MARIA ESTHER CASTANEDA
NORWALK,CA
Summary
Dependable and seasoned Legal Administrative Specialist who specializes in legal support functions before, during, and after immigration proceedings. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges. Reliable administrative and legal support professional with great attention to detail. Works well independently to carry out assignments.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST (IN-COURT SERVICE)
USDOJ/Executive Office For Immigration Review
03.2001 - Current
- Manage day to day Administrative operations and legal functions to current and various types of units .
- Expert in maintaining and preparing variety of legal documents and database. For example when In-Court apply comprehensive legal regulations, techniques and procedures to perform assistance work requiring extensive complex searches of records, referenced material and comparison with complex voluminous written criteria.
- Provide recommendation and orient unit supervisors regarding new staff assignments and delivered feedback as to ideas to improve court functions and provide resources to help with time management skills.
- Provide technical advice, assistance and set timelines for out of court Legal Assistants. For example, provide and recommend to management subordinates performance expectation such as strength, weakness and develop goals for deficiencies with staff. In addition, make recommendation to direct supervisory regarding promotions and/or reassignment bases on skills and qualifications.
- Appointed as "SME" Subject Matter Expert for various programs by supervisor. For example, ECAS, rotational schedule, open voice, WebEx hearing, and VTC, etc. Identify, operating issues and provide feedback and or suggestions to rectify any problems encounter while using different platforms court uses.
- Appointed as "POC" point of contact in various matters and in different units. For example, assist in day-to-day legal support function and provide additional/extra technical assistance to other units and team members.
- Daily and routinely Interpret CASE management system to locate missing ROP's.
- Oversee daily ROP organization and provide daily guidance to correct any deficiency court's report may contain.
- Assist in strategically planning, scheduling, and assigning courtroom coverage.
- Establish and assists in providing guidelines and feedback to direct supervisor about performance of new employee.
- Generate and disseminate court calendar, reports, and calendars which require extensive research and analysis.
- Maintaining and manage master calendar of assigned active cases, track hearing dates, develop and maintain case call-up system.
- Out of court receive numerous telephone call and visitors, handle many matters and inquiries without supervisory assistance including answering substantive questions regarding pending and closed cases.
- In and out of court receive, process, verify, and ensure all documents submitted by mail, window, or in electronic format are carefully examine for completeness, accuracy, and are in compliance with Immigration Court Practice Manual.
- Search record of proceedings for materials used in variety of recurring management reports.
- Perform various types of legal research for cases using CASE management system.
- Compose original letters and memoranda not requiring legal interpretation, but require comprehensive working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology.
- In court received, read, and examine all incoming supplemental documents, Motions, EOIR-28, EOIR-33, and applications. Assist supervisor in conducting unit meetings to review court's processing electronically filed EOIR-28 forms.
- Manage own Federal Records Center requests and transmit ROP's to FOIA.
- Use specialized complicated techniques to complete assignments, such as suggesting options or identifying conflicts, develop, examine, adjust, reconsider, and assist supervisor or Judge to plan new case strategies.
Volunteer
Juvenile Detained Docket/Post Hearing Motion
2017 - 2018
- Performed administrative and legal support functions to immigration judges and direct supervisor who handled juvenile detained and non-detained docket. Assisted with processing and management of 50 to 100 incoming motions. Appointed by supervisor to lead the reviewing/examining and overseeing of data entry into CASE. Independently initiated the complex process in correcting and identifying any discrepancies. Furthermore, assisted in training, mentoring new employees with guidance on technical rules that apply to receiving and processing motions.
Volunteer
AWC/Priority Docket
2014 - 2016
- At a volunteered basis performed excellent customer service, administrative, and legal support function to immigration Judge and direct supervisor who handled the AWC docket. Managed and provided in and out of court coverage for 5 to 10 masters calendars dockets. Became in-charge and oversaw day-to-day management of assigned fast paced docket. Oversaw data entry of case files for master calendar hearings. Assisted direct supervisor in training/mentoring of new employees and independently identified and conduct meetings if any court operations issues arose in unit.
Volunteer
Detained Hearings Unit
2011 - 2014
- Performed excellent customer service, administrative, and legal support functions to various immigration judge's who were assigned to OCD/LA3 detained units. Managed detained docket on daily basis. Ensured all case files for master calendar hearings were pulled and accounted for. Maintained units I-830 detained mail box. Expert in generating and distributing detained calendars to either OCD/LA3 officer in-charge. Appointed and supported direct supervisor in trainings along with serving as mentor to new employees.
Education
Associate of Arts -
EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Monterey Park, CA05.1997
High School Diploma -
Belmont High School
Los Angeles, CA06.1993
Skills
- Expert in prioritizing and maintaining variety of heavy daily administrative court operations
- Strong training, staff development, and leadership skills
- Ability to interpret and apply knowledge of legal statutes, codes, and regulations
- Attention to detail and accuracy when dealing with guidelines
- Excellent communications skills
- Skilled problem solver and resourcefulness
- Dependable team player
- Expert in processing, receiving motions, requests, and legal documents
- Strong legal research
- Ability to independently perform complex legal correspondence
- Expert in maintaining and managing various day to day legal court operations/practices
- Expert in administrative tasks that involve In-Court services operations
- Expert in planning, prioritizing, and preparing various schedules for one of the largest courts
- Strong knowledge and experience in identifying problems in heavy caseload work assignments and tasks
Timeline
LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST (IN-COURT SERVICE)
USDOJ/Executive Office For Immigration Review
03.2001 - Current
Volunteer
Juvenile Detained Docket/Post Hearing Motion
2017 - 2018
Volunteer
AWC/Priority Docket
2014 - 2016
Volunteer
Detained Hearings Unit
2011 - 2014
Associate of Arts -
EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
High School Diploma -
Belmont High School
Similar Profiles
Christopher KimChristopher Kim
Management Analyst at CGI/Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)Management Analyst at CGI/Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)
Terleia ShieldsTerleia Shields
Legal Assistant at Executive Office for Immigration ReviewLegal Assistant at Executive Office for Immigration Review
Aweis YonisAweis Yonis
Legal Assistant at Executive Office for Immigration ReviewLegal Assistant at Executive Office for Immigration Review