MELISSA Y. DIMAS
Porter,USA
Summary
Dynamic paralegal specialist with extensive experience at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, excelling in pretrial preparation and discovery management. Proven ability to organize complex evidence and draft legal documents, while effectively coordinating with multiple agencies. Strong case management skills complemented by exceptional communication abilities, ensuring successful litigation outcomes. Resourceful Paralegal Specialist known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, and case management, ensuring accuracy and timely submission of all required materials. Excel at communication, critical thinking, and organization, leveraging these soft skills to work effectively under pressure and maintain meticulous records. Committed to supporting legal teams in achieving favorable outcomes through diligent work and comprehensive knowledge of legal procedures.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal Specialist; GS-11/Step 5; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
Houston, Texas
05.2019 - Current
- Provide a variety of substantive paralegal, and administrative support to the Narcotics and Organized Crime Section Deputy Criminal Chief, Associate Deputy Criminal Chief, the HSTF Region 13 Lead HSTF Attorney, HSTF AUSA and back-up assistance to five additional AUSAs in the Narcotics and National Security/Public Corruption Sections.
- Prepare, organize, index, develop, and manage exhibits, evidence, and other relevant data that is presented before a jury, grand jury and other legal proceedings.
- Provide case management and overall support of litigation activities including reviewing, processing, and organizing complex factual material for discovery and preparation of trial exhibits, transcribing, and syncing of calls and video in both English and Spanish, and extracting synced product for trial using legal automation/trial presentation software, like OnCue, for use in trial presentation.
- Coordinate with multiple entities or agencies on a variety of issues or concerns in connection with carrying out legal support activities including acting as liaison between our partner agencies and our office Vitim Witness specialist to ensure adherence to rules, appropriate laws, policies, and regulations.
- Provide discovery to defense counsel in accordance with rules of discovery and office policy via USAfx and various additional discovery processing platforms and databases.
- Provided administrative support to the OCDETF program as the District Point of Contact by generating, reviewing, and entering reports into the Management Information System.
- Planned, organized, coordinated, and hosted monthly District Coordination Group meetings; evaluated outcomes to recommend and implement more efficient procedures within the program.
- Maintained specialized communication with USAO law enforcement partners, including, state, local, and federal about OCDETF operations and other related program topics and issues.
- Assisted management with running and drafting statistical and status reports to identify, study and analyze reporting issues within the MIS system to make recommendations on administrative operations of the OCDETF program.
- Houston Division, 1000 Louisiana St., Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 7702
Legal Assistant; GS-7/Step 3; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
Houston, Texas
03.2018 - 05.2019
- Provided legal, clerical, and administrative support to six Assistant United States Attorneys and back-up assistance to five additional AUSAs in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division.
- Examined, prepared, and processed substantive legal documents to include motions, orders, indictments, trial/hearing subpoenas, grand jury subpoenas, bench warrants, summons, and notices.
- Provided assistance in trial preparation including reviewing and organizing complex factual material for the preparation of trial exhibits, providing litigation case management, coordinating with witness specialist to ensure adherence to rules and guidelines as well as coordinating with case agents in trial preparation.
- Assisted in preparation of search warrant applications, search warrants and coordination with the AUSA, lead agents, and the Houston Division Courthouse personnel for filing and adherence to judge and court procedure.
- Maintained criminal case files as they develop and enter various case material to include opening, updating, and closing cases in databases like Caseview and LIONS.
- Provided discovery to defense counsel in accordance with rules of discovery and office policy via USAfx, via physical file review (discovery material disc production).
- Coordinated, prepared and disseminated the daily Magistrate Court Docket schedule as per assigned rotation.
- Participated in the interview panel for the Fraud Section for a round of interviews and assisted in selecting a candidate.
- Houston Division, 1000 Louisiana St., Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 7702
Legal Assistant; GS-7/Step 2; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
Laredo, Texas
04.2016 - 09.2017
- Provided legal, clerical, and administrative support to four, line Assistant United States Attorneys, to include an OCDETF Section AUSA and back-up assistance to three additional AUSAs.
- Examined, prepared, and processed substantive legal documents to include motions, orders, indictments, subpoenas, grand jury subpoenas, bench warrants, summons, notices, plea agreements, writs, advisories, and pros memo draft.
