Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

DENISE M. ARESTAD-ASUNCION

Blaine,WA

Summary

Knowledgeable Paralegal with solid background in legal support and document management. Demonstrated success in assisting attorneys with research, drafting, and case preparation. Proven ability to manage caseloads and maintain confidentiality while compiling comprehensive legal documentation.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience

Work History

Paralegal

Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher
11.2020 - Current
  • 2nd chair at trial in landlord/tenant dispute matter.
  • Conducted legal research to support case preparation and analysis.
  • Drafted and filed various legal documents, ensuring compliance with court procedures.
  • Assisted attorneys in trial preparation by organizing case materials and evidence.
  • Managed client communications, responding to inquiries and providing updates on case status.

Paralegal

Carlsmith Ball LLP
01.2016 - Current
  • Assist attorneys in all aspects of their practice of litigation. Duties included legal research, draft and edit pretrial statements, pleadings, discovery requests and responses; E-Discovery, and correspondence; knowledge of court rules, file and serve complaints; prepare for, manage and assist with trials and appeals; clear and effective communication skills through contact with public, court officers, judges, and other legal support professionals; proficient on Relativity, Nebula, and Veritas (Clearwell) discovery platforms; proficient on Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system, and Judiciary Electronic Filing and Service System (JEFS); and other duties as assigned.

Legal Secretary

Torkildson Katz Moore Hetherington & Harris
01.2015 - 01.2016
  • Assist three directors in all aspects of their practice of corporate, labor, and litigation. Duties included legal research, draft pretrial statements, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence; knowledge of court rules, maintain master calendar; file and serve complaints; prepare for and assist with trials; filing corporate documents, such as, bylaws, articles of incorporation, dissolution, business name change, etc. with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; recorded leases and mortgages with the Bureau of Conveyances; apply for state and federal business identification numbers; and other duties as assigned.

Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Law Offices of Vladimir Devens, LLC
01.2004 - 01.2014
  • Assist Mr. Devens and two other associates in all aspects of his practice of litigation, labor, personal injury, auto accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, work related injuries, products liability, construction, commercial and insurance litigation and alternative dispute resolution. These duties included legal research, draft pretrial statements, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence; knowledge of court rules, new client assessments, interviewing clients and witnesses; maintaining master calendar; filing and serving complaints; prepare for and assist with trials and appeals; case management; prepare attorney fees and cost statements; handle settlement disbursals; negotiate and settle medical liens; prepare, organize and summarize medical records and bills; and other duties as assigned.

Paralegal

Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner
01.2002 - 01.2003
  • Duties included assisting an attorney in all aspects of plaintiffs’ civil litigation such as drafting and preparing settlement proposals, pretrial statements, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence; interviewing clients and witnesses.

Legal Assistant III

Department of the Attorney General
01.2003
  • Duties include assisting four Deputy Attorneys General with drafting and filing pleadings with the State appellate court; legal research; responsible for loading documents to a database and maintaining the division calendar; gather and organize documents from other divisions and the appellate court.

Paralegal

Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks
01.1996 - 01.2002
  • Duties included assisting attorneys in all aspects of plaintiffs’ civil litigation (product’s liability, property damage, personal injury, maritime) such as drafting settlement proposals, pretrial statements, trial briefs, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence; gather, organize, and summarize documentary evidence (medical records, business records, and public records); digesting transcripts of testimony; preparing exhibits; and interview clients and witnesses.

Legal Assistant

State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General
01.1990 - 01.1996
  • 1994-1996: Served as supervising legal assistant in the State of Hawaii’s complex asbestos property damage litigation. Responsible for gathering, reviewing and indexing millions of State of Hawaii documents, as well as 3rd party documents, for production to multiple defendants. Developed and maintained a manual and computerized document organization system to retrieve original documents. Drafted letters and memoranda to staff members, client agencies, consultants, and defendants. Compiled building histories of over 200 State-owned buildings. Liaison to over 13 client agencies and responsible for understanding their record keeping systems.
  • 1991-1994: Responsible for coordinating an asbestos survey of approximately 15 million square feet of State-owned buildings. Drafted amendments to consultant contracts, prepare claims and assist in negotiations for settlement in bankruptcy proceedings, and draft settlement agreements. Assisted unit supervisor in hiring staff and organizing resources. Performed legal research on Westlaw.
  • 1990-1991: Transcribed dictation, typed pleadings, and reorganized filing system. Responsible for ordering and purchasing office supplies. Performed all administrative transactions, such as, accounts payable and processing personnel forms.

Paralegal

Campbell and Leslie, Attorneys at Law
01.1990
  • Spring internship through Fayetteville Technical Community College; operated micro computer using WordPerfect 5.1, interviewed potential expert witnesses, gathered information for and prepare interrogatories, collected pertinent medical reports and evidence of special damages, assembled settlement brochures, draft estate inventories, organize new cases and researched case law, calendar cases, file court documents, prepare civil summonses and deliver subpoenas.

Education

Bachelor - Justice Administration

Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, Hawaii
01.2002

Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Technology

Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina
01.1991

High School - undefined

Ferndale High School
Ferndale, Washington
01.1986

Skills

  • Tech skills like e-discovery, cloud-based accounting and case management software, management of templates and exhibits Computer knowledgeable (WestLaw, WordPerfect, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, Summation, Relativity, Nebula, Veritas, WorkSite, NetDocs, Best Authorities, Workshare Compare, PDF Converter Enterprise, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Photocopier/Scanner, Facsimile Machine, and Postage Meter) Attended continuing legal education workshops in such topics as litigation, trial preparation and ethics Completed Relativity administrator training Hawaii Paralegal Association Membership Director, organized certification study group and membership drives Self-starter, highly motivated, and willing to work overtime
  • E-discovery/Database management and case management software proficiency
  • Microsoft office
  • File organization
  • Legal research
  • Document preparation/filing
  • Interviewing clients and support
  • Discovery drafting
  • Writing and editing
  • Proofreading
  • Office management
  • Work prioritization/Task prioritization
  • Legal/Court processes
  • Organizational efficiency
  • Case management/Litigation support
  • Legal terminology
  • Relationship building
  • Civil law
  • Project/Casefile management
  • Motion preparation
  • Document control support/Organization
  • Attention to detail/Critical thinking
  • Effective multitasking/Workload Management
  • Good judgment and decision making
  • Research and data collection
  • Deadline monitoring

Timeline

Paralegal

Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher
11.2020 - Current

Paralegal

Carlsmith Ball LLP
01.2016 - Current

Legal Secretary

Torkildson Katz Moore Hetherington & Harris
01.2015 - 01.2016

Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Law Offices of Vladimir Devens, LLC
01.2004 - 01.2014

Legal Assistant III

Department of the Attorney General
01.2003

Paralegal

Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner
01.2002 - 01.2003

Paralegal

Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks
01.1996 - 01.2002

Legal Assistant

State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General
01.1990 - 01.1996

Paralegal

Campbell and Leslie, Attorneys at Law
01.1990

Associate of Applied Science - Paralegal Technology

Fayetteville Technical Community College

High School - undefined

Ferndale High School

Bachelor - Justice Administration

Hawaii Pacific University

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