GRACE L. ALONZO
Sicklerville,NJ
Summary
Seasoned Executive Legal Assistant/ Paralegal, years of experience and the ability to manage and prioritize tasks for multiple attorneys and supervise support staff with diligent legal professional skills in drafting pleadings, e-discovery, court filings, managing calendars, client audits, organized case management, and work delegation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Assistant
Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Cappelli
Cherry Hill, NJ
06.2024 - Current
- Prepared legal documents, ensuring compliance with court requirements and deadlines.
- Conduct legal research to support case preparation and strategy development.
- Assisted attorneys in trial preparation by organizing exhibits and case files.
- Managed client communications, providing updates on case status and gathering necessary information.
- Coordinated scheduling for depositions, meetings, and court appearances efficiently.
- Maintained accurate records of case progress and documentation within legal management systems.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline administrative processes, enhancing overall office productivity.
- Trained new staff on office procedures and document management protocols effectively.
- Facilitated timely resolution of legal matters by preparing and organizing essential documents.
- Enhanced office productivity by implementing efficient document management systems for easy retrieval and storage.
Paralegal
Dorf & Nelson LLP
Rye, NY
03.2020 - 06.2023
- Adhered to privacy laws to avert possible information breaches and protect client data.
- Completed electronic court filings at state and federal levels.
- Developed polished legal documents, including motions, to support litigation processes and court proceedings.
- Coordinated exhibits by organizing materials, writing documentation and preparing digital materials for expert review.
- Maintained litigation docket notifications regarding new filings, deadlines for responsive pleadings, motions and other important deadlines.
- Timely respond to and answer client calls, emails and other specific inquiries.
- Reviewed case files and reported case progress to attorneys and clients.
- Created documents and requests for admissions, document production, examinations and inspections.
- Conferred with attorneys and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Compiled documentation, ensuring accuracy and detail for legal documents, responses to opposing counsel, motions to court and trial exhibits.
Executive Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Martin Clearwater & Bell, LLP
New York, NY
07.2006 - 03.2020
- Kept physical files and digitized records organized for easy updating and retrieval by authorized team members
- Diligently edited legal correspondence for grammar and spelling
- Produced accurate office files, updated spreadsheets and crafted presentations to support executives and boost team efficiency
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses and court officials
- Scheduled and made appointments for attorneys
- Maintained office supplies inventory by checking stock and ordering new supplies as needed
- Maintained calendar and tickler system for managing partner, associate attorney and senior paralegals
- Drafted settlement agreements
- Prepared witness, discovery, pleading, trial and exhibit binders for oral argument and depositions
- Supervised team of attorneys, paralegals, and other legal personnel in daily operations and case management
- Prepared and electronically filed motions, orders and moving papers District, Supreme and Federal courts
- Provided administrative support to outside offices by duplicating and circulating documents, managing office mail, and handling individual requests
- Conducted legal research and conferred with colleagues regarding subject matter expertise to develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases
- Prepared concise and comprehensive memoranda providing key litigation material for trial
- Reviewed complaints and draft answers for attorney review
- Prepared research materials for witness review, mediations/arbitrations and trials
- Organized and maintained law libraries, documents and case files
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Politics, Economics & Society
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Old Westbury, NY2009
Associate of Arts and Sciences - Paralegal Studies
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY05.2007
Skills
- Editing and proofreading
- Efficient multi-tasker
- Strategic planning
- Administrative skills
- Legal research
- Processing court documents
- Trial memorandum preparation
- Data compilation
- Electronic discovery
- Editing
- MS Office
- Leadership
- Answering phones
- Written and verbal communication
- Legal correspondence preparation
Timeline
Legal Assistant
Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Cappelli
06.2024 - Current
Paralegal
Dorf & Nelson LLP
03.2020 - 06.2023
Executive Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Martin Clearwater & Bell, LLP
07.2006 - 03.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Politics, Economics & Society
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Associate of Arts and Sciences - Paralegal Studies
Nassau Community College