CATALINA MCDOWELL
Pflugerville,United States
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Summary
Resourceful legal assistant with solid legal background and fluency in Spanish. Managed client communications for 2 immigration attorneys and assisted in preparation of legal documents for immigration applications. Superb organizational skills and compassionate nature leading to optimum outcomes.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Immigration Legal Assistant
Nicole True Law Firm PC
Austin, TX
12.2012 - 07.2021
- Consulted with foreign nationals on non-immigrant and immigrant visas and resolved routine and non-routine questions.
- Illustrated green card and immigration processes and managed communication channels to provide high level of service and consultation to immigration inquiries.
- Served as legal team's liaison with other immigration-related service providers to improve quality of client services.
- Identified potential issues and concerns and proactively escalated to manager to reduce barriers.
- Assisted clients with immigration application completion to improve timeliness of case review and disposition.
- Developed comprehensive client case list and performed file maintenance to promote accuracy and information compliance.
- Drove continuous improvement in day-to-day process and transformation initiatives that resulted in impactful evolution.
- Explained visa rules and regulations to comply with Department of Labor and Department of State standards.
- Corresponded with current and prospective clients to obtain information and enable effective case development.
- Compiled client application packets and included relevant documentation to present strongest case for successful outcome.
- Maintained immigration attorneys' schedules to enable timely client service delivery and promote firm's income growth.
- Monitored immigration law developments and procedural changes to improve client service quality and case outcomes.
- Interacted with telephone callers and answered questions about immigration attorneys' services.
- Filed correspondence and legal documents in correct client files and transmitted applicable documentation to courts and government agencies.
- Created and managed processes and procedures to coordinate documentation for visa processing on immigrant and non-immigrant applications.
- Liaised with coworkers and immigration candidates to answer questions, resolve issues and explain immigration policy.
- Analyzed client documentation and history to determine eligibility for immigration-related benefits.
- Contributed to client case file preparation and verified inclusion of required documentation.
Deputy Court Clerk
Pflugerville Municipal Court
Pflugerville, TX
09.2010 - 12.2012
- Processed payments for fines and fees, maintained accurate drawers, issued receipts and updated account balances.
- Responded to in-person and telephone requests for information from general public, attorneys and other involved parties.
- Wrote, reviewed and submitted 500 reports per week for department records.
- Examined legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws and court procedures.
- Answered inquiries from general public regarding judicial procedures, court appearances and trial dates.
- Maintained docket calendar and database for municipal court.
- Responded to inquiries from general public regarding court appearance, trial dates, judicial procedures and fines.
- Answered telephone calls, took messages and transferred calls to appropriate colleagues.
- Maintained jury lists and issued jury summons.
- Collected court fees and fines and recorded amounts collected in database.
- Met with judges, lawyers and police officials to coordinate functions of court.
Business Office Manager
Pro-Lath & Stucco
Pflugerville, TX
04.2003 - 09.2010
- Oversaw office inventory activities by ordering and requisitions and stocking and shipment receiving.
- Established workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve overall performance of personnel.
- Delivered performance reviews, recommending additional training or advancements.
- Attended meetings, seminars and workshops to enhance knowledge of bookkeeping functions and other job duties.
- Coordinated staff travel arrangements and prepared itineraries for trips.
- Monitored supply and equipment handling to minimize loss, waste and fraud.
- Coordinated corporate special events, team building programs and staff training opportunities.
- Updated reports, managed accounts and generated reports for company database.
- Verified and tracked all project deadlines to facilitate smooth workflow and satisfied clients.
- Processed weekly time cards to report employee's earnings for payroll disbursement.
- Negotiated leases and office vendor contracts to achieve best terms, lower costs and maximize service level agreements.
- Performed accounts receivable collections for past due accounts by conducting collection calls.
- Contributed receiving data for financial lead for end-of-year accounting and internal audit processing.
- Managed and organized functions and oversaw daily operations of office with 25 employees.
- Prepared facility vouchers, expense transfers and monthly financial reports
- Maintained vendor files and entered invoices into accounting software.
- Delegated office staff to perform administrative duties and share workloads.
- Conducted onboarding process to recruit, train and prepare new hire documentation for orientation.
Systems Operator
Omnibase Services
Austin, Texas
06.1996 - 04.2003
- Applied widely-accepted best practices for database operations.
- Generated reports covering details about data, system operation and error monitoring.
- Changed and replaced backup tapes regularly and performed detailed server backups.
- Processed requests for service from internal and external customers.
- Developed system maintenance schedule to prevent unnecessary downtime or avoidable interruptions.
- Reacted calmly during times of highly stressed or emergency situations.
- Supported time-sensitive project input milestones by keeping team on-task.
- Troubleshot system performance bottlenecks and proposed solutions to discovered weaknesses.
- Retrieved information and performed data entry using appropriate computer programs.
- Recommended system improvements, accounting for budgetary concerns and performance requirements.
- Traveled to client locations to manage multi-site networks.
- Documented discrepancies, referring discovered issues to supervisor for remediation.
- Maintained spreadsheets of data across multiple systems.
- Complied with data transmission laws and regulatory guidelines when sending and storing sensitive data.
- Monitored fire, security and duress systems, responding appropriately to alarms and emergency situations.
- Collaborated with vendors and contracted companies to create interfaces between internal systems and third-party assets.
- Input data sets into databases, verifying storage of processed information.
Education
High School Diploma -
Pflugerville High School
Pflugerville, TXLegal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC
El Paso, TX11.2018
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
El Paso, TX11.2017
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
El Paso, Tx11.2016
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
El Paso, TX11.2015
Ministry Studies
National Institute of Development
Austin, TX12.2007
Skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Filing System Organization
- Case File Preparation
- Legal Research
- Immigration Inquiries
- Motions Drafting
- Database Searching
- Correspondence and Legal Forms Drafting
- Immigration Case File Strategies
- MS Office Proficiency
- Email Correspondence
- Assisting Legal Professionals
- Advanced Word Processing
- Exceptional Telephone Etiquette
- Drafting Legal Documents
- Spanish Interpreting
- Client Support
- Client Observations
- Online Databases
- Postage Meter
- Affidavit Preparation
- Travel and Event Coordination
- Evidence Gathering
- Visa Applications
- Multi-Line Switchboards
- Office Management
- Confidentiality and Discretion
- Phone Screens
- Client Relations Skills
- Work Assignments
- Deadline Monitoring
- Witness Interviewing
- Project Organization
Timeline
Immigration Legal Assistant
Nicole True Law Firm PC
12.2012 - 07.2021
Deputy Court Clerk
Pflugerville Municipal Court
09.2010 - 12.2012
Business Office Manager
Pro-Lath & Stucco
04.2003 - 09.2010
Systems Operator
Omnibase Services
06.1996 - 04.2003
High School Diploma -
Pflugerville High School
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
Legal Ethics
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
Ministry Studies
National Institute of Development
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