

McLendon’s Hardware

Renton, Washington

January 1999 to March 2001

▪ Explained use, quality, and pros and cons of various products to customer.

▪ Handled cash and made 300 to 400 transactions per day.

▪ Helped inventory, stock and face shelves in all departments.

Pertinent Previous Work Experience

1978-1984

Newspaper journalist and editor/radio news director

Skills used

• Editing

• Proofreading

• Typesetting

• Writing articles or newscasts (hard news and human relations)

• Interviewing

• Investigation

1985-1987

I was the sole international motor home reservationist for U-Haul in the northwest.

• Responsible for talking to people in many different countries and handling their reservations as they came into the United States.

• Tracked all available motor homes, scheduled upkeep and maintenance.

• I was also responsible for follow-up communication to make sure service and motor home were up to standards, and to discuss future reservations.

Skills used

• Communication, written and oral

• Organization

1989-1996

I re-entered the workforce in elder care with the state COPES program,

• I provided support services to elders needing help in their homes, with personal care and chores.

• Worked with confidential personal information, records and reports.

This led to an invitation to apply to Washington State Services for the Blind.

• I assisted visually impaired counselors with transportation

• Assisted with observation of visually impaired clients, and helped set up rehabilitation services and resources.

• Helped with assessments and plans to help clients succeed in their future endeavors and goals.

This in turn, led to a request that I apply for the position of counselor assistant at Thunderbird Treatment Center, (Seattle Indian Health Board) working with children ages 13 – 18 in inpatient treatment.

• I was responsible for confidential records and files.

• I was also responsible for working with the children to help them learn how to live in a 'normal' environment, as opposed to the street life, or the detrimental home life they had come from.

• I often had to make decisions regarding behavior or need. Some situations required advice or help from the entire treatment team, as we each had different strengths and insights.

Skills used

• Tolerance and patience

• Organization and setting priorities

• Teamwork

• Observation

I was injured by a client who picked me up in a bear hug and swung me around. My neck was injured and I left that position.

After recovering from that injury I worked as a waitress and bartender, until I went to work at Mclendon's Hardware in Renton.

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