Melina Rivera
Yuma,Arizona
Summary
Paralegal motivated to continually improve and extend personal skills and knowledge to attain increased responsibility and opportunities for professional growth.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
Udall Law Firm
04.2023 - Current
- Reduced attorney workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and affidavits.
- Managed scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain smooth flow of firm operations.
- Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation, and information for discovery request.
- Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Communicated with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Helped attorneys prepare for trial by organizing exhibits and calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
- Revised and finalized letters, briefs, and memos.
Administrative Assistant
Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs
08.2017 - 04.2020
- Answer phones and greet veterans
- Schedule appointments and maintain calendars
- Schedule and coordinate staff and other meetings
- Collate and distribute mail
- Prepare communications, such as memos, emails, invoices, reports and other correspondence
- Write and edit documents from letters to reports and instructional documents
- Create and maintain filing systems, both electronic and physical
- Manage accounts and perform bookkeeping
Paralegal
Law Offices of John Serrano
05.2009 - 06.2017
- Meets with attorneys, clients, and other professionals to discuss assigned cases or projects
- Drafts legal documents including routine pleadings and motions, affidavits, and interrogatories; files motions and pleadings according to judicial procedures
- Researches and analyzes statutes, regulations, legal articles, judicial decisions, and other legal sources; provides written analysis to attorneys
- Interviews clients and witnesses and prepares summaries of their statements
- Prepares, organizes, stores, and retrieves case files, which may include evidence, exhibits, depositions, pleadings, exhibits, and other items
- Assists attorneys with trial preparation, which may include attending trials and hearings
- Develops and maintains records regarding billable hours spent on specific cases
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Clerk of the Court
Yuma County Superior Courts
06.2013 - 06.2015
- Upholding all court files and records to ensure they stay up-to-date and accessible
- Answering the phone to take messages and transfer calls to the applicable colleague
- Recording the minutes of meetings and court proceedings
- Assisting in all office management and administrative processes
- Creating calendars of cases to be called
- Preparing and distributing court orders, including probation orders, sentencing information, and court summonses
- Collecting court fines and maintaining records of amounts collected
- Ensuring that all legal documents submitted adhere to the law and court procedures
- Performing basic bookkeeping tasks
- Administering oaths and affirmations
Education
A.A. - Administrative Justice
Arizona Western College
Yuma, AZ06.2018
A.A. - Paralegal Studies
Arizona Western College
Yuma, AZ06.2011
High School Diploma -
Reseda High School
Reseda, California06.1998
Skills
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Understanding of legal language
- Research methods
- Court pleadings
- Court processes
- Interpersonal skills
- Customer service skills
- Organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Analytical skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to function in a high-paced environment
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Discretion
- Good judgment
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
Timeline
Paralegal
Udall Law Firm
04.2023 - Current
Administrative Assistant
Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs
08.2017 - 04.2020
Clerk of the Court
Yuma County Superior Courts
06.2013 - 06.2015
Paralegal
Law Offices of John Serrano
05.2009 - 06.2017
A.A. - Paralegal Studies
Arizona Western College
High School Diploma -
Reseda High School
A.A. - Administrative Justice
Arizona Western College
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