KATIE CARDENAS
Gainesville,VA
Summary
Dedicated, forward-thinking, and bilingual administrative professional with over seven years of experience in fast-paced office settings. Hardworking team player with expertise in completing various clerical tasks and offering staff support. Responsible, punctual, and productive when working with little to no supervision. Confident team player seeking a challenging position as an investigative aide, eagerly wanting to contribute to a government agency with intelligence gathering, research, and report production to make a meaningful impact.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Administrative Assistant II
Fairfax County Police Department
Fairfax, VA
01.2018 - Current
- Provide clerical support to Major Crimes Bureau, including transcribing statements of witnesses, victims, and suspects.
- Assist in daily operations, working efficiently with command staff, detectives, and civilians.
- Assist the payroll department by handling time and attendance entries for assigned division and providing a report for final approval.
- Maintain precise calendars, deadlines, and reservations to enhance office productivity.
- Manage phone and email correspondence and handle incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Sort and distribute office mail and recorded incoming shipments for division.
- Improve document organization with thorough file maintenance, archiving outdated records as necessary for efficient retrieval when needed.
- Coordinate office supply inventory management, proactively ordering necessary items before depletion to avoid workflow disruptions.
- Draft and proofread correspondence and other documents for the division commander.
- Update and maintain personnel files.
- Transcribe sensitive documents with complete confidentiality.
- Examine and translate texts and social media platform messages extracted with Cellebrite software, from Spanish to English.
- Produce and deliver transcripts within anticipated timeframes to meet tight deadlines.
- Provide lead detective with any critical information by listening to jail calls.
- Verify accuracy of transcribed material before finalization.
- Assist detectives with consecutive interpretation during interviews.
Paralegal
FirstPoint Law Group
Fairfax, VA
04.2017 - 12.2017
- Conducted intake interviews with potential clients to determine proper defense actions.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by providing timely and accurate bilingual legal support in both English and Spanish.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
- Reduced attorney workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and affidavits.
- Created and maintained files for clients.
- Filed motions on behalf of clients.
- Managed scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain a smooth flow of firm operations.
- Conducted jail visits for existing and potential clients
- Reviewed discovery materials. (e.g., videos, police narratives, lab analysis)
- Communicated with clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Interviewed clients to obtain information relevant to cases.
Nanny
Independent employer
Fairfax, VA
03.2016 - 04.2017
- Cared for twins, age 2.
- Engaged with children on age-appropriate level.
- Coordinated playdates and outings to meet children's physical and social needs.
- Identified warning signs of emotional and developmental problems in children.
- Transported children to and from activities using personal or family vehicle.
- Organized, managed, and supervised daily activities and events per parental and educational plans
- Administered basic first-aid and medication in emergency situations.
- Prepared meals and snacks for children.
- Assisted with light housekeeping duties as well as running errands.
Police Recruit
Fairfax County Police Department
Fairfax, VA
08.2014 - 05.2015
- Engaged in basic law enforcement training.
- Developed skills in the following areas: communications, physical fitness, firearms training, defensive tactics training, report writing, CPR training, and VCIN (Virginia Criminal Information Network) training.
Paralegal
FirstPoint Law Group
Fairfax, VA
02.2014 - 07.2014
- Conducted intake interviews with potential clients for misdemeanor, felony, and traffic charges.
- Prepared case files for all new clients.
- Filed paperwork and motions with multiple courts for all of the firm's cases.
- Organized and tracked the firm's cases in the criminal and traffic divisions in multiple jurisdictions.
- Conducted and aided attorneys' interviews of existing clients in jail visits.
- Personally retained several new clients that resulted in over a $10,000 profit.
Education
Master of Science - Forensic Science
George Mason University
Fairfax05.2018
Bachelor of Science - Criminology, Law And Society
George Mason University
Fairfax05.2014
Associate of Science - General Studies
NOVA Community College
Fairfax12.2012
Skills
- Data Collection
- Data Entry
- Research writing
- Ethical and honest
- Confidentiality
- Multitasking
- Time Management
- Office Administration
- Data Protection
- Microsoft Office
- Courtroom Testimony
- Technology-savvy
Skills Summary
- A reliable, detail-oriented professional with exceptional organizational and communication skills.
- Well-versed in assisting in law enforcement investigations.
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Administrative Assistant II
Fairfax County Police Department
01.2018 - Current
Paralegal
FirstPoint Law Group
04.2017 - 12.2017
Nanny
Independent employer
03.2016 - 04.2017
Police Recruit
Fairfax County Police Department
08.2014 - 05.2015
Paralegal
FirstPoint Law Group
02.2014 - 07.2014
Master of Science - Forensic Science
George Mason University
Bachelor of Science - Criminology, Law And Society
George Mason University
Associate of Science - General Studies
NOVA Community College