Sarah Hopkins
San Diego,CA
Summary
Experienced Paralegal at State Farm Insurance Inc, adept in document drafting and client communication, significantly enhanced case efficiency and attorney support through meticulous file organization and trial preparation. Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office and critical thinking, contributing to a collaborative and results-driven legal team.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Paralegal
State Farm Insurance Inc
10.2021 - Current
- Reduced attorney workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions and discovery responses.
- Drafted clear and concise correspondence on behalf of attorneys to clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel.
- Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
- Contributed to firm-client relationship building through professional interactions with clients during meetings or phone calls, conveying empathy while maintaining confidentiality.
- Contacted clients to conduct detailed client intakes, obtain information relevant to cases, to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Communicated with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Assisted counsel in providing documentation, and information for discovery requests.
- Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Liaised with other paralegals and legal staff to complete common tasks on schedule; including providing coverage for fellow paralegals for up to four attorneys at a time.
- Helped attorneys prepare for trial by preparing exhibits, joint trial readiness reports, jury instructions and trial binders.
- Ensured compliance with court rules and procedures by accurately preparing and submitting legal filings within established timeframes.
- Promoted a positive work environment by providing training and guidance to fellow paralegals, legal secretaries and administrative staff as needed.
- Expedited document review process by conducting initial reviews of key documents for relevance and privilege status.
- Saved firm resources by conducting cost-effective legal research using both traditional library resources and online databases such as LexisNexis or Westlaw.
- Coordinating meetings, conference calls, and video conferences with internal staff and external parties involved Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Reviewed, edited and proofread litigation for proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Managed high-volume caseloads effectively by creating organized systems for tracking deadlines and prioritizing tasks.
- Assisted in obtaining key evidence through subpoenaing records from various sources such as financial institutions, insurance carriers, law enforcement agencies or medical providers.
- Organized evidence, exhibits, motions, and subpoenas to support cases and prepare for trial.
- Supported attorneys during trial proceedings, ensuring the availability of key exhibits and witnesses when needed.
- Drafted clear and concise correspondence on behalf of attorneys to clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel.
- Maintained litigation database and document organization for personal injury cases.
- Identified critical information within extensive documentation through meticulous attention to detail during document review process.
- Uploaded data into LegalFiles for review and pre-processing, Docusign for client review and signature, and MoveIT for expert review.
- Fostered a positive work environment by contributing to a collaborative atmosphere among colleagues and planning office-wide meetings, celebrations and educational gatherings.
Legal Secretary
State Farm Insurance Inc
05.2018 - 10.2021
- Maintained strict confidentiality of sensitive information to protect client privacy and uphold professional ethics.
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
- Maintained a professional work environment by addressing inquiries promptly from clients or opposing counsel regarding the status of cases or specific issues at hand.
- Safeguarded confidentiality with strict adherence to ethical guidelines when handling sensitive client information.
- Increased efficiency in communication by drafting professional correspondence for attorneys'' review and distribution.
- Improved overall office efficiency by providing cross-training to fellow support staff in key litigation procedures and tasks.
- Minimized potential errors during court proceedings by thoroughly proofreading all documents before submission.
- Collaborated closely with paralegals to ensure seamless coordination on all aspects of case management from inception through disposition.
- Ensured accurate case tracking with diligent maintenance of a litigation calendar for multiple attorneys.
- Managed high-volume caseloads by maintaining organized client files and tracking deadlines effectively.
- Prepared legal documents, including pleadings,expert exchanges, and discovery requests to expedite case progression.
- Expedited settlement negotiations by accurately preparing settlement agreements for attorney review and execution.
- Enhanced attorney productivity by providing exceptional administrative support, managing schedules, and organizing meetings.
- Completed data entry of legal documents into electronic filing systems.
- Filed documents with courts on behalf of attorney.
- Created and printed legal documents for attorneys to review.
- Prepared and processed invoices for attorney billing.
- Prioritized and handled multiple assignments and maintained firm commitment to deadlines.
- Scheduled and made appointments for two to four attorneys.
Administrative Assistant
State Farm Insurance Inc
04.2015 - 05.2018
- Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by adhering to strict privacy policies and implementing secure filing systems.
- Delivered excellent customer service through prompt responses to client inquiries, addressing concerns effectively, and building strong relationships.
