Melissa Epema
Crookston,MN
Summary
Professional with strong experience in eligibility support. Skilled at assessing and verifying documentation, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing clear, accurate information to clients. Known for effective team collaboration and adaptability to changing requirements. Reliable, results-driven, and focused on achieving team and organizational goals.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Assistant
Harbott, Knutson, Larson, and Holten PLLP
08.2025 - Current
- Drafted legal documents and correspondence for attorneys, ensuring clarity and compliance with regulations.
- Managed case files, organized documentation, and maintained accurate records in electronic filing systems.
- Conducted legal research to support case preparation and informed decision-making for ongoing cases.
- Assisted in client communications, scheduling appointments, and maintaining attorney calendars efficiently.
- Reviewed incoming correspondence, identifying critical issues and prioritizing responses to enhance workflow efficiency.
- Maintained strict confidentiality, protecting sensitive client information as required by legal ethics and regulations.
- Responded to client inquiries, providing accurate legal advice and offering assistance.
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality, and extreme discretion.
- Ensured compliance with legal procedures and court requirements through diligent monitoring and application of rules.
- Managed correspondence with clients, courts, and opposing counsel, maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
- Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
Supervisor
Pennington County Court Administration
05.2024 - 08.2025
- Supervised daily operations, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and operational standards.
- Coordinated team schedules, optimizing resource allocation for increased efficiency.
- Trained new staff on processes and safety measures, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Implemented process improvements that enhanced workflow efficiency and reduced downtime.
- Led team meetings to discuss objectives, address challenges, and promote open communication.
- Oversaw daily operations of the department, ensuring smooth workflow and timely completion of tasks.
- Enhanced communication within the team by holding regular meetings and encouraging open dialogue among all members.
- Conducted performance evaluations for staff members, identifying areas of improvement and guiding professional development plans.
- Collaborated with other departments to achieve organizational goals, fostering teamwork across various functions.
- Developed comprehensive training program for new hires, significantly reducing learning curve and integrating them into team quickly.
Lead Worker
Polk County Court Administration
01.2012 - 05.2024
- Lead Worker for Civil-Probate Division. Training of new employees.
- Answer and research questions for the Civil-Probate Division team.
- Daily Financial duties.
- Reviewing of daily reports and reviewing for case processing accuracy for the Civil-Probate Division team. Weekly reporting to direct supervisor.
- Accepting of all electronic filings for the Ninth Judicial District examining for completeness and accuracy.
- Assist customers with completing paperwork for filing court documents.
- Clerk court hearings and jury trials.
- Answer phone calls and other office duties as assigned.
- Mentored junior staff on procedural protocols and customer service best practices.
- Developed training materials for new employees, streamlining onboarding processes and knowledge transfer.
- Led initiatives to enhance public access services, improving overall user experience within the court system.
- Championed company values within the workplace by modeling exemplary behavior at all times.
Head Bookkeeper
B&E Meats
01.2004 - 01.2024
- Maintained general ledger integrity through regular reconciliations and adjustments as needed.
- Provided comprehensive accounting support to company by managing functions like payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and business expense processing.
- Managed payroll processing, ensuring timely and precise disbursement of employee salaries and benefits.
- Complied with local, state, and federal laws and requirements.
- Maintained accurate historical records.
Eligibility Worker
Polk County Social Services
01.2008 - 01.2012
- Conducted interviews daily with clients to determine eligibility programs.
- Reviewed payment vouchers for completeness and accuracy.
- Explained rules and regulations governing eligibility and applicant's legal rights
- Explained eligibility requirements, form completion requirements
- Managed a caseload of 200 cases
- Managed approximately 50 incoming calls, emails and faxes per day from clients.
- Referred clients to outside agencies.
Case Aide
Polk County Social Services
01.2001 - 01.2008
- Maintained accurate records of client interactions using agency software systems.
- Coordinated transportation arrangements for clients when needed to ensure seamless access to vital services.
- Participated in staff meetings to review cases, share updates, and discuss strategies for successful outcomes.
- Assisted case managers with coordinating necessary resources, resulting in timely service provision.
- Facilitated communication between clients and other service providers.
- Maintained strict confidentiality regarding sensitive client information in accordance with agency policies and legal requirements.
- Administered and tracked client service payments.
- Assisted in conducting needs assessments to identify key areas of service needs.
Office Support Specialist
Polk County Social Services
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Coordinated rides for clients with volunteer drivers.
- Provided administrative support by managing correspondence and scheduling appointments for social service staff.
- Developed and maintained filing systems, enhancing document retrieval speed and accuracy for team members.
- Supported program initiatives through data entry and report generation, contributing to informed decision-making by management.
- Streamlined internal communication channels by creating and distributing timely announcements, meeting minutes, and updates to all relevant parties.
- Achieved increased accuracy in record-keeping through meticulous attention to detail when entering data into various databases.
- Increased customer satisfaction by providing professional and courteous service during phone calls, emails, and in-person interactions.
- Managed high volumes of incoming correspondence, prioritizing urgent matters for immediate attention and ensuring proper handling of sensitive information.
- Scheduled meetings booked meeting rooms and prepared meeting agendas.
- Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
- Built and maintained excellent customer relationships through timely response to inquiries and going above and beyond to accommodate unusual requests.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Receptionist/Secretarial
Northwest Technical College
East Grand Forks, MNSkills
- Fast learner
- Scheduling/Planning
- Microsoft office
- File organization
- Administrative support
- Interviewing clients
- Document filing
- Notary public
- Legal/Court processes
- Court filing
- Case management
- Exceptional telephone etiquette
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of five staff members.
Timeline
Legal Assistant
Harbott, Knutson, Larson, and Holten PLLP
08.2025 - Current
Supervisor
Pennington County Court Administration
05.2024 - 08.2025
Lead Worker
Polk County Court Administration
01.2012 - 05.2024
Eligibility Worker
Polk County Social Services
01.2008 - 01.2012
Head Bookkeeper
B&E Meats
01.2004 - 01.2024
Case Aide
Polk County Social Services
01.2001 - 01.2008
Office Support Specialist
Polk County Social Services
01.1999 - 01.2001
Some College (No Degree) - Receptionist/Secretarial
Northwest Technical College