LAUREN M. SMITH
Senior Executive Assistant
Tallahassee,Florida
Summary
Driven, self-motivated Senior Executive Assistant who is willing to take the initiative and offer a skillset above the rest, focused on a variety of administrative and legal experience, with a motivation to continually improve and add value where needed, exhibiting integrity, honesty, loyalty, professionalism, and good judgment reliably.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Administrative Assistant / Event Coordinator
INSURANCE OFFICE OF AMERICA
Tallahassee, Florida
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Provided a range of support functions to assist CSR’s in a national insurance agency by performing clerical functions and managing outside errands, including responsibility for bank deposits
- Developed and managed a training seminar for regional insurance agents and underwriters in October, 2004
- Conceived and coordinated an insurance carrier appreciation event for agents and carriers nationwide in September 2007 / recognized for exceptional performance at Annual Sales Meeting
- Consistent and reliable coordination of travel arrangements for vice president of national accounts and all entertainment aspects for business related meetings regarding potential and established clients
- Assured accuracy, timeliness, and quality in working with confidential client information to file documents, retrieve claim info, and assist the branch manager in mailing certificates for proof of insurance
Executive Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper
CORPORATE RISK & LITIGATION MANAGEMENT LLC
Tallahassee, Florida
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Created and managed a destination event for clients complete with décor, catering, rental equipment and entertainment in June, 2006
- Stable coordination of all travel arrangements for president of company
- Confidential and current keeping of all accounting in connection with two other entities with responsibility for bank deposits
Legal Assistant, Paralegal
RADEY LAW FIRM
Tallahassee, FL
05.2017 - Current
- Drives a range of specialized paralegal support to multiple attorneys at the state, federal, and appellate levels in the practice areas of Insurance Regulation; Administrative Law; Commercial Litigation; Labor & Employment; Corporate & Business Law; Energy, Telecommunications & Public Utility
- Evaluate subpoenas duces tecum and prepare document production
- Schedule & coordinate travel across multiple vendors
- Launch in-person and virtual meetings with clients and courts
- Record meeting notes to include action and suspense items
- Create project timelines for upcoming deadlines and ensure tasks are carried out accordingly
- Assists with grant applications / materials
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality and extreme discretion.
- Prepared for trials, conducting legal research and drafting pleadings.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Completed electronic filings, initiated billing statements and managed firm administrative matters.
- Examined and generated memos on statutory law, case law and federal and state regulations using online research databases, such as Westlaw, and print sources.
- Developed positive working relationship with courts, clients, law enforcement members and attorneys.
Legal Assistant, Paralegal II
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Northern District of FL
Tallahassee
11.2011 - 05.2017
- Legal Assistant, providing a of specialized legal support to Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) for the NDFL, including the district’s OCDETF Chief, Criminal Division Chief, and the U.S. Attorney
- Researched, organized, prepared, and accurately processed a variety of technical legal documents customarily extensive and multifaceted in design by reviewing incoming information and determining the need for compilation and preparation of complaints, exhibits, warrants, affidavits, indictments, search warrants, judgments, notices, motions, orders, answers, responses, pleadings, grand jury & trial subpoenas, hearing & trial documents, writs, orders to produce, summonses, separation requests, and related correspondence in proper format
- Responsible for editing, formatting, and assembling all briefs for both the Tallahassee & Gainesville Divisions before handling the online submission and mailing to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals complete with developing the tables of contents and citations, supplemental appendix, and indices
- Provided litigation support to AUSAs during trial with exhibits, trial related filings, & trial notebooks
- Completes variable phases of common legal documents in conformance with the rules governing their style & format in both the District Court and Court of Appeals by verifying citations & statutory references, and proofreading for proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, & grammar
- Determined which matters should be referred to which AUSA and / or appropriate duty attorney, while determining the urgency of the matter
- Divided ,examined, securely removed, and organized files by recording material for disposition or transfer to records depository in accordance with established procedures, both manually & electronically
- Performed docketing duties such as amending, updating and closing cases through use of the office’s electronic case tracking system, and searches for necessary information via this system as needed
- Developed and maintained an organized product range of files (both hard copy & electronically) for AUSAs in both the Criminal & Appellate Divisions, complete with a suspense system for current case loads and informs the appropriate AUSA of pending / changing dates and deadlines
- Handled consistent online filing of legal pleadings for AUSAs
- Maintained calendars for AUSAs, complete with a spreadsheet of assigned active cases; tracked filing statuses; hearing & trial dates; scheduled appointments; division meetings; proffers; and conferences
- Scheduled court appearances, meetings, training conferences, and interviews with the coordination of multiple parties and arranges any necessary travel
- Assised AUSAs with office organization
- Transcribed controlled calls for discovery purposes
- Obtained necessary information from the AUSA, law enforcement agency or other source, and submits accomplished legal documents and / or secure electronic media to the appropriate party
- Confidential and professional handling of all case matters with a special attention to issues of pre-indictment
Legal Assistant / Firm Manager
WILLARD / HURLEY, LLC
Tallahassee, Florida
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Demonstrated quality customer service and professionalism to clients of family law, criminal law and administrative aspects, both in the courtroom and office
- Drafted & prepared legal pleadings, subpoenas & other documents for attorneys then handled secure filings to Clerk of Court and the Office of the State Attorney
- Responsible for managing all aspects of the firm
- Assisted with criminal trials in preparing exhibits and related trial materials / filings
- Maintained complex files in an organized manner both manually and electronically
- Trained new employees on firm procedures and guidelines while handling daily office tasks
- Sensitive understanding of attorney / client privilege
- Management of partners’ calendars; scheduled appointments, court appearances, and depositions
- Provided professional and efficient delivery / Return of Service of subpoenas
- Answered questions and supplied information to keep partners’ time free of minor detailed types of tasks
- Booked travel arrangements for the partners
- Honest and responsible handling of all client payments to firm partners
Education
BACHELOR of SCIENCE - Sociology, Business Administration
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Skills
Litigation support
Advanced word processing
Document filing
Exceptional writer
Travel coordination
Organizational Efficiency
Quality control
Task Prioritization
Writing and editing
Administrative support
Scheduling/Planning
Project / Event management
Attention to Detail
Timeline
Legal Assistant, Paralegal
RADEY LAW FIRM
05.2017 - Current
Legal Assistant, Paralegal II
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Northern District of FL
11.2011 - 05.2017
Legal Assistant / Firm Manager
WILLARD / HURLEY, LLC
01.2008 - 01.2010
Executive Administrative Assistant / Event Coordinator
INSURANCE OFFICE OF AMERICA
01.2004 - 01.2008
Executive Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper
CORPORATE RISK & LITIGATION MANAGEMENT LLC
01.2004 - 01.2008
BACHELOR of SCIENCE - Sociology, Business Administration
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY