Sade Adejumo
Chicago,IL
Summary
Detail-oriented Paralegal with strong expertise in legal principles and procedures. Proven ability to conduct thorough research and produce high-quality legal documents. Proficient in various legal software, enhancing efficiency and support for attorneys. Committed to continuous professional development within a dynamic legal environment.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Secretary/Paralegal
Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP
Chicago, Illinois
12.2024 - Current
- Provide comprehensive administrative and legal support to a team of five attorneys and paralegals in a high-volume litigation practice.
- Coordinate attorney calendars, court dates, and project timelines to ensure compliance with case deadlines and client expectations.
- Maintain and organize legal files in both electronic and physical formats; ensure accuracy and accessibility of all case documents.
- Prepare, draft, and proofread legal correspondence, contracts, pleadings, and discovery documents for filing and submission.
- Perform court e-filing in state and federal jurisdictions; ensure timely and accurate filing in accordance with court rules.
- Schedule and coordinate depositions, meetings, and hearings with clients, courts, and opposing counsel.
- Conduct preliminary legal research and compile case-relevant information to assist attorneys with case preparation.
- Transcribe dictation and manage correspondence with a high level of discretion and professionalism.
- Maintain accurate records through data entry and document management systems.
- Serve as the first point of contact for client and court communications; provide professional phone support and follow-ups.
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Illinois Dept. of Juvenile Justice IYC Kewanee/Chicago
Kewanee & Chicago, IL
09.2014 - 12.2020
- Interacted effectively with youth; provided role-modeling behavior, facilitated and reinforced appropriate communications and social skills and developed suitable problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
- Closely monitored youth’s progress in accordance with an individualized service plan. Successfully established behavioral limits to encourage acceptable interaction between adults and youth.
- Provided comprehensive support for various security and program assignments, actively participated in escorts, supervised youth work crews, sally port operations, property control, audits, fire safety, conducted searches, key control, tool control and outer perimeter security, etc.
- Collaborated with counselors and other professional staff to provide additional assistance and support services to youth through individualized student teaching and leading group facilitation programs.
- Directly supervised youth in accordance with specified agency rules and standards; participated in the development of individualized service plans including preparing periodic written and oral reports, attended professional staff meetings for assigned youth and contributed to plan in areas of specialization, goal setting, behavioral observations and management issues.
- Safely transported and supervised youth movement to and from destinations inside and outside facility grounds while observing youth behavior and social interaction, intervened when conflicts occurred and deescalated situations.
- Maintained physical and computer client files to enhance organizational efforts. Played an active role in supporting skills and development needed for attainment of treatment goals such as anger management, social skills and young adult skills.
- Provided and participated in crisis intervention and facilitated conflict resolution among clients as needed
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Intern
Law Offices of Jennifer C. Weiss/Law Offices of David L. Lee
Chicago, IL
10.2013 - 12.2013
- Conducted legal research and prepared summaries on case law, statues, and legal precedents to support litigation attorneys. Utilized legal databases, libraries, and online resources to retrieve information.
- Drafted discovery responses, pleadings, motions, and legal correspondence under attorney supervision.
- Maintained a calendar of important deadlines, court dates, and appointments.
- Communicated with clients to obtain information, provide updates, and relay attorney instructions.
- Managed and organized case files, including indexing and electronic filing, to maintain accessibility and compliance with legal standards.
- Assisted in the discovery process by organizing and analyzing documents and preparing responses to discovery requests.
- Assisted attorneys in trial preparation by organizing exhibits, creating witness lists, and preparing materials for depositions and court proceedings.
- Provided general administrative support to attorneys, including scheduling meetings, answering phones, and managing correspondence.
- Coordinated and arranged for the delivery of legal documents
- Adhered to legal and professional standards in all tasks and interactions.
Education
Bachelor of Criminal Justice -
Loyola University
Chicago, IL05.2013
Skills
- Administrative Management
- Records Organization
- Legal Research & Writing (Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, Relativity)
- Litigation Support & Case Management
- Discovery & E-Discovery Processes
- Client and Witness Interaction
- Office Administration
- Data Entry
- Filing and Organization
- Time Management
- Problem Solving
- Conflict Resolution
- Process Improvements
- Interpersonal Skills
- Multi-tasking Ability
- Detail-oriented
- Team Player
- Communication Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Planning Skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint Adobe)
- Calendar coordination
- Legal research
- Case management
- E-filing systems
- Legal document preparation
- Litigation support
- Client communication
- Attention to detail
- Drafting legal documents
- Editing and proofreading
- Schedule management
- Exceptional communication skills
- Spreadsheets
Certification
- Litigation and Corporate Practice Certificate Institute for Paralegal Studies: May 2024
Learning Outcomes:
- Preparing summaries of court decisions, statutes, & administrative regulations.
- Developing legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations.
- Locating relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
- Applying paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegal
- Researching and navigating Westlaw, Lexis Nexus, and Relativity
- Demonstrating intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, PDFs
- Assisting attorneys in preparing and presenting lawsuits
- Drafting court pleadings and maintain case files and databases
- Collecting and organizing information through investigation and the discovery process
- Helping in preparing the case for trial, and often assist attorneys at trial by coordinating the case material.
- Assisting attorneys who work for corporate clients document the organization and operation of business entities.
- Retrieving information to conduct due diligence procedures for commercial and real estate transactions.
- Drafting contract provisions and coordinate the administrative process for contracts.
IL Notary Public: May 2024-2028
References
References available upon request.
Websites
Timeline
Legal Secretary/Paralegal
Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP
12.2024 - Current
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Illinois Dept. of Juvenile Justice IYC Kewanee/Chicago
09.2014 - 12.2020
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Intern
Law Offices of Jennifer C. Weiss/Law Offices of David L. Lee
10.2013 - 12.2013
Bachelor of Criminal Justice -
Loyola University
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