William Coleman Massey
Jackson,MS
Summary
Driven Paralegal bringing twenty-nine (29) years of comprehensive experience in plaintiff's, as well as Defense law. Responsive team player with expertise in PI, Civil and Criminal Litigation and litigation. Detail-oriented and trustworthy with unprecedented time management skills.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
Stovall Law Firm Jackson
Jackson, MS
10.2021 - 04.2022
- Lead Paralegal to Attorney David E
- Stovall, practice is comprised of, but not limited to:
- Defense litigation: Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Plaintiff’s law specializing in areas of: Wrongful Death, MVA, Wills, Trust and Estate Planning
- Preparing for depositions, settlement conferences, deposition(s) of Π or Δ, and their respective expert witnesses; attending all aforementioned
- Daily tasks entailed constant calendaring, responding to complaints drafting answer/defenses, drafting written discovery requests to Plaintiff(s)/Defendant(s), and every type of motion possible in litigation process
- (Side note: cannot begin to express importance of calendaring whether it be for Scheduling Order, Amended Scheduling Order, or Π / Δ responsive pleadings and discovery
- Have never received a MTC resulting from my work.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
- Researched state statutes, decisions, legal articles, codes and documents.
- Communicated with outside vendors on behalf of attorneys and legal departments.
- Contacted key witnesses to testify at court hearings.
- Directed and coordinated service of subpoenas and scheduling of depositions for several legal professionals.
- Adhered to privacy laws to avert possible information breaches and protect client data.
- Mitigated legal team's workload by reviewing and evaluating legal documents, discovery materials and contracts.
- Contributed to, maintained and updated online data repositories for accessibility and to reflect firm standards.
- Implemented emergency procedures to save time and spearhead specific legal projects.
- Managed billable hour tracking, payroll, client invoicing and schedules for attorney office.
- Maintained ongoing communication with opposing parties from discovery to trial phase to facilitate expeditious litigation.
Paralegal
Schwartz & Associates Jackson
, Mississippi
07.2021 - 10.2021
- Sole and single assistant to Partner and head of litigation, Alvin Armistad, for the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama
- Responsible for every aspect and level of litigation “from cradle-to-grave” for four hundred (400) cases:
- Wrongful death
- Auto collisions
- Premises/Products Liability
- Mass Tort
- Workers Comp
- Med
- Mal
- Dog Bites
- Redesigned and improved paperless office file database improving efficiency and timeliness of filings, correspondence, discovery, deposition, settlements, and treat and release
- Accountable for the enormous emphasis required for Discovery:
- Interrogatories/ RFD/ RFA propounded to Π or Δ
- POA
- Supplementing when clients are hard to locate
- All pleadings including:
- Complaints/ Petitions for damages
- Requests for extension- service, subpoenas duces tecum
- Determining Heirs
- Mastered inner-office computer programs such as: Dashboard, Needles, iSynergy, and finally GrowPath
- Solely responsible for client contact(s) twice every 30 days.
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into company database.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
- Collected, drafted and maintained resources to provide comprehensive materials accessible to all firm lawyers.
- Directed and coordinated service of subpoenas and scheduling of depositions for several legal professionals.
- Drafted, signed and certified key legal documents for judicial review.
- Investigated facts and laws to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Analyzed evidence gathering and presentation, client counseling, and jury selection methods processes for civil litigation.
- Cooperated with legal teams to create performance documents for curative action planning.
- Reviewed contracts and reported findings to support legal team in development of breach of contract defenses.
Paralegal
II. Crews Grady
Vicksburg, MS
03.2021 - 05.2021
- Working under attorneys mainly in the practice of Family and Estate Planning/ Wills and Trusts
- Responsible and well-versed with cases going back as far as seven years
- Daily duties include but not limited to:
- Drafting of pleadings, motions, petitions, and complaints, etc
- Consisting of:
- Child-custody modifications
- Visitation modifications
- Assignment conservatorship/ Guardian ad Litem
- Estate planning and accounting of conservatorship
- All documents pertaining to probate
- Working closely in conjunction with Youth Court & Chancery Court
- Trial preparation virtual/in person
- Discovery “cradle-to-grave”
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Researched state statutes, decisions, legal articles, codes and documents.
- Maintained ongoing communication with opposing parties from discovery to trial phase to facilitate expeditious litigation.
