Joyce Cruz-Megne
Miramar,FL
Summary
Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Assistant 1
United Service Automobile Association
01.2018 - Current
- Provide legal assistance for attorneys in the area of Bodily Injury and Property Damage.
- Set up new cases and worked through all stages of the litigation process, including trial and post-trial.
- Provide administrative support to attorneys by managing calendars, scheduling appointments, organizing files, preparing correspondence, filing court documents, and obtaining necessary signatures.
- Handle the issuance of NNP and subpoenas.
- Daily communication with clients, adjusters, and managers regarding cases.
- Ensured compliance with internal procedures and external regulations.
- Facilitated communication between attorneys, clients, witnesses and others involved in legal proceedings.
- Manage office coverage and paid time-off calendar to avoid scheduling errors and conflicts.
- Monitor office supplies to replenish needed inventory before depletion.
- Maintain and reconcile check issuance ledger.
Senior Paralegal
Insurance Litigation Group
05.2016 - Current
- Provide legal assistance for attorneys in the area of employment law, property damage, and assignment of benefit cases.
- Handled big exposure and complex cases in lower, federal, and appeal courts.
- Handled all trials for the firm, responsible for entering trial deadlines, preparing witness and exhibit lists, coordinating experts' depositions, handling requests for expert discovery, scheduling conferences, and keeping a trial flow of the cases.
- For appeals and federal cases, help with the drafting and organizing of legal briefs to comply with court standards.
- In non-trial cases, draft correspondence, motions, notices, issue subpoenas, maintain attorneys' calendars, make travel arrangements, and conduct legal research as needed on Westlaw and Lexis Nexis.
- Update clients and management on case status.
- Assisted in employee recruitment, hiring and interview processes.
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Law Office of Shirejian & O'Hara, Staff Counsel Offices for Mercury Insurance Group
04.2010 - 05.2016
- Provided legal assistance for attorneys in the area of Bodily Injury, Property Damage, PIP, and Subrogation cases.
- Provided administrative support to attorneys by managing calendars; scheduling appointments; organizing files; preparing correspondence; filing court documents; and obtaining necessary signatures.
- Set up new cases and worked all stages of the litigation process, including trial and post-trial
- Coordinated and scheduled appointments such as depositions, arbitrations, mediations, compulsory medical examination, court hearings, etc.; maintained attorney's calendars; and made travel arrangements.
- Handled the issuance of NNP and subpoenas
- Reviewed medical records to obtain LOPs and Bills, responded to discovery requests
- Daily communication with clients, adjusters, and managers regarding cases
- Drafted and e-filed subrogation complaints, negotiated settlements, motions, and agreements.
- Researched case law, statutes, regulations and other legal authorities to support assigned tasks.
Legal Assistant
Staff Counsel Offices for Allstate and Encompass Insurance
12.2005 - 04.2010
- Provided legal assistance for defense attorneys in the area of Bodily Injury, Property Damage, and Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance
- Coordinated and scheduled appointments such as depositions, arbitrations, mediations, compulsory medical examination, court hearings, etc.; maintain attorney’s calendars; and make travel arrangements
- Conducted legal research, composed correspondence and legal pleadings
- Handled the issuance of NNP and subpoenas
- Reviewed medical records to obtain LOPs and Bills, responded to discovery requests
- Daily communication with clients, adjusters, and managers regarding cases.
Transportation Security Officer
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
02.2008 - 04.2008
- Performed security screening of persons, including tasks such as hand-wanding, pat-down searches, and monitoring walk-through metal detector screening equipment. Performed security screening of property, including the operation of x-ray machines to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft. Controlled entry and exit points.
- Ensured that all personnel entering restricted areas had proper credentials and authorization.
- Participated in regular drills designed to test preparedness levels for potential threats.
- Communicated effectively with team members while performing duties under pressure.
Staff Assistant/Technical Coordinator
Office of the Attorney General Charlie Crist, Lemon Law Arbitration Department
06.2001 - 12.2005
- Provided legal support for attorneys
- Assisted consumers with inquiries about the arbitration process
- Prepared calendar of arbitration hearings, panel of arbitration, and booked sites
- Prepared legal documents such as subpoenas, motions, notice of hearings, and general pleadings
- Traveled to hearing sites as the board secretary and recorded hearings
- Kept files organized for twenty-four arbitrators including preparation of payment and travel reimbursement
- Technical Coordinator: Provided computer assistance for the lemon law unit personnel, added, revised, and deleted new employee information
- Assisted the unlicensed activities investigation unit with undercover assignments.
Administrative Assistant
PickSat Technology Inc.
Miami, FL
06.2000 - 03.2001
- Provided administrative support for the chief technical officer and computer engineers
- Assisted local area users with network-related issues
- Managed help desk complaints for co-workers and clients
- Arranged meetings, drafted minutes, and set conference calls
- Prepared purchase orders, developed and maintained a database for inventory control.
Education
Juris Masters in Legal Risk Management and HR Compliance -
Florida State University
12.2022
Immigration Law Certificate -
Florida State University
02.2016
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice -
Florida International University
12.2011
Paralegal Certificate -
University of Miami
02.2007
Associates Degree in Business Administration -
Broward Community College
08.2005
Legal Secretary Certificate -
Florida International University
03.2003
Skills
- Team player
- Legal Compliance
- Litigation Management
- Office Administration
Professionalreferences
- Regina Murphey, Esq., Trial Attorney, Florida, 954-815-3281
- Edgar R. Nunez, Esq., Trial Attorney, 305-407-6257
Certification
- Notary Public
Languages
English
Professional
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Legal Assistant 1
United Service Automobile Association
01.2018 - Current
Senior Paralegal
Insurance Litigation Group
05.2016 - Current
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Law Office of Shirejian & O'Hara, Staff Counsel Offices for Mercury Insurance Group
04.2010 - 05.2016
Transportation Security Officer
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
02.2008 - 04.2008
Legal Assistant
Staff Counsel Offices for Allstate and Encompass Insurance
12.2005 - 04.2010
Staff Assistant/Technical Coordinator
Office of the Attorney General Charlie Crist, Lemon Law Arbitration Department
06.2001 - 12.2005
Administrative Assistant
PickSat Technology Inc.
06.2000 - 03.2001
Juris Masters in Legal Risk Management and HR Compliance -
Florida State University
Immigration Law Certificate -
Florida State University
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice -
Florida International University
Paralegal Certificate -
University of Miami
Associates Degree in Business Administration -
Broward Community College
Legal Secretary Certificate -
Florida International University
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