Diane Kerley
North Myrtle Beach,SC
Summary
Seasoned Director of Firm Operations in the legal field for 39 of combined experience in complex litigation case management specializing in defense litigation work (i.e., product liability, personal injury, insurance, class action, MDL, employment, environmental and commercial litigation). Broad experience with expertise in case management software, attorney-liaison relationships and contract management. Creative problem-solver with a proven ability to operate effectively in pressure situations that require initiative and self-direction while thriving in independent and collaborative work environments. Highly organized, detail-oriented and energetic individual with strong leadership, collaborating, and influencing skills necessary to efficiently manage and resolve complex legal schemes.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Human Resources & Firm Operations
Perez & Morris LLC
08.2019 - Current
- Formulate and implement operational strategies that align with the firm’s objectives, enhancing productivity, profitability, and client satisfaction
- Firm revenue growth under my leadership from January 2020 through the end of this fiscal year - from 5.2 million revenue to an expected 15.8 million revenue
- 118% Growth overall
- Work closely with partners, attorneys, and other department heads to align operations with the firm’s overall goals
- Oversee the preparation and management of the firm's operating budget, ensuring financial resources are utilized effectively
- Develop and implement processes that enhance the client experience, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm’s office(s), including facilities management, office supplies, and vendor relations
- Manage and oversee operational projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet the firm’s quality standards while coordinating directives for growth
- Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring service levels meet the firm’s standards
- Develop and maintain reporting systems to track key operational metrics, providing insights to senior management
- Analyze operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Directed each phase of hiring process, encompassing employment verification, employee relations investigations, criminal background checks and onboarding
- Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of the firm’s IT infrastructure, including networks, cloud servers and applications alongside our outside IT cloud partner
- Ensure the IT systems and processes comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards such as DGPR, HIPPA, or SOX and work alongside our outside IT cloud vendor so all processes are put in place
- Develop and maintain comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plans, ensuring the organization can quickly recover from IT disruptions
- Manage a firm of over 40 lawyers and 45 staff in 9 offices and 5 states
- Report to the owners and provide decision support through HR metrics
- Oversee and process payroll, 401k, and benefits
- Deployed new HR software, which increased our efficiency by up to 48%
- Managed background checks and employment verifications, improving the quality of hires
HR Paralegal Manager
Goldberg Segalla LLP
04.2017 - 08.2019
- Oversee the firm’s 89 paralegals throughout 22 offices nationwide
- Increased productivity for the firm’s paralegals by 67% in a two years period
- Oversee work allocation and promote paralegal utilization to meet clients' needs
- Responsible for dedicating billable hours towards litigation practices
- Preparing and maintaining task lists to track important deadlines
- Manage group staffing needs assessment, including recruitment and hiring of new paralegals
- Collect feedback from all paralegals to create best practices for the department
- Mentor paralegals develop and implement orientation programs and onboarding processes for new paralegal hires
- Updating the firm’s human resource database with all current and new paralegal information
- Assisting with preparing benefits packages for new paralegals
- Prepare and participate in performance reviews
- Recruiting new paralegals, including hiring, onboarding, and terminations.
IT Business Analyst
Goldberg Segalla LLP
09.2015 - 04.2017
- Gained familiarity with various systems used by the Firm to become the firm’s trainer to all attorneys, staff, and new employees
- Use an understanding of legal concepts to develop specifications for enhancements/customizations requested by legal business units and evaluate new systems the Firm considers
- Maintained detailed records, documenting procedures, assumptions, methodologies, and sources of information used during all requirements gathering
- Travel to all of the offices on a weekly/monthly basis for continued training and collaboration with office staff and attorneys on their IT needs for training on DM or other software programs supported by the firm
- Worked with the IT Business Application Manager, CIO, practice group leaders, and outside consultants to design the workspaces for all practice groups in the firm’s new iManage document system and full implementation of the new iManage system
- Project Management/Support
- Assume project management responsibilities on selected projects
- Create, track, and update all project tasks and continually inform the department and management of the project's status
- Ability to participate and contribute to internal and external/vendor project teams for initiatives at various levels
- Participate in support and training Firm systems, created training materials and reports
- Assist in research, testing and usage patterns of Firm applications and reporting
- Escalate problems not resolved within a reasonable time limit to IT and promptly communicate affected users of the situation.
HR Coordinator of Paralegal and Administrative Staff
Goldberg Segalla LLP
10.2006 - 09.2015
- Coordinate staff vacation and sick time
- Coordinate staffing coverage for attorneys
- New staff orientation and training
- Conducting interviews for potential staff candidates
- Event planning for the office
- Organized and inventoried all supplies for the office
- Liaison with the accounting department for office needs
- Coordinate office accounts with the Administrative Partner
- Library management
- Vendor point person
- Participate in regular meetings with the COO and representatives from each admin department
- Collaborate with Administrative Partners and Human Resources on employee issues
- Collaborate with all administrative departments to address local needs/issues for satellite offices.
Paralegal
McCarter & English
12.1995 - 10.2006
Paralegal
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
03.1992 - 11.1995
Legal Assistant
McCarter & English
12.1989 - 03.1992
Legal Assistant
Lionel, Sawyer & Collins
09.1988 - 12.1989
Legal Assistant
Cozzarelli, Mautone, Nardachone & McTigue
06.1985 - 08.1988
Legal Assistant
Institute for Continuing of Legal Education
05.1984 - 06.1985
Education
Bachelor of Science Business Administration -
Montclair State University
05.1989
Skills
- NetDocuments
- Centerbase
- OpentText
- EDocs DM
- IManage
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- Powerpoint
- Outlook
- DTE
- TABS
- ExpertTime
- LawBase
- Westlaw
- Lexis/Nexis
- PACER
- TrialWorks
- Summation
- IPro
- Relativity
- CM/ECF Federal E-Filing Systems
- HR analytics
- Records Management
- Compliance Management
Activities
- Volunteer, Special Olympics, West Palm Beach, Florida (1993-1995)
- Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee Member, Cub Scouts, Pack 92, Toms River, NJ (2013 to 2016)
- Co-Chair and Event Coordinator, Cub Scouts, Pack 92, Toms River, NJ (2013 to 2016)
Volunteer Work
Volunteer, Special Olympics, West Palm Beach, Florida (1993-1995)
Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee Member, Cub Scouts, Pack 92, Toms River, NJ (2013 to 2016) Co-Chair and Event Coordinator, Cub Scouts, Pack 92, Toms River, NJ (2013 to 2016)
Timeline
Director of Human Resources & Firm Operations
Perez & Morris LLC
08.2019 - Current
HR Paralegal Manager
Goldberg Segalla LLP
04.2017 - 08.2019
IT Business Analyst
Goldberg Segalla LLP
09.2015 - 04.2017
HR Coordinator of Paralegal and Administrative Staff
Goldberg Segalla LLP
10.2006 - 09.2015
Paralegal
McCarter & English
12.1995 - 10.2006
Paralegal
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
03.1992 - 11.1995
Legal Assistant
McCarter & English
12.1989 - 03.1992
Legal Assistant
Lionel, Sawyer & Collins
09.1988 - 12.1989
Legal Assistant
Cozzarelli, Mautone, Nardachone & McTigue
06.1985 - 08.1988
Legal Assistant
Institute for Continuing of Legal Education
05.1984 - 06.1985
Bachelor of Science Business Administration -
Montclair State University