Paralegal
Varner, Parker & Sessums
Vicksburg, MS
01.2021 - 05.2021
- Working with attorneys J
- Mack Varner, David Sessums, Gene Parker and Penny Lawson
- Practice areas of family law, estate planning, med-mal, premises and product liability litigation, general litigation, consumer finance and appellate practice.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Drafted responses for exceptions on foreclosure procedural errors.
- Identified appropriate judicial decisions relevant to cases.
- Surpassed specific company objectives by cooperating with staff to implement project initiatives.
N/A
FAMILIAL HEALTH ISSUES
Vicksburg, MS
01.2019 - 03.2020
- I spent a great deal of time traveling from Birmingham, AL to Jackson, MS for the better part of the year to spend time with my ill father.
Lead Doc Review - Class Action - Purdue
Hire Counsel
Birmingham, AL
03.2018 - 01.2020
- Purdue - settlement approx. six (6) billion (2022)
- Specifics pertaining to legal duties protected by and through non-disclosure signed by me)
- Document Review for Plaintiff's Firm(s) all over the United States pertaining the class action Purdue opioid litigation
- Reviewing and weighing relevant case data for the Alabama South
- Overseeing a team of 8 lawyers in order to accomplish our daily objective(s) of clean, concise and applicable evidentiary work., : Torts, Civil Procedure, Advanced Legal Writing & Contracts
- Implemented an entire new filing system saving as to maximize office use
- Running the bookstore while answering the phones taking tuition payments, scheduling finals
- Proctoring final examinations in every legal subject
- Head of orientation for introductory first year, as well as transfer students
- Setting up computer programs to access overhead projectors for nightly classes
- Social event coordinator for events attended by The Alabama State Bar and Judges
- Head of BSOL Alumni Association
- Started and still run a nonprofit, Future Lawyers of the South
- Maintained strict confidentiality with all personal data as per company guidelines.
- Interacted with clients and employees, which helped cultivate positive working relationships.
- Conducted day-to-day administrative tasks to maintain information files and process paperwork.
- Conducted comprehensive interviews of witnesses and claimants to gather facts and information.
- Resolved complex, severe exposure claims using high service oriented file handling.
- Reviewed and analyzed suspicious and potentially fraudulent insurance claims.
- Analyzed information gathered by investigation and reported findings and recommendations.
- Collected and tracked evidence in support of legal processes.
- Prepared hundreds of documents for managers or legal personnel.
- Collected information from customers to complete claims and legal files.
- Investigated legal issues pertaining to false claims.
- Maintained suspicious claims database and prepared reports on basis for supervisors.
- Identified key areas not performing well and implemented effective, new processes.
Assistant & Liaison
Birmingham School Of Law
Birmingham, AL
10.2014 - 08.2016
- II
- Liaison for the law school with regards to Alumni, Bar Representatives, Politicians, and possible future students
- Schedule and coordinate meetings, curriculum and travel plan for faculty and staff.
- Greeted guests in with friendliness and professionalism.
- Answered incoming calls, processed requests and relayed messages to appropriate personnel.
- Attended to office operations and required paperwork.
- Restocked supplies and placed purchase orders to maintain adequate stock levels.
- Worked closely with Dean Jim Bushnell to strategically plan for company growth.
- Prepared packages for shipment, pickup and courier services for prompt delivery to customers.studentsPromoted sales by acquiring product knowledge and providing product solutions to customers.
Paralegal/Law Clerk
Cloud & Willis, LLC
Homewood, AL
11.2014 - 01.2015
- Familiarized myself with the “skip tracing system” (skip tracing is a collections firm’s way of using a debtor’s SSN/DL#'s in order to find their current local as to serve service of process
- Responsible for drafting a multitude of writs and documents including: summons, alias complaints, request for production coupled with the responses to client’s responses
- Closed/ settled approximately 265 cases within my first couple of weeks with the firm.
- Created and prepared legal drafts by organizing and assembling information for legal documents and forms.
- Used internal templates to prepare subpoenas and client correspondence.
- Assessed cases for probable outcomes by researching black letter law and other legal authority, comparing fact patterns to those of precedential cases.
- Drove quality control efforts by minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency to increase revenue.
Law Clerk/ Runner
Najjar Denaburg, P.C
Birmingham, AL
01.2014 - 10.2014
- Accountable for timely filings in Probate, Circuit, Domestic Relations Courts
- Working directly with head counsel, Richard Thiebert, with regards to Real Estate and Property hearings; most notably Rule Adverse Possession and jurisdictional relevance.