- Ensured accurate record-keeping with diligent data entry and database management for vital company information.
- Provided clerical support to company employees by copying, faxing, and filing documents.
- Maintained office supplies inventory by checking stock and ordering new supplies.
- Responded to inquiries from callers seeking information.
- Created and updated records and files to maintain document compliance.
- Sorted, opened, and routed mail and deliveries to meet business requirements.
- Expedited invoice processing, ensuring accurate recording of financial transactions in the accounting system.
- Ensured timely completion of projects with diligent task prioritization, delegation, and followup.
- Restocked supplies and submitted purchase orders to maintain stock levels.
- Streamlined office processes by implementing efficient filing and organizational systems.
- Routed business correspondence, documents, and messages to correct departments and staff members.
- Created and updated physical records and digital files to maintain current, accurate, and compliant documentation.
- Recorded and tracked operational expenses to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.
- Enhanced team collaboration by effectively scheduling meetings and coordinating calendars for multiple executives.
- Screened visitors and issued badges to maintain safety and security.
- Elevated overall productivity levels through consistent maintenance of electronic filing systems and shared document repositories.
- Boosted employee morale by planning and executing engaging company events and team-building activities.
- Managed filing system, entered data and completed other clerical tasks.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
- Created and maintained detailed administrative processes and procedures to drive efficiency and accuracy.
- Continually sought methods for improving daily operations, communications with clients, recordkeeping, and data entry for increased efficiency.
- Completed forms, reports, logs, and records to quickly handle all documentation for human resources.
- Interacted with vendors, contractors and professional services personnel to receive orders, direct activities, and communicate instructions.
- Established administrative work procedures to track staff's daily tasks.
Receptionist
State Farm Insurance Inc
06.2012 - 04.2015
- Greeted incoming visitors and customers professionally and provided friendly, knowledgeable assistance.
- Confirmed appointments, communicated with clients, and updated client records.
- Answered phone promptly and directed incoming calls to correct offices.
- Kept reception area clean and neat to give visitors positive first impression.
- Resolved customer problems and complaints.
- Streamlined front desk operations for increased efficiency by effectively managing phone calls, emails, and walk-in clients.
- Maintained a well-organized reception area with updated materials, contributing to a welcoming environment for visitors.
- Answered central telephone system and directed calls accordingly.
- Supported office efficiency by performing clerical tasks such as data entry, photocopying, scanning, and faxing documents.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking abilities while managing numerous tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Handled sensitive information with discretion while maintaining strict confidentiality standards.
- Provided administrative support to staff members by handling correspondence, filing documents, and managing office supplies inventory.
- Maintained visitor log for entering and leaving facility for security purposes.
- Helped maintain office security by monitoring visitor access and issuing badges.
- Managed conference room schedules to ensure efficient use of space for meetings and other events.
- Routed incoming mail and messages to relevant personnel without delay.
- Handled incoming and outgoing package deliveries, working with vendors to complete special requests and track missing packages.
Education
Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA05.2018
High School Diploma -
John Muir High School
San Diego06.1994
Skills
- Proficient in MS Office
- Client Communication
- Document drafting
- File Organization
- Proofreading
- Attorney Support
- File and Records Management
- Court Filing
- Exhibit preparation
- Discovery Management
- Critical Thinking
- Client Support
- Legal Correspondence
- Trial Preparation Assistance
Certification
- Certified Paralegal, State Farm Insurance - 2021 to present
Playing wiht my seb=ven year old daughter, laughing, reading, writing, watching British mysteries
Being a mother has taught me so much; compassion, holding your ground, being creative, enjoying life and acceptance.
Laughter is healing, and brings people together! I have always enjoyed reading and writing and I feel both are great at keeping our minds fresh.
I'm a bit of an Anglophile and, recently, I have really been enjoying post-war era British mysteries.
Timeline
Paralegal
State Farm Insurance Inc
10.2021 - Current
Legal Secretary
State Farm Insurance Inc
05.2018 - 10.2021
Administrative Assistant
State Farm Insurance Inc
04.2015 - 05.2018
Receptionist
State Farm Insurance Inc
06.2012 - 04.2015
Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies
San Diego Miramar College
High School Diploma -
John Muir High School