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
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
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
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