- Assessed cases for probable outcomes by researching black letter law and other legal authority, comparing fact patterns to those of precedential cases.
- Administrated databases containing client information and vital data to facilitate office operations.
- Prepared travel arrangements for firm's attorneys.
- Attended depositions and drafted comprehensive summaries for review..
- Assisted attorneys with case organization and administrative tasks.
- Attended court sessions to record and listen to critical information.
- Assembled case materials for +/- 9400 cases by organizing, summarizing and collecting documents, information and evidence.
- Conducted research for upcoming cases for firm's 140 attorneys.
- Drove quality control efforts by minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency to increase revenue.
Legal Assistant/Clerk
Crittenden Partners
Homewood, AL
03.2014 - 09.2014
- Assisting all four attorneys with their daily on goings of Judy Crittenden’s family law practice
- Updating client files through discovery process with reference to: - Interrogatories - Admissions
- Utilizing the usual Microsoft programs including excel spread sheeting.
- Scheduled appointments, court appearances and depositions for busy law firm.
- Worked alongside attorneys, administrative assistants and fellow legal assistants on complex cases and legal processes.
- Completed electronic filings, initiated billing statements and managed firm administrative matters.
- Completed document revisions, court document filings, travel arrangements and client billing.
- Interviewed and prepared intake sheets for clients in Spanish and English.
- Prepared case summaries for mediation conferences.
- Assessed real and personal property inventory for estate planning.
Owner/Shareholder
Legal Logistics, Inc
Jackson, MS
01.2001 - 01.2011
- Incorporated and managed a legal “C” corp
- Foreclosure company beginning in my senior year of college within my four apartment walls Mississippi
- Within 10 years my company represented firms in Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Texas, New York, California and Alabama
- Upon starting the company, of which I was the only employee driving 600 mi./day servicing all eighty-two counties in Mississippi
- Extended my company by personally visiting Real Estate law firms in the entire SE U.S
- To earn business, resulting in expansion
- Servicing MS, GA, TN, TX, FL, AL, NY, CA and LA after 5 years of hard work
- Daily tasks composed of but not limited to: - Crying foreclosure sales, - Researching/updating federal tax liens - Searching title opinions (standard 32-year search) - Arguing over 3,600 eviction hearings in Justice Court (comparable to Probate Court in AL)
- Maintaining receivables and payroll for employees solely by myself
- Responsible and accountable for all monetary transactions exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars in the event of a 3rd party bidder (purchaser)
- Guaranteeing service of process in an effective and timely manner in all nine states where I set up office.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts and costs.
- Optimized team hiring, training and performance.
- Assessed supplier quality to maintain tight cost controls and maximize business operational performance.
- Generated revenues yearly and effectively capitalized on industry growth.
- Reduced personnel turnover and promoted employee development by recruiting team-oriented candidates and implementing new training practices.
- Directed successful operational turnaround, eliminating $276,000 in debt within over 19 calendar months.
Law Clerk
Cheshire Law, LLC
Ridgeland, MS
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Responsible for potential client intakes- where I would meet with a possible client and weigh the facts of the potential case as to help the attorneys better use their time for more pressing matters
- Assisting in real estate closings in explaining the importance of recording the deed as well as personally conducting a title search (36-year standard search) to ensure clean title
- Emissary for leading attorney Edwin T
- Cheshire in managing client relations, timely filings, and meeting discovery deadlines
- Auditing and scribing/ noting depositions
- Assessing and executing assigned workload as delegated from head counsel
- Drafting appellant briefs
- Updating, calendaring, and docketing
- Reviewing and assimilating large volumes of complex information and doing so efficiently and effectively including analytical and logical reasoning skills including reviewing complex written documents, drawing inferences, and making connections between legal authorities
- Developing organizational and problem-solving abilities, and to structure and evaluate arguments.
- Used internal templates to prepare subpoenas and client correspondence.
- Assisted attorneys with case organization and administrative tasks.
- Attended court sessions to record and listen to critical information.
- Researched and stayed abreast of industry techniques to delivering effective solutions and best practices.
- Conducted research for upcoming cases for firm's attorneys.
