Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

BERTHA E. ARENAS

New York,NY

Summary

Detail-oriented and empathetic legal and administrative professional with extensive experience in client-facing legal services, nonprofit operations, and systems support. Expert in intake, database management, documentation handling, and frontline communication across email, phone, and text. Known for building trust with stakeholders and improving operational workflows that enhance service quality.

Legal professional with strong skills in writing, organizing and project managing cases related to Civil, family, and immigration law. Expertly conducts research, collects witness statements and organizes files. Experienced working with diverse populations to optimize representation.

Results-driven professional skilled in researching legal case information and preparing necessary correspondence with strong understanding of legal terminology and processes. Adept in maintaining confidential records and client information. Pleasantly assists attorneys in preparing for trials and other legal proceedings.

Driven Paralegal successful at thriving in high stress, high-pressure environments and situations involving constant change and vast ambiguity in data and instruction.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Paralegal & Intake Coordinator

New York Council on Adoptable Children (COAC)
12.2023 - Current
  • Serve as first point of contact via phone, email, and text, managing inquiries and connecting clients to internal and external support.
  • Triage legal, educational, and social service needs to appropriate departments or partner providers.
  • Manage internal database for case tracking and funder reporting.
  • Assist with guardianship and immigration documentation, including affidavits and work permit renewals.
  • Coordinate communication with ACS, DOE, Family Court, and legal agencies.
  • Translate sensitive documentation in Spanish and Portuguese.
  • Co-lead community-facing legal workshops, managing setup, follow-up, and logistics.

Legal Assistant

JL Law
04.2023 - 12.2023
  • Conducted client intake for asylum, FOIA, and family-based immigration matters.
  • Prepared and filed USCIS forms (I-589, I-130, I-90) and EOIR packets.
  • Maintained case files, calendar deadlines, and attorney communication logs.
  • Translated declarations and intake interviews across English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Co-Owner & Operations Manager

Samba Kitchen
01.2016 - 12.2022
  • Oversaw all front-of-house operations, vendor management, and community events.
  • Organized cultural programming and collaborations with nonprofits.
  • Created internal systems for training, communication, and staff scheduling.
  • Built long-lasting client relationships and improved retention through service quality.

Education

B.A. - English Literature, Economics

City University of New York (CUNY)

Skills

  • Client Intake & Screening
  • Case Triage & Legal Support
  • Relational Database Management
  • Multi-Channel Communication
  • Workshop & Event Coordination
  • Spanish & Portuguese Interpretation
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft Office
  • Zoom
  • Case file organization
  • Document preparation
  • Attorney support
  • File and records management

Accomplishments

  • Collaborated in exceeding our annual legal goal by assisting with over 640 applications—160% of target—while supporting the management of 400+ active case files.

Certification

Google Data Analytics Certificate, In Progress, 08/31/25

Languages

Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Portuguese
Full Professional

Timeline

Paralegal & Intake Coordinator

New York Council on Adoptable Children (COAC)
12.2023 - Current

Legal Assistant

JL Law
04.2023 - 12.2023

Co-Owner & Operations Manager

Samba Kitchen
01.2016 - 12.2022

B.A. - English Literature, Economics

City University of New York (CUNY)

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