Maria Melendez
Northridge,CA
Summary
Organized and dependable litigation assistant that is successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on responsibilities to meet team goals. Excelled in coordinating complex schedules, showcasing exceptional organizational and technical abilities.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Litigation Legal Assistant
AlderLaw PC
08.2023 - Current
- Handle extensive calendaring of meetings, court appearances, motions and deadlines.
- Coordinate the scheduling of mediations and expert depositions.
- Contact clients to schedule medical examinations, depositions, attorney-client meetings and discuss progress of cases.
- Finalize pleadings for electronic service and filing with courts.
- Organize weekly team meetings for discussion of appearances, deadlines and task assignments.
- Set up remote court appearances for multiple attorneys.
- Upload and organize a voluminous amount of documents to the case management system.
Senior Legal Assistant
Bretoi, Lutz & Stele
05.2018 - 08.2023
- Completed electronic filings, and managed firm required administrative matters.
- Handled extensive calendaring for court appearances, deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
- Researched the requirements and subpoenaed out of state doctors and witnesses for deposition.
- Trained new team members.
- Scheduled depositions of witnesses, experts and officers.
- Prepared electronic trial binders.
Legal Assistant
Thompson & Vella
03.2014 - 04.2018
- Handled office scheduling and calendared deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
- Assigned discovery to paralegals and coordinated the staff workload.
- Completed electronic filings with courts throughout Southern California.
- Managed client records, observing confidentiality, and extreme discretion.
- Created spreadsheets to track new and closed files.
- Uploaded and saved all documents to the case management system.
Legal Secretary
Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley
08.2003 - 03.2014
- Created, indexed, and maintained client files.
- Scheduled and made appointments for attorneys.
- Filed documents with courts on behalf of attorney.
- Diligently edited legal correspondence for grammar and spelling.
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Transcribed legal documents and phone conversations.
- Organized files for court proceedings.
- Scheduled all appointments, appearances and briefings.
- Created and printed legal documents for attorneys to review.
- Worked with outside vendors to coordinate purchasing of supplies and maintenance of office complex.
- Produced and filed various legal documents and electronically preserved updated case record system.
Legal Secretary
Bollington, Stilz, Bloeser & Curry
10.1993 - 08.2003
- Organized files for court proceedings.
- Transcribed extensive amounts of legal documents and correspondence.
- Scheduled all appointments, court appearances, depositions and arbitrations.
- Subpoenaed medical records and traffic collision reports.
- Managed check requests, expense reimbursement requests, and invoices.
Education
High School Diploma -
Birmingham High School
Van Nuys, CALos Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CAMedical Transcription
West Valley Occupational Center
Woodland Hills, CASkills
- Litigation Support
- Calendar Management (Compulaw Prolaw Timely, Filevine)
- File Maintenance
- Microsoft Office
- Document Management (AbacusLaw, ProLaw, FileVine)
Timeline
Litigation Legal Assistant
AlderLaw PC
08.2023 - Current
Senior Legal Assistant
Bretoi, Lutz & Stele
05.2018 - 08.2023
Legal Assistant
Thompson & Vella
03.2014 - 04.2018
Legal Secretary
Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley
08.2003 - 03.2014
Legal Secretary
Bollington, Stilz, Bloeser & Curry
10.1993 - 08.2003
High School Diploma -
Birmingham High School
Los Angeles Valley College
Medical Transcription
West Valley Occupational Center