Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Awards
Timeline
Generic

Raeanna Neubauer

Mokena,IL

Summary

Driven Paralegal successful at thriving in high stress, high-pressure environments and situations involving constant change and vast ambiguity in data and instruction.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Paralegal

Wilson and Wilson
04.2024 - Current
  • Paralegal specializing in probate— Estate Administration and Trust, litigation, research and corp-LLC.
  • Reduced attorney workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and affidavits.
  • Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation, and information for discovery request.
  • Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
  • Managed scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain smooth flow of firm operations.
  • Contributed to firm-client relationship building through professional interactions with clients during meetings or phone calls, conveying empathy while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Communicated with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
  • Prepared legal briefs, motions, and pleadings.
  • Boosted office productivity by maintaining an accurate calendar of appointments, deadlines, and court appearances.
  • Helped attorneys prepare for trial by organizing exhibits and calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
  • Ensured compliance with court rules and procedures by accurately preparing and submitting legal filings within established timeframes.
  • Facilitated timely and accurate billing by recording billable hours, expenses, and other relevant information in the firm''s billing system.
  • Assisted in preparation of settlement proposals and agreements to help attorneys negotiate settlement in best interest of client.
  • Assisted attorneys with trial preparation through thorough research and analysis of relevant laws and regulations.
  • Summarized depositions, legal documents and other material to provide attorney with relevant material for cases.
  • Managed complex cases efficiently using specialized software programs designed for paralegal work to track information related to multiple parties over long periods of time.
  • Promoted a positive work environment by providing training and guidance to junior paralegals or interns as needed.
  • Contributed to successful case outcomes through diligent fact investigation and witness interviews.

Paralegal for Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, Corp

Law Office of Theresa A. Berkey
07.2023 - Current
  • Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
  • Maintained and updated organized client contact information to keep in touch with clients and provide updates on cases.
  • Improved document organization by implementing a comprehensive file management system for easy access to essential case materials.
  • Streamlined communication between clients and legal staff by managing client inquiries promptly and professionally.
  • Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
  • Aided settlement negotiations with effective summary reports outlining key points from discovery materials for use during mediation sessions or pretrial settlement talks.
  • Saved firm resources by conducting cost-effective legal research using both traditional library resources and online databases such as LexisNexis or Westlaw.
  • Assisted in achieving favorable legal outcomes by preparing persuasive legal arguments and briefs.
  • Improved client trust and satisfaction, providing comprehensive support and updates throughout case progression.
  • Increased efficiency in legal document production with advanced proficiency in legal software applications.
  • Conducted in-depth legal research for supporting case strategy development, significantly contributing to positive outcomes.
  • Increased client satisfaction with thorough research and prompt response to inquiries.
  • Enhanced firm's legal research capabilities, maintaining up-to-date database of legal resources and precedents.
  • Facilitated smoother trial preparations, organizing exhibits and coordinating witnesses.
  • Produced legal documents such as briefs, pleadings and appeals.

Legal Assistant

Mark T. Hickey & Associates P.C.
03.2018 - 07.2023
  • Legal Assistant for Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Corporate and Litigation.
  • Provide administrative support to one or more attorneys
  • Effectively communicate with clients and colleagues
  • Perform screening of clients to draft all documents needed to open and retain Letters of Office, Intestate and Testate, close probate estate, retrieve EIN, transfer Estate Assets to Trusts. Final Accounting, final report.
  • Work with attorneys to prepare all documents required to form corporations (both business and not-for-profit corporations), partnerships and limited liability companies in any state.
  • Perform and draft all documents needed for Secretary of State Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization (for regular LLC and Series),Annual Reports, amendments, corporate books– creating and maintaining stock certificates, minutes, operating agreements ( for LLC), EIN ( Probate and Corp)
  • Source and verify important case intelligence, including but not limited to produce and file various legal documents, preserve an updated case record system
  • Answer phone calls, take notes/messages and redirect calls when appropriate
  • Maintain and update inventories of contact details.
  • Facilitate the meeting of deadlines by keeping multiple agendas and provide
  • Proven experience as a very organized legal secretary
  • Expert knowledge of Trust Administration, Probate and Estate Planning terminology, regulations and court systems
  • Expert Knowledge of corporate filings, terminology, regulations and state / federal requirements.
  • Knowledge of MS Office and ability to work with legal technology (court-filing computer systems, research, dictaphone etc)
  • Outstanding time-management and typing skills
  • Ability to multitask and being comfortable dealing with a diverse pool of people

Legal Assistant

Esposito & Staubus LLP
07.2016 - 09.2018
  • Supported attorneys by performing various day-to-day tasks including maintaining and recording files, conducting legal research and drafting legal documents.
  • Composed Notices, Motions, Judicial Correspondence
  • Perform screening of clients to draft all documents needed to open and retain Letters of Office, Intestate and Testate, close probate estate, retrieve EIN, transfer Estate Assets to Trusts. Final Accounting, final report.
  • Work with attorneys to prepare all documents required to form corporations (both business and not-for-profit corporations), partnerships and limited liability companies in any state.
  • Perform and draft all documents needed for Secretary of State Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization (for regular LLC and Series),Annual Reports, amendments, corporate books– creating and maintaining stock certificates, minutes, operating agreements ( for LLC), EIN ( Probate and Corp)
  • Researched, prepared, created documents, copied, and organized documents for Depositions.
  • Extensive research and preparation for trials.
  • Preparation for all Litigation and mediation.
  • Prepared all documents for closings, using First American Title. I filed all documents, motions, briefs, responses, replies, etc. efile, and or by mail. I was responsible for sending out any and all FOIA requests.
  • I have been an FOIA officer for 9+years. I retake the course every year. I was responsible for research,pulling material for, and relating to any MSJ’s up or Appeal’s. ( I also completed the filing, binding, and insured the delivery.) I trained all new Associates on how to use First American Title to do closings and complete all the correct, and/needed tax forms.
  • I trained all new Associates on how to prepare for all Real Estate Closings, from document production to final transfer stamps etc.
  • I also was in charge of the Main Quickbooks account, our Condo Association Quickbooks account, and also our Trust Account.
  • I was responsible for making sure I scheduled my time to complete all these tasks and managing my time between 4 established full time attorneys, closing out the books, all the above responsibilities, besides other office needs in the normal office hours of 8am-5pm.

