JOHANA MENDOZA
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Motivated and experienced legal professional familiar with structuring streamline processes, training new employee's, reviewing work material and answering colleague's questions for complex title search issues. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Driven to provide accuracy and quality work while keeping to urgent client requests and deadlines. Possess excellent communication leadership skills which allows to cultivate a positive and mutually beneficial work relationships and environment. Proven versatility of skills allowing for handling a variety of job duties and responsibilities. Willingness to explore other ventures and adept at adjusting for unexpected opportunities. Contain over 10 years of experience in the legal field along with completing a Masters of Science in Legal Studies degree.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Title Abstractor Manager - Builder Division
Costner Law Office
01.2022 - Current
- Utilize various online databases and public land records to verify ownership information in multiple states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
- Manage small team of two abstractors ensuring work is distributed evenly and assist with any abstractor questions on searches to meet client deadlines.
- Type draft preliminary title opinions, base reports and title binders to be examined and certified by licensed attorneys for land acquisition deals, commercial development, residential and builder title work in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee markets.
- Update at least ten builder spreadsheets for communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee on monthly basis.
- Create or add new spreadsheets for growing or new subdivisions.
- Conduct simple to complex title searches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee markets. Complex searches include base work, multiple parcel searches, development/commercial searches.
- Facilitate and complete tract plotting projects using Net Deed Plotter software.
- Create training manuals, guidelines and notes for abstractors to streamline abstracting processes for all markets.
- Update titles searches as needed and supervise Abstractor inbox, answer emails from team members or delegate to appropriate parties to answer.
- Provide receptionist coverage by answering phone calls and signing in clients for real estate closings.
Title Curative Paralegal & Title Abstractor
Costner Law Office
06.2019 - 12.2021
- Aided closing teams with curative issues on title.
- Contacted lenders to locate previous owner mortgages and requested payoffs.
- Managed Title Department shared inbox and ensured communication was received by appropriate parties to respond.
- Assigned title searches to in-house abstractors for title work completion.
- Ordered title searches to outside abstractors.
- Typed draft preliminary title opinions for builder and residential attorneys to review.
- Completed updates on titles searches for builder and residential properties in North Carolina and South Carolina markets.
- Assisted with front desk receptionist duties such as answering phones and signing in clients for closings as needed.
Title Coordinator
American Home Title
09.2017 - 06.2019
- Carefully reviewed title commitments to ensure property, home, or condo were free and clear of any issues such as liens, judgments, and mortgages.
- Ensured buyer or seller was properly vested in title and thoroughly analyzed legal descriptions on title were accurate and correct.
- Placed title order requests from clients by opening new file in Resware to keep record of client orders.
- Sorted through Titles Department inbox, made necessary and appropriate corrections or changes on title documents for clients when requested,
- Aided title curative team with files containing title issues and providing resolutions.
- Performed data entry and administrative tasks to keep records and files organized and current.
- Communicated with customers to resolve common title issues.
- Maintained confidentiality and security of personal information to protect customer privacy and prevent identity theft.
- Audited and reviewed title documents for accuracy and compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Analyzed title documents to identify potential issues and resolve any discrepancies.
- Assisted in preparation of title insurance policies and title commitments for underwriters and licensed attorneys offices.
Legal Intern
Robert J. Reeves, P.C.
05.2017 - 11.2017
- Conducted legal research and wrote at least four articles of legal content per week for firm to generate online traffic to firm website on topics such as drug addiction, criminal laws, and driving while impaired offense and penalties.
- All content is written using Yoast Search Engine Optimization to maximize internet traffic to firm's website.
- Reviewed, edited and proofread legal contact for proper grammar, spelling and punctuation using Yoast Search Engine Optimization parameters before publishing approved articles on firm website.
- Researched North Carolina and South Carolina statutes, decisions, legal articles, and codes.
- Analyzed facts and case law to determine possible defenses for clients and published blogs on firm website.
- Researched and analyzed legal issues and cases to provide accurate advice to potential clients researching criminal offenses using firm website.
Civil Legal Assistant
Law Offices Of Kurtz & Blum, P.L.L.C.
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Communicated and corresponded with clients and prospective clients in English and Spanish.
- Interviewed clients to obtain information relevant to cases.
- Interpreted consultations with attorney for Spanish-speaking clients.
- Managed Supervising attorney's schedule to assure attorney met deadlines for filings on cases and had availability to communicate with prospective and current clients.
- Organized documents to manage paper and electronic filing systems of clients.
- Filed court documents and legal pleadings with court clerk on behalf of attorneys.
- Prepared and drafted correspondence and legal forms to maintain smooth communications.
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality, and extreme discretion.
- Responded to client inquiries to provide accurate legal advice and offer assistance.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
- Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
Bilingual Legal Assistant
Kurtz & Blum, P.L.L.C.
11.2009 - 08.2015
- Answered multi-line phones.
- Managed Quickbooks entry for new and current clients.
- Filed court documents and legal pleadings with court clerk on behalf of attorneys.
- Trained five new legal assistances on front desk duties such as answering phones, opening files, taking payments, and speaking with clients about traffic matters.
- Emailed and mailed closing and continuance letters in Spanish and English providing case updates.
- Data entry for prospective and current clients in Time Matters.
Interpreted for attorney appointments for criminal and family law consultations. - Assisted with interpreting for lawyers in court for Spanish speaking clients.
- Mailed correspondence through regular mail and certified mail for attorneys.
- Responded to emails and voicemail messages for prospective client inquires.
- Organized documents to manage paper and electronic filing systems of clients.
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality, and extreme discretion.
- Scheduled appointments and court appearances for busy law firm.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
- Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Interviewed clients to obtain information relevant to cases and passed information to attorneys.
Education
Master of Science - Legal Studies
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN01.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC05.2015
Skills
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in team environment
- Self-motivated, strong sense of personal responsibility
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations
- Work well in team setting, providing support and guidance
- Work effectively in fast-paced environments
- Manage time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines
- Demonstrate respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement
- Successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment
- Competent at legal research and writing
- Fluently speak, write and read in Spanish
- Skilled at Data Entry in SoftPro, Resware, and Time Matters
- Microsoft Office proficient
- Experienced title reviewer and searcher
- Tract Plot metes & bounds legal descriptions on Net deed plotter
- Managerial skills
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Title Abstractor Manager - Builder Division
Costner Law Office
01.2022 - Current
Title Curative Paralegal & Title Abstractor
Costner Law Office
06.2019 - 12.2021
Title Coordinator
American Home Title
09.2017 - 06.2019
Legal Intern
Robert J. Reeves, P.C.
05.2017 - 11.2017
Civil Legal Assistant
Law Offices Of Kurtz & Blum, P.L.L.C.
06.2016 - 08.2016
Bilingual Legal Assistant
Kurtz & Blum, P.L.L.C.
11.2009 - 08.2015
Master of Science - Legal Studies
Purdue University Global
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
North Carolina State University
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