Runner
Guy N. Rogers DBA Rogers & Rogers Law Firm, LexisNexis
Jackson, MS
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Filing cases as well as document retrieval with Chancery, Circuit, Municipal, and Justice courts
- Auditing hearings with lead counsel
- Assessing routine and complex hearings recommending sufficient legal remedies
- Drafting and briefing/summarizing legal documents (as much as a teenager could anyway)
- II
- Software and Skills - Well versed in communications technology such as email, voice messaging systems, video conferencing, and related technology; involving familiarity with electronic discovery computerized litigation support and document management software
- Proficient in a variety of word processing, presentation, time management, billing, and practice-related software applications including but not limited to:
- West Law
- West Law next
- TWEN
- Adobe
- Microsoft 365 (wd, excel, pp, teams, ect
- Alafile
- ZDiscovery/ Ediscovery
- Pacer
- Relativity
- Panther
- MyCase
- Alacourt 2.0
- Lexis Advance (legal citations)
- III
- Legal Writing
- I have engrained organizational skills to manage large volumes of data and documents, in paper-based filing firms, and firms of which have modernized to “paperless”
- This includes the ability to sort, order, and manage large volumes of exhibits, documents, files, evidence, data, and other information in paper form, and the ability to identify objectives, catalog data, and create an effective organization structure from massive amounts of unrelated metadata/ information
- Researching legal concepts, case law, judicial opinions, statutes, regulations, and other information as well as mastering research techniques and implementing into locating and synthesizing legal authority
- Mastering statutory interpretation and learn proper legal citation which goes hand-in-hand these modern days with legal research software applications and internet research.
Education
J.D. - Law of Juris Prudence
Birmingham School of Law
Birmingham, AL05.2016
J.D. - 1L
Charlotte School of Law (ABA)
Charlotte, NC12.2011
Bachelor of Arts - English And Sociology Majors; Minor in Spanish
University of Mississippi
Oxford, MS05.2005
Skills
- Case File Preparation
- Subpoena Service
- Marital Settlement Agreements
- Court Transcription
- Trial Preparation Assistance
- Publication Review
- Corporate Law
- Expertise in Legal Proceedings
- Correspondence and Legal Forms Drafting
- Legal Terminology
- Summary Writing
- Legal Research
- Deposition Briefings
- Evidence Gathering
- Online Databases
- Database Searching
- Confidentiality Understanding
- Trial Proceedings
- Jury Selection
- Filing System Organization
- Litigation Support
- Legal Correspondence
- Hearing Preparation
- Negotiating Service Level Agreements
- Criminal Law
- Drafting Legal Documents
- Federal Guidelines
- Review of Pleadings
- Settlement Statements
- Microsoft Applications
- Electronic Discovery
- Intake Services
- Legal Precedent
- Team Goals
- Exhibit Preparation
- Arguing Motions
- Estate Administration
- Case Logistics
- Court Policies and Programs
- Workers Compensation
- Confidentiality and Discretion
- Deadline Monitoring
- UCC Filings
- RFP, RFA, and Interrogatories Responses
- Proficiency in MS Office
- LexisNexis
- Grow Path
- Needles
- Relativity
- Panther
- Mycase
- Z Discovery
- E Discovery
- Chart Swap
- Pacer
- Proficient in MS Office
- Exceptional writer
- Civil law
Websites
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Dutch
Elementary
Timeline
Paralegal
Stovall Law Firm Jackson
10.2021 - 04.2022
Paralegal
Schwartz & Associates Jackson
07.2021 - 10.2021
Paralegal
II. Crews Grady
03.2021 - 05.2021
Paralegal
Varner, Parker & Sessums
01.2021 - 05.2021
N/A
FAMILIAL HEALTH ISSUES
01.2019 - 03.2020
Lead Doc Review - Class Action - Purdue
Hire Counsel
03.2018 - 01.2020
Paralegal/Law Clerk
Cloud & Willis, LLC
11.2014 - 01.2015
Assistant & Liaison
Birmingham School Of Law
10.2014 - 08.2016
Legal Assistant/Clerk
Crittenden Partners
03.2014 - 09.2014
Law Clerk/ Runner
Najjar Denaburg, P.C
01.2014 - 10.2014
Law Clerk
Cheshire Law, LLC
01.2009 - 01.2010
Owner/Shareholder
Legal Logistics, Inc
01.2001 - 01.2011
Runner
Guy N. Rogers DBA Rogers & Rogers Law Firm, LexisNexis
01.1997 - 01.2000
J.D. - Law of Juris Prudence
Birmingham School of Law
J.D. - 1L
Charlotte School of Law (ABA)
Bachelor of Arts - English And Sociology Majors; Minor in Spanish
University of Mississippi