Hiring Manager

American Marketing & Publishing
10.2015 - 07.2016
  • Over saw 4 states ( 3 Territories)
  • Recognized twice by corporate as Hiring Manager of the Month (December 2015, February 2016)
  • 8 out of the 12 Sales reps I hired are in the rookie of the year runnings.
  • Sourced minimum of 100 resumes a week
  • Conducted 20 interviews a day
  • Serving as liaison between all HR and Payroll Departments, including recruiting, staffing, budgeting, benefits, legal, compliance, compensation and performance evaluation.
  • Direct benefits plans, rate negotiations, vendor selection, claims data analysis, trend tracking and liability issues for all employee plans, with engagement from 500 workers.
  • Perform daily education and research reports for CEO, VP’s.
  • Also handle vendor selection
  • Advise top executives on organizational design, change management, career development and internal communications

CPC-Commercial Project Coordinator

Parksite, Inc
12.2014 - 10.2015
  • Gather all project information: schedules, data requests, assignments, tasks, and project meetings.
  • Worked with the project team and all Developers,Architects,GC’s,Millwork, distributors (Dupont & Tyvek) Sales Reps, Managers, to understand and assist with tracking all work, task and project assignments.
  • Working with all Developers,Architects,GC’s,Millwork, distributors (Dupont & Tyvek) Sales Reps, Managers, and specialists assist in developing a comprehensive workflow process for projects.
  • Monitor and modify project schedule as assigned,Maintain document control, database management, track project activities and team communication.
  • Assists project team and team lead in strategic meetings and follow up with meeting notes,schedule project follow up meetings as needed.
  • Developed and published communications to project shareholders
  • Developed and reviewed project status and reports.
  • Special projects as assigned.
  • (Consulting-Contract)

Telecommunications Division

Black & Veatch
03.2014 - 12.2014
  • Zoning specialist for the telecom division. I would meet with municipalities in regards to zoning and building permits.
  • Create training presentations for the telecom zoning division.
  • Prepare and execute all information for any municipality town meetings.
  • Chosen in the top 6 for BV to participate in their National Zoning Hearing.
  • Audit new work, making sure everything we received was in compliance.
  • Apply for all permits, variances, seek relations with prospective landlords.
  • Go above and beyond expectations for all PR with telecom clients.
  • (Contract)

Laura, Chanthadouangsay & Castellanos, LLC
10.2013 - 02.2014
  • Zoning specialist for a telecommunications law firm. I would meet with municipalities in regards to zoning and permitting.
  • Apply for all permits, variances, seek relations with prospective landlords.
  • Go above and beyond expectations for all PR with telecom clients.
  • (Contract)

Skills

  • Public Notary- bonded for remote
  • ABA Certified and member
  • Smokeball
  • Caret Legal
  • Type 60 WPM, including 10-key
  • Certified Quickbooks Administrator
  • First American Title
  • Chicago Title
  • FOIA Officer
  • All E-Filing Systems
  • Grant Writing
  • Quickbase
  • Sitierra
  • Peoplesoft
  • Documentum
  • Dodge
  • CCN
  • Filenet
  • Cingulinc
  • Fluent in Microsoft Office (word, excel, etc)
  • Windows
  • Microsoft Suite ( which includes MS Project and SharePoint)
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Adobe
  • Acrobat
  • Amicus
  • WestLaw
  • LexisNexis
  • Pacer
  • Timeslips
  • Outlook
  • Power Point
  • USPTO
  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft Streets and Trips
  • Google Earth

Awards

December 2015 Hiring Manager of The Month (AMP), February 2016 Hiring Manager of The Month (AMP), One of top 6 chosen to be in the National Zoning Hearing for B & V., Who’s Who Among America’s top 200 professional Women 2011- present., Citizens First National Bank employee of the month October 2007, Miss Illinois Miss USA candidate 2008 (top 15 out 174), Mendota Sweet Corn Queen and Miss Congeniality 2006 ( Honored in 2017 for being the only woman in the Festivals 70 year history to win both.)

Timeline

Paralegal

Wilson and Wilson
04.2024 - Current

Paralegal for Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, Corp

Law Office of Theresa A. Berkey
07.2023 - Current

Legal Assistant

Mark T. Hickey & Associates P.C.
03.2018 - 07.2023

Legal Assistant

Esposito & Staubus LLP
07.2016 - 09.2018

Hiring Manager

American Marketing & Publishing
10.2015 - 07.2016

CPC-Commercial Project Coordinator

Parksite, Inc
12.2014 - 10.2015

Telecommunications Division

Black & Veatch
03.2014 - 12.2014

Laura, Chanthadouangsay & Castellanos, LLC
10.2013 - 02.2014

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Raeanna Neubauer