- Drafted Response to PSR, by conducting legal research utilizing research tools like Westlaw, as well as a press release and advisory.
- Assisted AUSA directly in OCEDTF case management by receiving and processing agents’ updates on OCDETF cases, participating in OCDETF case meetings and taking notes, coordinating with lead case agents for the processing and preparation of interim reports, coordinating with lead case agents and AUSA to schedule meetings for initiation proposals and case status/strategy meetings, coordinating meetings with District Judge and agents on TIII approvals, post OEO review.
- Provided assistance directly to AUSAs in trial preparation including reviewing and organizing complex factual material for trial, coordinating with witness specialist to ensure adherence to rules and guidelines as well as coordinating with other federal agencies for agent appearances in trial.
- Scheduled 5-K and Safety Valve debriefings including coordination with lead agents, defense counsel, US Marshals, and the Laredo Division Courthouse.
- Received, examined, and maintained both line and OCDETF case files as they developed and entered various case material to include opening, updating, and closing cases in databases like Caseview and LIONS as well as received, examined, and processed evidentiary packets for grand jury/indictment.
- Provided discovery to defense counsel via electronic mail and through USA File Exchange (USAfx) service.
- Maintained office and dockets calendar including scheduling meetings in and out of the office, and kept up with both Magistrate and District court docket changes throughout the week.
- Laredo Division, 11204 McPherson Rd., Suite 100A, Laredo, Texas 78045
Legal Assistant; Fulltime
Fong & Associates, LLP
Houston, Texas
11.2013 - 07.2014
- Communicated with clients to gather documentation necessary to prepare immigration (USCIS) and Department of Labor forms, e.g. Labor Condition Applications for H1-B, L-1A, and L-1B visas, as well as family and student based visas.
- Drafted statements in support of employment-based immigration cases as well as legal briefs in response to Requests for Evidence and in applications of I-601A Waivers.
- Gathered and reviewed evidence in assistance to trial preparation; assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents for the preparation of exhibit lists for supporting documentation.
- Completed visa applications through embassy and consular processing abroad and coordinated visa interviews with clients abroad.
- Translated Spanish documents to the English language and vice-versa.
- Corresponded with government agencies for case monitoring, progress, and issue-reporting.
- 6588 Corporate Dr., Suite 350, Houston, Texas 77036
Legal Assistant; Fulltime
Prieto & Jamae, PLLC
Houston, Texas
01.2013 - 11.2013
- Drafted USCIS, EOIR, CBP, and FBI forms for filing.
- Gathered and reviewed evidence in assistance for trial preparation; assembling exhibits, affidavits, and legal documents for the preparation of exhibit lists for supporting documentation.
- Assisted in examining, preparing, and processing legal documents including pleadings, motions, and orders for family and probate cases.
- Scheduled deadlines, coordinated timely responses; communicated with clients and monitored case progress.
- 1776 Yorktown, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77056
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX05.2012
Skills
- Pretrial preparation
- Discovery management
- Evidence organization
- Legal document drafting
- Litigation support
- Case management
References
- Jennifer C. Stabe, Associate Deputy Criminal Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 1000 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX, 77002, (713) 967-9711
- Melody Nelson, Legal Support Manager, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 1000 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX, 77002, (713) 967-9703
- John D. Jocher, Deputy Criminal Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 1000 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX, 77002, (713) 967-9450
Awards
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2018
- U.S. Attorney’s Award, 2018
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2019
- U.S. Attorney’s Award, 2019
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2021
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2022
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2023
- U.S. Attorney’s Award, 2023 (2)
- Sustained Superior Performance, 2024
Timeline
Paralegal Specialist; GS-11/Step 5; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
05.2019 - Current
Legal Assistant; GS-7/Step 3; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
03.2018 - 05.2019
Legal Assistant; GS-7/Step 2; Fulltime
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
04.2016 - 09.2017
Legal Assistant; Fulltime
Fong & Associates, LLP
11.2013 - 07.2014
Legal Assistant; Fulltime
Prieto & Jamae, PLLC
01.2013 - 11.2013
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi