Monet N. Blair
Edgewood,MD
Summary
Experienced Legal Administrative Specialist with over 10 years in legal research and case management. Proven track record in negotiating complex payment agreements and streamlining legal workflows. Expertise in supporting litigation through analytical debt collection and document management. Adept at leading projects independently and advising on enforcement strategies
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Administrative Specialist
Department of Justice - U.S. Attorney's Office - Civil Division
Washington, DC
11.2020 - Current
- Perform comprehensive legal research and prepare, edit, and proofread pleadings and official correspondence to debtors and government agencies with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Perform comprehensive asset and employment research for post-judgment recovery efforts, leveraging skip tracing methodologies and subscription databases (LexisNexis, PACER, Experian, Verato) to locate debtors and identify collectible assets.
- Independently reviews, summarizes, and analyzes documents banks provide via subpoenas and extensive financial information from Debtors.
- Manage legal projects independently, supporting Assistant US Attorneys with document management.
- Devise enforcement plans for debts and present recommendations to Financial Litigation AUSAs and Supervisors for approval.
- Negotiate and monitor payment agreements with Debtors, ensuring compliance.
- Research and reconcile payment histories for accuracy.
- Independently maintains approximately 450 complete and accurate active civil and criminal debt files.
- Establish new criminal cases within the Financial Litigation Unit’s Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) and maintain organized electronic files to ensure efficient document management and case tracking.
- Assist attorneys in preparation for trials, debtor exams/depositions, and conference calls.
- Serve as primary liaison between the U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office, Probation Officers, and debtors to coordinate payment processing, refunds, and resolution of delinquent accounts.
- Employ negotiation skills, litigation strategies, and alternative dispute resolution methods to support government objectives of compensating victims.
- Increases enforcement knowledge regarding Financial Litigation by attending monthly webinars held by the United States Attorney's Office.
- Ensure compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by safeguarding confidential information and conducting research on federal statutes and debt collection laws to support accurate, legally compliant operations.
Lead Collections Paralegal
Niles, Barton & Wilmer LLP
Baltimore, MD
07.2012 - 10.2020
- Drafted correspondences to Clients, Debtors, and the Maryland Courts.
- Drafted and Proofread pleadings with high attention to detail.
- Researched and prepared payoff statements to title/mortgage companies.
- Conducted comprehensive skip tracing and asset investigations to support post-judgment collections, utilizing online research tools and subscription databases including TransUnion, PACER, and MicroBilt to identify debtor assets, banking relationships, and employment information.
- Negotiated payment agreements/settlements with Debtors and monitored agreements until satisfied.
- Researched, allocated, and disbursed funds received from Debtors on weekly basis.
- Employed negotiation skills, litigation strategies, and alternative dispute resolution methods to align with clients' legal and business objectives.
- Monitored debtors' foreclosures, bankruptcies, and estates, which led to drafting and filing appropriate documentation in proceedings to notify Courts of debts due and owing.
- Developed and executed training procedures for incoming paralegals on collection protocol and day-to-day department operations.
- Supervised day-to-day collection operations to ensure deadlines were met and accuracy of cases.
- Prepared approximately 200 incoming payments a month for bank deposits.
- Provided technical advice to employees regarding ReadyCollect database.
- Oversaw and maintained approximately 500 active collection files, ensuring accuracy and compliance while managing both physical and electronic records and updating account information within the ReadyCollect software platform.
- Served as subject matter expert on debt collection within the law firm.
- Assisted attorneys in preparation for trials, mediations, and conference calls.
- Served as primary point of contact for Property Managers and Community Association Board members, communicating with debtors regarding delinquent accounts and attending board meetings alongside lead counsel to discuss collection matters and related association issues.
- Practiced confidentiality consistent with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
- Increased collection knowledge regarding Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by attending webinars and /or seminars held by Maryland State Bar Association.
- Developed profitability strategies with management to increase clientele within the Collections department.
- Drove process improvement initiatives to increase operational efficiency, partnering with attorneys and paralegals to streamline collection procedures and oversee workflow for time-sensitive client and debtor matters.
Skip Tracer
Monumental Process Servers
Baltimore, MD
08.2011 - 02.2012
- Executed skip tracing using various online platforms (i.e. Pipl, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, Merlin) to locate Defendants efficiently.
- Researched and located Defendants to serve summonses.
- Engaged Defendants in discussions about their pending court cases to deliver critical information and support.
- Coordinated communication with process servers and clients to ensure timely service of court summonses.
- Documented status and outcomes of searches in the company's database.
- Provided statuses of service to clients.
- Assisted President/CEO of the company with daily Skip Trace procedures.
- Trained new incoming employees of the Skip Trace Department regarding day-to-day operations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WVMaster of Science - Negotiations And Conflict Management
University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MDSkills
- Advanced Legal Research
- Complex Negotiation
- Enforcement Strategy Development
- Document Management Systems
- Legal Workflow Optimization
- Dispute Resolution & Collections
Professional Awards
- 2023 Performance Award, June 2023
- 2023 Special Act Award, August 2023
- 2024 Performance Award, June 2024
- Patricia Gilbert Award for Financial Litigation, 03/01/25
- 2025 Performance Award, June 2025
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Legal Administrative Specialist
Department of Justice - U.S. Attorney's Office - Civil Division
11.2020 - Current
Lead Collections Paralegal
Niles, Barton & Wilmer LLP
07.2012 - 10.2020
Skip Tracer
Monumental Process Servers
08.2011 - 02.2012
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
Shepherd University
Master of Science - Negotiations And Conflict Management
University of Baltimore