Michele Lefler
Woodbury,MN
Summary
Detail-oriented paralegal with expertise in legal research, case management, and trial preparation. Proven ability to streamline processes and enhance workflow efficiency, contributing to successful outcomes in high-stakes litigation.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
St. Paul, MN
09.2020 - Current
- Draft correspondence and pleadings.
- Draft documents for out-of state witnesses and coordinate travel and lodging.
- Support attorneys with discovery, including but not limited to, obtaining, reviewing, redacting, sending for bates numbering, and sending to defense counsel.
- Utilize e-discovery platforms.
- Support the attorneys and investigators at trial through notifying witnesses, witness preparation, witness communication, and assisting the witness at court.
- Send and receipt restitution from victims, including take back restitution.
- Communicate with crime victims, their families, and counsel, including attending court appearances as needed.
- Assist with grant related activities.
- Support attorneys at hearings and at trial through witness coordination and exhibits.
- Prepare exhibits for trial and assist and/or oversee MNDES submissions.
- Assist in file management from the opening of a file through trial.
- Assist in search warrant activities if requested.
Paralegal/Office Manager
Aitkin County Attorney's Office
Aitkin, MN
04.2004 - 07.2020
- Conducted legal research.
- Drafted and reviewed legal documents to prepare criminal complaints, search warrants, administrative subpoenas, subpoenas, and other trial pleadings.
- Drafted correspondence and pleadings for civil commitments, miscellaneous civil files, and juvenile/CHIPS files.
- Scheduled and managed law enforcement and witnesses for hearings and trials.
- Managed case files, organizing evidence and documentation for attorney access.
- Assisted attorneys during hearings and trials, including displaying audio/visual exhibits.
- Completed leadership academy.
- Supervised the other paralegal and administrative staff, including maintaining their time off approvals, evaluations, assignment of duties, and discipline.
- Ensured the union guidelines were followed when supervising the other paralegal and administrative staff.
- Helped maintain the office budget ensuring the budget stayed within allotted funds for the year.
- Purchased office equipment.
- Point person for the case management system.
- Maintained the bad check register and forfeiture fund.
- Led paralegal and support staff meetings.
- Maintained positive relationships with law enforcement, court administration, legal counsel, witnesses, and county divisions.
Office Assistant/Paralegal
Clay County Attorney's Office/Moorhead City Prosecutor's Office
Moorhead, MN
1999 - 05.2004
- Managed scheduling and coordination of court appearances through creating the case files, logging into the case management system, and ensuring each days court calendar and files were prepared for the next day.
- Prepared and organized legal documents.
- Sent discovery to defense counsel.
- Acted as the fill-in paralegal during her maternity leave by covering in custodies, the court calendar, discovery, phones, and the case management system.
Paralegal
Ellison Law Office
Fargo, ND
05.2001 - 04.2004
- Conducted legal research.
- Drafted legal documents including divorce and custody petitions, motions, and agreements for family law cases.
- Drafted estate planning documents, including wills and power of attorneys.
- Drafted employment law documents, including offer letters and discovery.
- Met with the clients to get necessary documents for discovery responses.
- Drafted yearly accountings for guardianships and conservatorships.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies
Moorhead State University
Moorhead, MN05-2001
No Degree - General Studies
Itasca Community College
Grand Rapids, MN 1997
Skills
- Legal research
- Proficient in MS office
- Case management
- Witness and victim communication
- Office administration
- Notary public
- Document preparation
- Administrative support
- Research and data collection
- File organization
- Attorney support
- Trial preparation assistance
- File and records management
- Litigation support
- Exhibit preparation
- Project management
- Workload management/prioritization
Timeline
Paralegal
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
09.2020 - Current
Paralegal/Office Manager
Aitkin County Attorney's Office
04.2004 - 07.2020
Paralegal
Ellison Law Office
05.2001 - 04.2004
Office Assistant/Paralegal
Clay County Attorney's Office/Moorhead City Prosecutor's Office
1999 - 05.2004
Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies
Moorhead State University
No Degree - General Studies
Itasca Community College