Paralegal Specialist skilled at supporting legal proceedings relating to all law areas, including federal, state, civil, criminal, and contract law. Strong verbal and written communication skills along with advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite. Desiring to bring 15 years of experience in legal field to a challenging new position.
Hi, I’m
Iva L. Dawkins
McAlester,United States
Summary
Overview
35
years of professional experience
3
Certification
Work History
Haileyville Public School
Teacher
01.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Instruct early elementary students subjects such as phonics, math, and reading
- Prepare daily lesson plans
- Track each student’s progress by utilizing excel and other tracking programs
- Provided guidance to coworkers on the design, installation, maintenance, evaluation, documentation, and standardization of requirements and procedures enforced by the school district and the Department of Education
- Utilize complex record keeping system
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
- Designed detailed learning plans for struggling students based on test, homework and assignment records.
General Counsel’s Office
Legal Assistant
05.2018 - 02.2021
Job overview
- Company Overview: McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (This is a federal job)
- Evaluated new cases in order to make recommendations to attorney on proposed responses
- Reviewed record and non-record title evidence for compliance with standards of the Department of Defense
- Utilized Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Assisted FOIA Coordinator with receiving, examining, processing, researching, analyzing, evaluating and analyzed FOIA requests
- Initiated correspondence in response to FOIA requests in a timely manner
- Utilized FOIA, privacy, confidentiality, and PII protected documents to complete tasks
- Independently kept abreast of all developments in the field of disclosure, including recent court and department decisions, current legislation resolutions or problems encountered within the FOIA program
- Advised government officials of new FOIA developments
- Independently redacted documents in accordance with the provisions applicable to instructions and policy
- Prepared and amended Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as needed
- Assisted Chief Counsel with administrative and judicial litigation
- Reviewed and electronically filed incident reports
- Conducted public records research and reviewed conveyance records in order to obtain title ownership data
- Identified encumbrances and liens held on property
- Identified and documented all legal instruments entering and exiting the General Counsel’s Office
- Each instrument was documented and tracked via spreadsheet with other similar instruments
- Identified and drafted an array of legal instruments for Chief Counsel
- Drafted releases and disclaimers
- Worked with counsel to clear or cure title, remove encumbrances and lien releases on property
- Drafted contracts for purchase of real estate
- Drafted documents for closings
- Drafted documents to ensure compliance with policy, regulations, legislative authority, and overall legal sufficiency
- Performed legal research of regulations, laws, legal databases, to obtain information or address issues or concerns
- Responded to a variety of customer inquiries by providing information to internal and external customers
- Maintained docket and tickler systems for responses, appearances, scheduling court reporters, and witnesses
- Researched laws, legal determinations and regulations relating to all areas of government litigation including standards of conduct, government, procedures, equal employment opportunity, environmental protection, and labor laws
- Maintained law library, including but not limited to ordering updates and physically maintaining library
- Maintained inventory for legal department and order supplies as needed
- Maintained confidentiality
- Converted hardcopy files to e-filing system
- Independently drafted Wills, Power of Attorneys, and correspondence
- E-filed all documents
- Maintained AIRMS filing system
- Maintained Excel spreadsheet of all incoming and outgoing documents
- Directed all documents approved by General Counsel to appropriate department
- Assisted in processing tort claims, contract claims, protests, and third-party Equal Employment Opportunity, or personal litigation
- Prepared litigation reports, exhibits, statements, and affidavits
- Referred documents to U.S
- Attorneys and U.S
- Magistrates to ensure documents are properly prepared, signed and processed in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements
- Responsible for making all documents PII protected
- Completed required documents to recycle materials, including law books, cans, paper, and plastic items
- Operated and maintained scanner
- Prepared and filed documents with the Merit System Protection Board
- Managed and maintained assigned personnel actions
- Filed documents with the Merit Protection Agency, according to rules, regulations, and proper procedure
- Assisted supervisors with investigations and responses to grievances
- Prepared documentation for adverse actions and appeals
- Provided guidance to employees on personnel policy, administrative regulations and employee rights and services, and any other subject not referred through supervisory channels
- Gathered background information and prepare formal correspondence on full range of disciplinary actions
- Performed support work related to management employee relations
- Conducted interviews to obtain factual information
- Provided assistance to managers concerning relatively common issues or problems related to performance standards, evaluations, leave or attendance questions
- Conducted projects or portions of projects on complex issues
- Analyzed data automation policies, regulations, and procedures to determine their impact on information system
- Provided legal assistance and general support to staff attorneys with the appropriate research, developed, and maintained files for cases in support of litigation in the matter of contract claims, appeals or other civil litigation
- Responsible for timekeeping
- Distributed, coordinated, and tracked attorney workflow
- Advocated the government’s position through oral and writing skills by presenting facts and legal arguments in a persuasive manner
- Provided guidance and assistant to professional and support staff on district court and appellate matters
- McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (This is a federal job)
- FOIA Training
- Ethics Training
- NARA Certified in Records Management
- OGE Form 450 Custodian
- Key Inventory Custodian
- Chosen by the Department of the Army to attend Kansas State University to obtain Paralegal Certificate
- Paralegal Certificate
McAlester Public Schools
Middle School Geography Teacher
08.2016 - 07.2018
Job overview
- Taught geography to middle school aged students
- Utilized various teaching methods, such as lecture and demonstration
- Assisted with planning and managing functional maintenance
- Provided guidance to coworkers on the design, installation, maintenance, evaluation, documentation, and standardization of requirements and procedures enforced by the school district or Department of Education
- Researched and orientated, with coworkers in my department, concepts to introduce and integrate new technologies
Hartshorne Public School
Instructor
08.2003 - 01.2009
Job overview
- Taught science to middle school aged students for 3 years
- (2005-2009)
- Taught 1st and 2nd grade elementary students onsite at Jones Academy (BIA) (2003-2005)
- Adhered to BIA, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and local school district’s regulations and procedures
- Offered guidance and counseled coworkers to ensure policies, procedures, and regulations were being met and followed
- Ensured governing boards were in compliance with Tribal, State, and Federal education laws that determine adequate yearly progress in meeting applicable, measureable, academic achievement standards
Brown and Brown Law Office
Legal Assistant/Office Manager
01.1999 - 08.2003
Job overview
- Independently prepared and posted vacancy announcements electronically and in newspaper
- Reviewed applications and resumes to determine qualifications of applicants
- Evaluate applications to determine they are complete and accurate in order to inform management officials with eligible and qualified candidates
- Interpreted personnel principles, concepts, techniques, and routines
- Interviewed candidates
- Provided referral recommendations to supervisor for selection
- Provided interpretation and clarification of vacancy qualifications to perspective employees
- Updated database with new and changing personnel information
- Responsible for payroll, including timesheets, miscellaneous deductions, federal and state taxes, sick leave, and vacation
- Responsible for accounts receivable and payable
- Prepared pleadings and correspondence
- Filed documents with the court, including municipal, county, state, and federal
- Met with clients to gather pertinent information
- Entered client information database
- Prepared written responses to applicant inquiries and related issues in accordance with established procedures
- Explained recruitment strategies in order to recruit the host highly qualified candidates
- Conducted formal and informal training to new employees
- Conducted position management surveys to implement and ensure the knowledge of new standards and/or changes to existing standards
- Researched human resources laws, regulations, and standard operating procedures
- Researched, interpreted, and applied human resource regulations and/or guidelines to provide advisory services to management
- Conducted interviews to obtain factual information
- Provided advice to supervisors concerning relatively common issues or problems related to performance standards, evaluations, leave, or attendance questions
- Applied regulations, policies, and operating instructions applicable to financial management systems operations
- Utilized a variety of office automation software, such as word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, graphics, and databases to support financial management initiatives
- Identified, analyzed and resolved a range of budgetary problems such as development of alternative methods of funding
- Analyzed work and performance throughout the budget cycle to ensure the budget was on track
- Prepared documents to serve on creditors of local banking institution to obtain judgments
- Prepared documents for Hearing on Assets to garnish or mediate settlement of claims
Stipe Law Firm
Legal Assistant
11.1989 - 12.1998
Job overview
- Independently prepared pleadings and correspondence
- Conducted legal research
- Drafted pleadings and correspondence for attorneys to review
- Maintained accounts receivable and payable
- Maintained docket of court dates, appointments, meetings, and depositions
- Responsible for preparing all probate pleadings, end-to-end, from meeting with heirs to gather information to distribution of assets
- Prepared Estate Tax Returns
- Prepared an array of Deeds, Contracts for Deeds, Contracts for Sale of Real Estate and Division Orders
- Independently read abstracts and prepared Title Opinions
- Coordinated meetings, appointments, and depositions
- Trained new employee’s proper procedures and routines
- Assisted with research and originated concepts to introduce and integrate new technologies
- Conducted projects or portions of projects on complex issues
- Prepared documents and exhibits for trial
- Independently prepared discovery documents
- Independently met with clients to gather information for discovery
- Discussed relevant facts of cases with attorneys from the onset through litigation, trial and, if warranted, appeal
- Utilized Westlaw to research laws and findings of previous findings
- Conducted extensive and through legal research and writing
- Independently analyzed and evaluated facts and legal issues
- Applied applicable law, regulations and policies
- Independently summarized cases
- Independently drafted briefs and other litigation pleadings
- Prepared loan documents and contracts for clients wishing to sell and/or buy properties
- Recorded deeds and mortgages
- Analyze data automation policies, regulations, and procedures to determine their impact on information system
- Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
- Wrote and filed pleadings with federal, state and municipal court on schedule to maximize case success.
Education
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS
Certificate from Paralegal Studies
05-2019
University Overview
East Central UniversityAda, OK
Master of Science from Education Administration
05.2005
University Overview
Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK
Bachelor of Science from Elementary Education
05.2003
University Overview
Eastern Oklahoma State CollegeWilburton, OK
Associate of Science from Secretarial Science With Legal Option
05.1988
University Overview
Skills
- Legal analysis
- Client communication
- FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)
- Schedule management
- Regulatory compliance
- Legal research skills
- Expertise in legal proceedings
- Exhibit preparation
- Case file organization
- Legal writing
- Witness interview skills
- Administrative assistance
- Contract review
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Teacher
Haileyville Public School
01.2024 - Current
Legal Assistant
General Counsel’s Office
05.2018 - 02.2021
Middle School Geography Teacher
McAlester Public Schools
08.2016 - 07.2018
Instructor
Hartshorne Public School
08.2003 - 01.2009
Legal Assistant/Office Manager
Brown and Brown Law Office
01.1999 - 08.2003
Legal Assistant
Stipe Law Firm
11.1989 - 12.1998
Kansas State University
Certificate from Paralegal Studies
East Central University
Master of Science from Education Administration
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Science from Elementary Education
Eastern Oklahoma State College
Associate of Science from Secretarial Science With Legal Option
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