LaShay Brown
Peoria,United States
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Assistant, GS-0986-08
Social Security Administration
12.2022 - Current
- Reviews and analyzes the cases to ensure sufficiency of evidence or documentation and to ensure that the cases are ready for hearing
- Obtains medical and non-medical evidence needed for the hearing
- Contacts claimants and/or representatives to secure evidence records
- Independently request current evidence from a medical source and consultive exams through the State agency to complete the files
- Summarizes pertinent and factual data extracted from the claim and recommends to the Judge whether or not a request for hearing should be dismissed
- Develops cases to meet legal and development taking on its own initiative by scrutinizing medical evidence, treatment, and treating sources so that the Judge is fully cognizant of the diagnoses and all areas of medical treatment provided to the claimant
- Points out discrepancies in factual issues that should be addressed at the hearing
- Selects pertinent exhibits to be included in the case record
- Marks exhibits in preparation of the case for hearing
- Contacts unrepresented claimants by phone as part of the Pre-Hearing Development Contact program to explain the hearing process, including the right to representation
- Discusses additional medical sources and requests updated medical evidence
- Works with individuals in various components of SSA to locate and secure missing documentation and/or prior files needed to fully develop the hearing request
- Ensures that aged cases, terminally ill (TERI) cases, dire need cases, and all cases identified as critical are given priority and all steps of the process are handled in an expeditious manner
- Identifies Appeals Council and court remanded cases with time-imposed processing dates and annotates the claim file with the specific hearing and decision due dates
- Identifies class action cases for appropriate handling and routing
- Upon review of the file, identifies any difficulty in complying with the time limitations and alerts the supervisor or manager so that appropriate action can be taken to expedite the processing of the case
- Sets up the hearing room and recording equipment, ensuring that the equipment functions properly throughout the hearing
- Monitors hearings, defines the legal process and decorum to the claimant and their representative and other participants in the hearing
- Ensures that all evidence and testimony presented at the hearing is complete and recorded
- Observes and makes notes of relevant hearing room conditions and records specific and relevant testimony of the claimant and witnesses
- Discusses individual cases and reviews exhibits with claimants prior to the hearing
- Explains hearing procedures, presents the proposed exhibits, and advises claimant of right to the admission of an exhibit(s)
- Performs a wide range of actions in support of post-hearing case development, including composing correspondence to request medical reports from physicians, hospitals, claimants' representatives, etc.; preparing responses to written inquiries on cases; or reopening the record upon receipt of additional evidence to admit exhibits
- Prepares the Hearing Office Case Transfer Report
- Transmits and logs Compact Discs (CDs), mails CDs to appropriate destination, and forwards a copy of the report to the supervisor or manager
- Provides technical guidance and/or training in the hearing process to employees on a wide variety of case processing procedures in accordance with SSA rules, regulations, and policies
- Receives incoming correspondence and other materials, inputting appropriate information into the automated tracking system
- Associates mail with cases located in the master docket, recognizing additional evidence, which affects case processing
- Receives calls and greets visitors, including claimants, their representatives, and other hearing participates
- Tactfully interviews them to ascertain exact nature and purpose of the inquiry/visit
- As appropriate, signs in participates at the hearing and issues identification credentials
- Answers a wide range of routine and recurrent inquiries explaining pertinent legal provisions of the Act, individual rights, case processing procedures, delays in obtaining benefits, and other related program matters
- Follows through to resolve inquiries that are indefinite, uncertain, or vague in order to determine appropriate response and/or referral needed
- Uses discretion, tact, and diplomacy in dispensing information
- Uses personal computers for word processing functions and other automated data/case management systems to produce a variety of documents; enter, locate, sort, and retrieve data; prepare reports; monitor and track cases to ensure timely scheduling of hearings, proper case flow, and receipt of documentary evidence, requested records, and other materials; and transmit and receive documents and messages electronically
- Maintains a library of permanent templates of frequently used materials in ALJ decisions, e.g., SSA law and regulations paragraphs, findings of facts, and various generic decisional paragraphs
- Uses the templates appropriately when updating documents
- Photocopies portions of claim files to be presented to claimant, representative, medical and vocational experts before hearings are held
