Chris Judy Ann Thomas
Ft. Pierce
Summary
Dynamic professional with expertise in fostering growth and success within collaborative environments. Committed to building strong, effective teams through innovative strategies and a results-driven approach. Passionate about contributing to organizational goals while enhancing team performance and cohesion. Eager to embrace challenges that promote personal and professional development.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Tri-Lingual Paralegal/Office Manager
LAW OFFICES OF FISHER & ASSOCIATES, P.A.
01.2003 - Current
- Manages pre-litigation personal injury files
- Responsible for interviews of new / potential clients
- Responsible for all communication with Spanish, French and Creole speaking clients
- Coordinates execution of client/firm contracts
- Manages administrative coordination of both electronic and hard copy files
- Conducts fact finding investigations, analysis and background checks of clients/witnesses
- Evaluates and analyzes cases within legal regulations
- Reviews and analyzes documentation supporting client claims
- Prepares demand letters / responses to demand letters
- Negotiates claims settlement; medical provider bills and lien holders
- Prepares closing statement and attends closings
- Coordinates execution of insurance releases for client cases
- Manages the office (office services; staff; payroll; orientation/training of staff)
- Conducts in person translations/interpretations from and to English, Spanish, French Haitian Creole
- Translates all client documents (Spanish, French, Haitian Creole to English)
- Translates all client documents (English to Spanish, French and Haitian Creole)
Judicial Systems Officer
UNITED NATIONS
07.2000 - 01.2001
- Company Overview: INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN SUPPORT MISSION IN HAITI (MICAH)
- Advisor to the Unit for the Protection of Women and Minors in Detention at the National Prison
- Advisor to Unit Chief about programs aimed at improving the welfare of women and minors detained in the national prison system, including working visits to said detention facilities.
- Coordinated programs for the reinsertion of women and minors into society
- Collaborated with national and international partners to identify ways to mobilize the necessary resources to implement these activities
- Assisted the Chief of Unit in the implementation of administrative tools for the structuring of the Unit
Human Rights Officer
UNITED NATIONS
09.1996 - 03.2000
- Company Overview: INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN MISSION IN HAITI (MICIVIH)
- Officer responsible for issues concerning Haitian prisons
- Worked with penitentiary administration officials, representatives of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Program for Penitentiary Assistance regarding prison policy, incidents and conditions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other actors working in the domain of prisons
- Designated prison officer for all MICIVIH regional offices
- Provided Technical advice to the Prison Administrations’ Department of Studies and General Affairs; conducted in depth prison visits with directors and legal assistants of the prison administration in eight of the fourteen provincial prisons
- Provided technical assistance in the form of training by conducting training sessions to newly recruited prison guards and existing prison clerks by the Prison Administration Training Center on human rights issues
- Conducted training on methods for conducting prison visits to representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the domain of prisons
- Desk officer for legal affairs for two MICIVIH regional offices: charged with analyzing the problems presented by the bases and submitting synopses and recommendations directly to the Missions’ Chief of Legal Affairs: gave written and verbal advice and ensured that bases are aware of what decisions and follow-up actions have been taken
- Drafted and edited reports and memoranda produced by the legal department, including documents and reports for external distribution
- Attended meetings pertaining to judicial issues; task force meetings at the American Embassy, and working groups at the Ministry of Justice relating to the problems of pre-trial detention
Human Rights Observer
UNITED NATIONS
01.1995 - 09.1996
- Company Overview: INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN MISSION IN HAITI (MICIVIH)
- Chargé de Liaison (Assistant Coordinator) of Regional Office in Southern Haiti
- Assumed Lead Coordinator role as required
- Acted as liaison between regional office and headquarters
- Was responsible for administrative matters of the regional office
- Investigated human rights violations and monitored the local judicial system
- Coordinated work with local administrative and judicial authorities, as well as with other components of the United Nations Mission
- Conducted human rights civic education seminars in conjunction with local organizations
- Monitored electoral campaign for June 1995 Parliamentary elections, and December 1995 Presidential elections; observed voting and vote counting on election days
Legal Consultant
INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (IDB)
03.1994 - 06.1994
- Worked on the Bank’s legal “Administration of Justice Project”
- Was responsible for the final editing of the Spanish to English version of the IDB book Justice and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Drafted and prepared contracts for field consultants being recruited by the Bank to gather information on the administration of justice in selected English-speaking Caribbean countries
Education
Master of Laws (LLM) - International Legal Studies, specializing in trade and banking
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, THE WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW
WASHINGTON, D.C.Multi-cultural Awareness Certificate - undefined
UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (U.S.A.I.D.)
MIAMI, FLBachelor of Laws (LLB) - undefined
THE UNIVERSITY OF BUCKINGHAM
Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) -
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
FORT PIERCE, FLORIDASkills
- Effective in planning and coordinating office processes and procedures
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Skilled in building relationships and cohesive teams
- Ability to problem solve and reach consensus thru effective mediation
- Attention to detail and accuracy in accomplishing tasks
- Proficient in conducting in depth research electronically and in person
- Responsible for developing and implementing new administrative systems
- Management of office expenditures and budget reconciliation
- Administrative management and coordination of both electronic and hard copy files
- Translates from English into Spanish, French and Haitian Creole
- Translates from Spanish, French and Haitian Creole into English
- Fluent in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole (both spoken and written)
Accomplishments
- Streamlined workflow by consolidating lengthy processes and redundant documentation which resulted in more effective and timely completion of [Focus or report].
- Implemented new, interactive employee scheduling system to monitor, gauge and project staffing needs.
- Streamlined workflow by consolidating lengthy processes and redundant documentation that resulted in more effective and timely completion of [Focus or report].
Certification
- Certified [Job Title], [Company Name] - [Timeframe]
- [Area of certification] Training - [Timeframe]
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Full Professional
French
Full Professional
Timeline
Tri-Lingual Paralegal/Office Manager
LAW OFFICES OF FISHER & ASSOCIATES, P.A.
01.2003 - Current
Judicial Systems Officer
UNITED NATIONS
07.2000 - 01.2001
Human Rights Officer
UNITED NATIONS
09.1996 - 03.2000
Human Rights Observer
UNITED NATIONS
01.1995 - 09.1996
Legal Consultant
INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (IDB)
03.1994 - 06.1994
Multi-cultural Awareness Certificate - undefined
UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (U.S.A.I.D.)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - undefined
THE UNIVERSITY OF BUCKINGHAM
Master of Laws (LLM) - International Legal Studies, specializing in trade and banking
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, THE WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW
Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) -
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
OTHER EXPERIENCE
- 01/92-05/92 Legal Internship - ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS), WASHINGTON, D.C.
- Secretariat for Legal Affairs, Codification Department
- Conducted legal research on the Central Authorities established by Latin American and Caribbean countries to administer Inter-American treaties
- Researched United Nations General Assembly resolutions on disarmament, nuclear and conventional weapons, and United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Iraq during its invasion of Kuwait
- 10/90-03/91 Legal Internship - ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS), WASHINGTON, D.C.
- Conducted legal research and drafted legal memoranda in international commercial arbitration issues for the Secretariat for Legal Affairs
- Provided in-court support for commercial arbitration hearings
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