Paula Utley
Franksville,WI
Summary
Highly self-motivated legal professional with over 30 years of administrative and legal support experience. Able to handle a variety of complex tasks in highly stressful and fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude. Known for reliability and flexibility to take on new challenges with dedication and enthusiasm.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
MacGillis Law Group, LLC
Elm Grove, WI
05.2025 - Current
- Monitor and advance leads through customized stages (e.g., Consultation Scheduled, Pending Documents, Retainer Sent) on the Clio Grow dashboard.
- Generate fee agreements and engagement letters using gathered data, and send them for digital signature directly through the software.
- Open cases in the firm's legal management software, maintain compliance protocols, and prepare initial client paperwork.
- Request medical records, crash reports, police reports and insurance claim information.
- Organize liability records (videos, photos etc.)
- Prepare medical treatment summaries
- Coordinated communication between clients and legal team to facilitate information flow.
- Assisted attorneys in organizing case files and maintaining documentation.
- Utilized legal software to manage case information and track deadlines effectively.
- Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Contribute to firm-client relationship building through professional interactions with clients during meetings or phone calls, conveying empathy while maintaining confidentiality.
Judicial Assistant
Kenosha County
Kenosha, WI
08.2007 - 05.2025
- Provided administrative duties to Circuit Court Judges and Court Commissioners.
- Managed court scheduling with high volume case load.
- Organized and maintained case files, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards.
- Attend all court proceedings to compose minutes and record case dispositions.
- Prepare correspondence, reports and a variety of orders.
- Facilitated communication between attorneys, clients, and court personnel to streamline operations.
- Oversaw daily administrative tasks to support courtroom activities and enhance workflow efficiency.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information while handling high-profile or complex cases.
- Assisted with interviewing and training court bailiffs.
Office Associate - Circuit Court
Kenosha County
Kenosha WI
05.2005 - 08.2007
- Maintained organized filing systems for easy retrieval of records and information.
- Processed incoming requests and inquiries, ensuring timely responses and resolution of issues.
- Completed clerical tasks such as filing, copying, and distributing mail.
- Responded to inquiries from callers seeking information.
- Maintained accurate filing systems, reducing document retrieval times and enhancing overall organization.
- Open and close files
Office Associate - Kenosha County Sheriff's Depart
Kenosha County
Kenosha, Wi
05.1995 - 05.2005
- Managed office supplies inventory, ensuring timely replenishment and organization.
- Assisted in scheduling appointments and coordinating meetings for staff members.
- Processed incoming mail and correspondence, directing it to appropriate personnel for prompt response.
- Maintained accurate records of office transactions and documentation for compliance purposes.
- Provided clerical support to Sheriff and Chief Deputy and other staff.
- Collaborated inter-departmentally to assist with workflow and gather reports and data.
- Performed background checks
- Transcribed Detective Bureau interviews of defendants.
- Back up to Accountant
- Answered phones, assisted general public and other agencies.
Education
No Degree -
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WIHigh School Diploma -
Ladysmith High School
Ladysmith, WI06-1988
Skills
- Proficient in MS office,
- Proficient in MS office, Corel Draw and Corel Photoshop
- Type over 100 wpm
- 17,000 key strokes per hour on number keys
- Strong analytical and organizational skills
- Legal Case management
- Customer Service
- Research and data collection
- Office administrative support
- Document drafting and report preparations
- Legal research
- Bookkeeping
- Processing Mail
- Exhibit preparation
- Court filing
- Criminal, Family, Civil and Juvenile Law
- Legal Proceedings
- Client intake procedures
- Effective multitasking
Accomplishments
Nominated Judicial Clerk of the year and received recognition through Wisconsin Law Journal - Unsung Heroes.
Timeline
Paralegal
MacGillis Law Group, LLC
05.2025 - Current
Judicial Assistant
Kenosha County
08.2007 - 05.2025
Office Associate - Circuit Court
Kenosha County
05.2005 - 08.2007
Office Associate - Kenosha County Sheriff's Depart
Kenosha County
05.1995 - 05.2005
No Degree -
Gateway Technical College
High School Diploma -
Ladysmith High School