Construction Management Assistant GS-0303-06/10
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
06.2014 - 12.2022
- Served as a connection point between Eastern Area Office management/employees and the Rock Island District by providing administrative/clerical support, information/guidance on work processes and updates to keep management in compliance regarding funding, timekeeping, travel, property and other office related information
- Prepared Purchase Requisitions for procuring supplies, goods, services and equipment
- Served as a Government Purchase Card Holder for the Office
- Prepared monthly Government Purchase Card expense reports for reconciliation
- Manage office expenses by ensuring payment of monthly expenses such as: Rent, Utilities, Janitorial Service and any additional expenses
- Assisted New Employees with the process of obtaining government travel cards
- Maintained accurate inventory of office property and supplies for logistics by reporting new property and tracking down all property distributed to employees/Interns and Contractors
- Captured the following year proposed expenditures for the Eastern Area Office for allocating to the overall Construction and Engineering budget
- Acquired Travel and Labor codes in RMS from awarded projects for use in timekeeping and travel of employees
- Coordinated with project management team to request and track labor and travel funding for projects in which employees have been assigned to work
- Reviewed and maintained contract payrolls and resolve issues with contractor
- Assisted Project Engineers in the preparation of contract pay estimates in RMS database for area & field offices
- Oversee contract electronic filing in accordance with area office procedures and coordinate any proposed changes with area engineer
- Assisted in writing the Statement of Work for 5 Year Janitorial contract for Eastern Area Office
- Served as Point of Contact and Technical P.O.C for office Janitorial Contract
- Prepared travel orders and Vouchers in CEFM's for all employees
- Served as Head Timekeeper and liaison for Eastern Area offices for reporting to the RI District Office
- Created payroll documents, labor cost transfers, and leave transfers in financial system
- Assisted Project Engineers in the preparation of 7 day pay estimates in RMS database for area & field offices
- On-board new employees and interns by setting up office space, ordering office equipment and supplies, coordinating with IT staff to obtain systems access, travel cards and required trainings
- Trained and provided personnel guidance to new employees to fit into the workflow and comply with the Rock Island District HR regulations
- Out-processed exiting employees by collecting all property that was obtained and shutting down digital access of exiting employees
Office Automation Assistant for Contracting Office=GS-0326-05/10
U.S. Department of Agriculture
12.2002 - 06.2014
- Provided Contractual Administrative assistance to three Contract Officers throughout the life of their awarded projects to help assist with meeting contractual obligations
- Prepared legal forms letters and weekly scheduled updates for Construction Office/ESBC Acquisition Branch
- Extracted information from files/databases to gather data for reporting purposes
- Maintained pay records for all change orders and modifications
- Maintained a database to track critical milestone events
- Prepared and transmitted all invoices for payment
- Managed invoice payment processing problems by assisting vendors/contracting staff through investigative methods to provide efficient and functional solutions
- Performed data/requirements to determine appropriate procedures for making purchases
- Prepared purchase requests to distribute to parties for purchase authorization
- Reviewed requisitions and specifications to obtain competitive oral quotations from vendors; tabulate and analyze bids to determine lowest and best bidders
- Served as a primary point of contact and liaison with vendors for micro-purchases
- Communicated with vendors regarding price/delivery/specification changes
- Created Vendor and Customer Records in FMMI for payment purposes
- Researched and resolved issues regarding Vendor records and obstructions of payments
- Monitored budget for expenditure appropriateness and sufficient funds
- Reviewed and verified receipt of items by comparing items received to items ordered; resolves shipments in error with suppliers
- Prepared contract files for closeout by maintaining office files (hard copy and electronic); and a log of contracts (active and inactive), tracking the contracts' status, and the disposal date
Job Related Courses
- Construction Contract Administration, 10/21
- Fiscal Law Refresher Training, 09/21
- Overview of Acquisition Ethics, 01/20
- Biology 225 and 226 - Anatomy & Physiology, 11/18
- Acquisition 101-Fundamentals Systems, 01/15
- CON110 Mission Support Planning, 12/09
- CON100 Shaping Smart Business Arrangements, 11/09
- Simplified Acquisition Procedures, 03/09
Timeline
Legal Assistant, GS-0986-08
Social Security Administration
12.2022 - Current
Construction Management Assistant GS-0303-06/10
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
06.2014 - 12.2022
Office Automation Assistant for Contracting Office=GS-0326-05/10
U.S. Department of Agriculture
12.2002 - 06.2014
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