Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Interests
Timeline
Generic

Lara Duff

Ankeny,Iowa

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Public Defender Paralegal

Warutere Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
08.2021 - 07.2024
  • Drafted and filed motions, appearances, withdrawals, subpoenas, notices, exhibit & witness lists, & proposed orders for post-conviction relief and children in need of assistance (CINA) cases in Polk & Scott Counties.
  • Knowledge of Iowa Courts Online, SPD claim process, process servers in Polk & Scott County.
  • Communicated daily with Iowa Correctional Facilities in order to locate dozens of clients and update clients on case status.

Defense Liability Paralegal

Hopkins & Huebner, PC
01.2018 - 08.2021
  • Investigated Plaintiff’s auto injury claim by analyzing and summarizing medical records for pre-existing health conditions related to Plaintiffs’ claim.
  • Worked through subrogation process by analyzing liens
  • Knowledge of HIPAA, medical terminology, social media, Lexis Nexis, Westlaw, Microsoft Office & Excel.
  • Requested billing records & prepared Excel spreadsheets with related medical charges for insurance adjuster.
  • Organized and prepared hard copy and electronic medical records for experts, hearings and trials.
  • Drafted various pleadings including, Answers to Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents.
  • Conducted general office duties and prioritized multiple workloads to meet deadlines in advance for attorneys.

Volunteer

Iowa Caucus
02.2016 - 02.2020
  • Counted and reported 293 caucus goers as a precinct captain in Ankeny’s largest precinct 13.
  • Successfully prepared location, documents, coordinated volunteers and ran precinct 8 as Caucus Chair.

Researcher

Vote Smart
04.2017 - 01.2018
  • Researched and collected statements made from public officials in Congress to inform and educate voters.
  • Managed three interns throughout the week keeping track of their schedules and productivity.

Reporter

Journal-Eureka
04.2016 - 04.2017
  • Collaborated and brainstormed with colleagues for story ideas that informed readers.
  • Reported about Jones County’s Central Park Lake water quality status in 2017, which was picked up as a story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
  • Reported Jones County’s 2016 general election results for the Associated Press.
  • Interviewed, researched & accurately attributed information and shot photographs to complement stories.
  • Covered Anamosa school board, County Supervisor and City Council, and legislative meetings.

Paralegal

Graham, Ervanian & Cacciatore, LLP
12.2014 - 04.2016
  • Filed pleadings, deposition notices, briefs and other legal documents related to Probate and litigation cases.
  • Administered tasks such as phone calls, copying, scanning and maintained and organized files.
  • Scheduled meetings, prepared correspondence, sorted mail, and notarized various documents.

Assistant

Office of the Polk County Attorney
06.2011 - 06.2014
  • Organized, analyzed and copied discovery material and documentation for attorneys on OWI docket.
  • Conducted general office duties such as, copying, scanning, filing, and phone calls for the paralegal.

Intern

Office of Senator Tom Harkin
06.2013 - 09.2013
  • Helped Iowa constituents communicate with federal bureaucracies by assisting staffers with casework.
  • Assembled the Senator’s briefing book on occasion and regretted invitations on his behalf.
  • Conducted outreach by informing constituents about Senator Harkin’s position on minimum wage policy.

Education

B.A. - Political Science, Journalism & Mass Communication

University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
05.2014

Skills

  • Patience and perseverance
  • EDMS & Iowa Courts Online
  • Microsoft Office & Excel
  • Westlaw & LexisNexis

Interests

  • Growing herbs & vegetables in my home garden
  • Cooking for friends and family gatherings
  • Gluten free lifestyle
  • Volunteering & staying politically connected with Ankeny Area Democrats

Timeline

Public Defender Paralegal

Warutere Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
08.2021 - 07.2024

Defense Liability Paralegal

Hopkins & Huebner, PC
01.2018 - 08.2021

Researcher

Vote Smart
04.2017 - 01.2018

Reporter

Journal-Eureka
04.2016 - 04.2017

Volunteer

Iowa Caucus
02.2016 - 02.2020

Paralegal

Graham, Ervanian & Cacciatore, LLP
12.2014 - 04.2016

Intern

Office of Senator Tom Harkin
06.2013 - 09.2013

Assistant

Office of the Polk County Attorney
06.2011 - 06.2014

B.A. - Political Science, Journalism & Mass Communication

University of Iowa

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Lara Duff