Lu-Ann G. Downes
City of Baytown
Baytown
13
years of professional experience
Skillful and dynamic Paralegal/Administrative Professional with demonstrated capacity to provide comprehensive, executive-level support in multifaceted environment. With over 21 years of experience in legal assistance, document management, and quality control. I have excelled in roles requiring meticulous document review, adherence to guidelines, and data accuracy. Skilled in legal research, database management, and client coordination, ensuring compliance and efficient process execution.
Legal professional with proven track record in providing comprehensive support to attorneys. Capable of managing complex legal documentation and ensuring case files are meticulously organized. Team-oriented and results-driven, always adapting to meet shifting priorities. Skilled in legal research and document preparation, valued for reliability and flexibility.
Work History
Paralegal
2 Years 1 Month- Manage, organize, track, and archive matter files, case documents, and discovery materials.
- Prepare and file litigation documents, including motions, ordinances, resolutions, and correspondence.
- Conduct legal research on statutes and case law; summarize findings for attorney and judicial review.
- Support attorneys with trial and hearing preparation by organizing exhibits, coordinating witnesses, and compiling evidence.
- Maintain calendaring systems for court dates, hearings, council meetings, and board/commission items.
- Interact with city departments to gather accurate information for legal projects and discovery.
- Handle administrative tasks including proofreading, phones, filing, email, and document management.
QA/QC Specialist (Remote)
2 Months- Ensured adherence to program guidelines by conducting thorough reviews of application materials, including intake forms, case manager award recommendations, and final agreements, to maintain consistency and accuracy.
- Assessed and validated applicant income verification documents to confirm eligibility and compliance with program income limits.
- Compiled and maintained data in tracking systems, contributing to the accuracy of program statistics and reporting requirements.
Servicing Specialist (Remote)
10 Months- Conducted comprehensive research and due diligence to acquire necessary contact information, facilitating the effective completion of the debt verification process.
- Developed and upheld the servicer onboarding protocol, ensuring the integrity and accessibility of critical servicer data through meticulous maintenance of a Smartsheet database.
- Executed a stringent quality control review of applicant documentation against program guidelines and managed the analysis of disbursement amounts, maintaining award allocations within established program limits for over 1000 applications with a 99% quality control rating.
Legal Assistant (Remote)
1 Year 8 Months- Managed and updated a comprehensive funding spreadsheet to ensure accurate tracking of new file assignments.
- Reviewed and prepared legal and loan documentation, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to overarching policies for residential and business loan assistance.
- Conducted clerical duties with a strong focus on prompt response to inquiries, secure handling of sensitive information, and tactful resolution of controversial issues.
Paralegal (Remote)
6 Years 4 Months- Assisted attorneys with litigation management through the preparation of documents, support during trials, and client coordination.
- Organized business calendars, scheduled appointments, coordinated client interviews, and arranged logistics for court-related activities.
- Recorded attorney activities using legal billing software to generate accurate billing statements for client presentation.
- Supported general counsel by conducting due diligence reviews, aiding in contract negotiations, and managing documents and databases for risk mitigation.
Education
Associate of Applied Business - Paralegal Studies
Skills
Legal Research
Litigations
Attention to Detail
Proofreading & Editing
Office Administration
Report Generation
Timeliness
Negotiation
Trial Preparation
Billing & Collections
Case Management
Oral & Written Communications
Laws & Regulations
Due Diligence in Risk Management Analysis
Database Management Project Lifecycle
Class Action
Mass Torts
E-Discovery
E-Filing
Appellate
Federal and State Courts
Rapid Government Software 2.0
Government Software
HAIQ
SharePoint
Microsoft Office (Excel
Word
Access
PowerPoint & Outlook)
Systems: Lexis/Nexis
Pacer
Trial Works
I Manage
Rapid
CDF
Neighborly Software
Relativity
Incode
Agenda Quick.
Client communication
Office administration
Case management
Proficient in MS office
Legal research
Personal Information
Title: PARALEGAL ~ LEGAL ASSISTANT
Timeline
Paralegal
City of Baytown
10.2024 - CurrentRead More
QA/QC Specialist (Remote)
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs/Workforce Group (Contractor)
04.2023 - 06.2023Read More
Servicing Specialist (Remote)
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Authority/LHH/IEM (Contractor)
05.2022 - 03.2023Read More
Legal Assistant (Remote)
U.S. Small Business Administration/Special Counsel & IEM/Highlight Technologies (Contractor)
04.2020 - 12.2021Read More
Paralegal (Remote)
Law Offices of Lee J. Rohn & Associates
08.2013 - 12.2019Read More
Brown Mackie College
Associate of Applied Business from Paralegal Studies
Read More