Shawn Patrick Southard *******@*****.***
**** ******* ***** | Pottstown | PA | 19464 | tel: 215-***-****
OBJECTIVE: Certified Paralegal with excellent management and client relationship skills seeking a position within a corporate legal department where a working knowledge of legal terminology, general law, and legal proceedings will be utilized and expanded for a firm’s betterment.
EDUCATION: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, PA | Graduation: August 2009
Bachelor of Business Administration, Cum Laude, Legal Studies
GPA: 3.49, Major GPA: 3.79, Dean’s List: Fall 2007 | Spring 2008 | Spring 2009
Coursework in English and Management Information Systems
BOSTON UNIVERSITY; affiliate member of the American Association of Paralegal Education, Graduation 2007
Paralegal Certification, Paralegal Studies
Coursework in Civil Litigation, Family Law, Probate Administration, Corporate Law, Legal Research and Legal Writing, and Legal Advocacy
GPA: 3.80
ACTIVITIES & AWARDS:
Member, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2005 - 2009
Member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, 2008 - present
EXPERIENCE:
SWARTZ CAMPBELL, LLC, Philadelphia, PA December 2009 –
Paralegal, Personal and Financial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Corporate Law, Product Liability
• Research, procure, and evaluate legal documentation and correspondence for a 60-attorney, 45-associate multi-office, regional law firm with a national practice.
• Evaluate and analyze plaintiff’s discovery responses, plaintiff and defense expert reports as well as deposition testimony in preparation of trials.
• Draft memorandums summarizing information regarding plaintiff’s product identification, medical expert reports, and available corresponding testimony.
• Coordinate Federal and State Court E-filing submissions re: motions, replies, and orders.
• Summarize plaintiff medical records and bankruptcy trust submissions; synchronize complete record procurement in preparation of motions and national counsel analysis.
• Examine docket report and procure motions, plaintiff’s oppositions, replies to plaintiff’s oppositions, and court orders in preparation of share analysis reports and joinder motions.
KLEINHANS AND ASSOCIATES, PC, Williamsville, NY August 2007 – January 2008
Paralegal, Civil Litigation and Corporate Law
• Gathered, analyzed, and organized legal research for 3-attorney, 8-associate corporate law firm with annual revenues of $4.7 million.
• Coordinated communication between firm management, associates, and 75 + client base through dated correspondence and scheduling deposition proceedings.
• Prepared content-specific case files and photographs to use during client presentations, and indexed network database information.
W. D. SOUTHARD LEGAL SERVICES, INC., Kenmore, NY March 2007 – July 2007
Paralegal
• Prepared simple to moderately complex legal documents, briefs, contracts, agreements, pleadings, and court papers and correspondence in a 1-attorney, 3-associate law firm.
• Filed and served all legal documents with the courts and opposing counsel.
• Prepared presentations using PowerPoint for trial attorneys' and management review and maintained electronic legal research software.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ADDITIONAL LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS:
• Familiarity with federal, state, and county forms regarding corporations and partnerships and the filing procedures.
• Ability to perform legal research and Shepardize.
• Knowledge of rules of civil procedure and local rules of court.
• Ability to understand and analyze legal issues.
• Knowledge of interview and investigation techniques.
• Excellent communication skills; both oral and written.
• Basic accounting, finance, economic, and operations knowledge.
• Organize, analyze, and enhance operational financials and budgets to increase profitability.
HOME DEPOT, Tullytown, PA July 2004 – May 2010
Sales Associate, Lumber and Building Materials
• Ensured consistent customer satisfaction through product expertise to support $100,000 + daily retail revenues.
• Named “Employee of the Month” August 2007 and awarded with 8 quarterly “Outstanding Customer Satisfaction” certificates.
• Assisted store management with weekly inventory evaluations and ordering coordination of 1900 + product codes.
SKILLS & LANGUAGES:
• MS Word. MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, Westlaw, Lexis-Nexis, PACE, PACOR,
• First-Aid and Emergency Response Certification, Red Cross, Summer 2008
• Spanish - Basic