Ellen Nicholson, CP

**** ****** *****

Sarasota, FL 34243

941-***-**** phone

rew5l0@r.postjobfree.com

Summary of Litigation Paralegal Skills

• NALA Certification

• Communications Expert:

o Draft and prepare correspondence and legal documents

o Schedule and calendar trial dates, hearings, depositions and meetings

o Participate and conduct client interviews

• Technological Expert: Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Outlook

• Discovery Expert: Draft discovery requests and answers; obtain and analyze evidence from the parties and third parties; prepare motions to compel

Employment History

Nelson Hesse, LLP, Sarasota, FL October 2005 to December 2008

Civil Litigation Paralegal, representing corporations and companies, insurance companies, and individuals as plaintiffs and defendants in business, commercial and contract law and some personal injury matters. Duties:

• Drafting and preparation of legal documents and correspondence;

• Scheduling and calendaring of court trial dates, hearings, depositions and meetings;

• Coordination of filing of court documents via on-line, mail, email, fax and in-person;

• Preparation of discovery – to and from opposing parties;

• Preparation of subpoenas for records, depositions and trials and other trial preparation;

• Schedule mediations for Mediator and prepare mediation documents and correspondence; coordination of mediator invoicing;

• Drafting and preparation of releases, settlement documents, and proposed court orders;

• Coordination with process servers and court reporters;

• Coordination and preparation of hearing and trial documents for judges and opposing counsel;

• Preparation of tables of authorities and tables of contents for appeals;

• Legal Research and other investigative tasks;

• Receipt and review of attorney mail;

• Participation in initial client interviews and conflict checks;

• Supervise vendor invoice payments;

• Preparation of time records and other record keeping.

Vengroff Williams & Associates, Sarasota, FL February 2005 to September 2005

Civil Litigation Paralegal, representing creditors in collection matters. Duties:

• Coordinate communication between outside counsel and clients on past due accounts;

• Investigate debtor addresses for process servers and outside counsel.

Burton, Schulte, Weekley, Hoeler & Beytin, Tampa, FL April 2003 to February 2004

Civil Litigation Assistant/Secretary, representing insurance companies in defense of medical malpractice and some personal injury matters. Duties:

• Preparation of responses to discovery, requests for records, answers, motions, pleadings, settlement documents, proposed court orders, case status reports, and correspondence;

• Receipt and review of attorney mail;

• Supervise vendor invoice payments.

Neal Gerber & Eisenberg, Chicago, IL September 2000 to September 2002

Civil Litigation Assistant, representing corporate clients as both plaintiff and defendant in environmental, labor and employment, securities, and family law matters. Duties:

• Preparation of correspondence and legal documents; responses to discovery, and proposed court orders, coordinate filing of court documents;

• Preparation for trial and/or arbitrations/mediations;

• Receipt and review of attorney mail;

• Scheduling and calendaring of meetings and court dates;

• Preparation of time records and other record keeping;

• Supervise vendor invoice payments.

Bellows and Bellows, PC, Chicago, IL September 1994 to September 2000

Civil Litigation Assistant, representing corporations, companies, brokerage firms and individuals as plaintiffs and defendants in employment, securities, business and family law. Duties:

• Preparation of legal documents and correspondence;

• Coordination of filing of court documents;

• Preparation of tables of authorities and tables of contents for appeals;

• Preparation for trial and/or arbitrations/mediations;

• Preparation of subpoenas for records, depositions and trials;

• Drafting and preparation of releases, settlement documents, and proposed court orders;

• Receipt and review of attorney mail;

• Supervise vendor invoice payments;

• Preparation of time records and other record keeping.

Education, Certifications and Honors

Bachelor of Arts, English, University of South Florida

National Association of Legal Assistants — Certification

Associates Degree, Paralegal Studies, Southwest Florida College

University of South Florida — Golden Key, Mortar Board, and Sigma Tau Delta Honor Societies

Southwest Florida College — Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society

Activities and Organizations

Treasurer, Suncoast Chapter – Paralegal Association of Florida

Contact this candidate