Erin Cotton-Patel
Sugar Land
Summary
Dynamic paralegal with extensive experience at Johnson Law Group, excelling in case file management and client support. Proven ability to draft and review legal documents while maintaining strong communication with clients. Skilled in Microsoft Office and adept at troubleshooting, ensuring efficient legal processes and high client satisfaction.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
Johnson Law Group
Houston
03.2019 - Current
- Draft and review documents related to legal proceedings.
- Prepare case summaries, chronologies of facts and other materials for use in legal proceedings.
- Ordered, reviewed, and summarized medical, employment, and insurance records to support case preparation.
- Advise clients on their rights under state and federal law; answer questions concerning legal procedures.
- Maintained client communication to ensure timely compliance with legal deadlines.
- Audits to provide support to the legal assistants in local and satellite offices.
- Conduct initial assessment of case referrals received against case acceptance criteria and program priorities.
- Research and coordinate application process for attorney bar and court admissions.
- Documented discussions and decisions by recording meeting minutes for accurate reference.
Paralegal Assistant
Lightfoot, Franklin & White
Houston
04.2016 - 12.2018
- Drafted correspondence, motions, discovery.
- Prepared exhibits for filings, mediations, and hearing/trial binders.
- Completed e-filing tasks for court documents, ensuring timely submissions.
- Ordered, reviewed, and summarized medical, employment, and insurance records to support case preparation and strategy development.
- Organized and maintained client files, both paper and electronic, to facilitate quick access and improve document retrieval.
- Coordinated office, paralegal, and attorney calendars to ensure efficient scheduling and timely task management.
- Handled day to day office needs and operations.
- Reviewed incoming mail; prioritized items requiring immediate attention; distributed accordingly.
Pet Stylist
Lexington Blvd. Animal Hospital
Sugar Land
06.2011 - 03.2016
- Customized grooming services based on individual client preferences.
- Fostered strong communication and relationships with clients to enhance loyalty.
- Executed client appointments punctually to ensure satisfaction.
Salon Manager
PetSmart
Sugar Land
05.2007 - 06.2011
- Achieved high customer satisfaction through personalized service and attentive experiences.
- Developed and implemented onboarding and training programs for new groomers and associates.
- Coordinated employee and client scheduling, inventory management, and conflict resolution.
- Reported financial and safety stats to Store and Regional Managers.
Education
Paralegal Certificate -
University of Houston
Houston, TX01.2016
Surgical Technology Certificate -
Oklahoma Health Academy
Moore, OK01.2004
Skills
- Case file management
- Confidential information handling
- Proofreading
- Risk management
- Project coordination
- Client collaboration
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Microsoft Office
- Time management
- Typing proficiency
References
available upon request
Timeline
Paralegal
Johnson Law Group
03.2019 - Current
Paralegal Assistant
Lightfoot, Franklin & White
04.2016 - 12.2018
Pet Stylist
Lexington Blvd. Animal Hospital
06.2011 - 03.2016
Salon Manager
PetSmart
05.2007 - 06.2011
Paralegal Certificate -
University of Houston
Surgical Technology Certificate -
Oklahoma Health Academy