Paralegal / Legal Assistant / Legal Secretary

BARB NICHOLAS

Address: **** ******* ****, ***** *****, 75002 Phone: 214-***-**** or 903-***-****

OBJECTIVE & SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE:

Energetic, team orientated, and highly experienced paralegal/legal secretary seeking position which offers real opportunity and challenge. Over seventeen years of proven experience in complex civil litigation, estate planning, criminal, family law, employment law, personal injury, medical malpractice, commercial law, appellate litigation, and dispute resolution. Extensive working knowledge of state and federal court procedures, discovery document management including, but not limited to, preparation of and responses to discovery, pleading/motion drafting, fact finding and investigative research, and trial preparation. Willing to travel.

EMPLOYMENT:

PARALEGAL/LEGAL SECRETARY 07/08 – 02/09

Schultz & Associates, P.C.

Dallas, Texas

Responsible for drafting correspondence, pleadings, briefs, motions, orders, discovery requests and responses, as well as maintaining docket in patent and trademark infringement lawsuits. Prepare patent and trademark documents for filing with the USPTO. Provide assistance and administrative support to attorneys in all aspects of intellectual property law.

PARALEGAL 12/07-06/08

The Carpenter Law Firm, P.C. Plano, Texas

Responsible for drafting correspondence, pleadings, briefs, motions, orders, discovery responses and requests, maintaining calendar, scheduling and coordinating hearings, depositions, client meetings, inspections with experts, making travel arrangements, coordinating with court personnel, clients, opposing counsel and witnesses. Provide assistance and administrative support to attorneys in all aspects of civil litigation primarily in the area of subrogation law.

PARALEGAL/LEGAL SECRETARY 03/05-12/07

David M. Stagner, PC Sherman, Texas

Provided clerical support, legal assistance and administrative support to solo practitioner, including document preparation and review, research, and litigation support. Drafted and answered discovery, prepared briefs and pleadings, interview clients, retained experts, made travel arrangements, scheduled hearings and coordinated with court personnel, and witnesses in the areas of complex civil litigation, probate matters, family law, criminal law, contract disputes, personal injury, professional liability, employment law, commercial litigation, estate planning, guardianships, probate proceedings, appellant proceedings and dispute resolution.

LEGAL SECRETARY 07/03-03/05

Gardere Wynne Sewell, L.L.P. Dallas, Texas

Provided assistance and administrative support to three attorneys, which included, but was not limited to, document preparation and review, research and litigation support in the areas of employment labor law litigation. I also assisted in providing employment policy assistance to corporate clients, which included drafting of Affirmative Action Policies and Plans. I attended meetings for the firm, clients and witnesses. I also drafted pleadings, briefs, responded to discovery, maintained calendars, scheduled meetings, hearings and coordinated with court personnel.

PARALEGAL/LEGAL SECRETARY 02/95-07/03

Stagner & Corley, P.C. Sherman, Texas

Provided assistance and administrative support to all attorneys, including two partners. Preparation and review of all documents coming into or going out of our office, provided research and litigation support in areas of general civil litigation, complex civil litigation, commercial litigation, family law, contested probate matters, estate planning and criminal law. Interviewed clients, attended court hearings, depositions, meetings. Drafted briefs, drafted and answered correspondence and various discovery, maintained calendars, participated in dispute resolution, interacted with court personnel and made travel arrangements.

PARALEGAL 09/93-01/95

Bonnie Baker, Attorney at Law

Redding, California

Provide clerical support, legal assistance and administrative support to solo practitioner, including document preparation and review, research, and litigation support. Drafted pleadings and correspondence, interview clients, scheduled hearings and coordinated with court personnel in the areas of personal injury, family law, juvenile law and bankruptcy pleadings.

LEGAL SECRETARY 10/92-07/94

The Law Offices of John Sandquist

Redding, California

PARALEGAL 10/92-07/94

W.H. McCormick Paralegal Office

Redding, California

This was an attorney’s office and a Paralegal’s office in which people who could not afford attorneys could come to me and I would fill out their paperwork and let them represent themselves in the areas of family law and bankruptcy. I was also the legal secretary for the solo practitioner in the office to whom I would provide clerical support, legal assistance and administrative support including, but not limited to, document preparation and review, research, and litigation support. Drafted pleadings and correspondence, interview clients, scheduled hearings and coordinated with court personnel in the areas of workers’ compensation and personal injury. I was also the office manager for this office so I had to interview, hire, supervise and train new employees.

EDUCATION:

SHASTA COLLEGE - GRADUATE 6/92 AA - LEGAL ASSISTANT Redding, California

SKILLS:

• Turn- key experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation, family law, contested probate matters, estate planning, and criminal litigation

• Proficiency in multiple legal software platforms and hardware, including Word, Word Perfect, Excel, and Outlook, Internet and Web site development, AA Planner, Abacus, Amicus, and Prodoc.

• Typing - 80 wpm

References available upon request.

Contact this candidate