Shawndra Zavala
Yuma,Arizona
Summary
Organized Legal Secretary/Paralegal/Office Manager/Public Relations adept at managing multiple high priority tasks. Expert in preparing legal documents in personal injury, civil and criminal matters. Effective at taking on large and small tasks with minimal guidance. Successfully applies excellent time management skills and expert knowledge of legal procedures. Driven to maintain ethical standards while providing top-notch assistance to attorneys. Many years of experience in the areas of pre-litigation personal injury, civil litigation, criminal defense and family law.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Pre-Litigation Department Manager
Shapiro Law Team, PLC
Scottsdale, AZ
06.2020 - 01.2024
- Managed a team of paralegals to ensure timely completion of projects and tasks.
- Managed the work of paralegals to ensure accuracy in case files
- Coached, mentored and trained the paralegals in order to improve their job performance.
- Conducted file reviews to ensure case files are being worked properly
- Created and updated case management and client account databases.
- Exercised good judgment and decision-making in escalating concerns and resolving issues.
- Provided leadership during times of organizational change or crisis situations.
- Maintained up-to-date records of employee attendance, payroll information, vacation requests.
- Entered time and attendance logs in preparation for payroll.
- Conducted regular meetings with staff to discuss progress and identify areas of improvement.
- Recruited and hired qualified candidates to fill open positions.
- Established processes to ensure efficient workflow throughout the organization.
- Resolved customer inquiries and complaints requiring management-level escalation.
- Conducted quarterly reviews on the paralegals work productivity and performance
- Enforced customer service standard and resolved customer issues to uphold quality service
- Monitored staff performance and addressed issues.
- Assisted the paralegals with their caseloads on a needed basis to ensure that work is being completed in a timely manner.
Case Manager
Lerner and Rowe
Yuma, AZ
09.2018 - 06.2020
- Monitored client progress through regular follow-up contact with client
- Requested medical records and bills
- Monitored client treatment
- Confirmed policy coverages, insurances and limits
- Drafted demand letters to insurance companies (3P, UM, UIM, NOC, WC, Excess)
- Conducted county lien searches
Public Relations/Paralegal Manager
Martinet Law
Phoenix, AZ
01.2016 - 09.2018
- Manage and built the personal injury department
- Train, direct, assign duties, supervise and order all subordinate employees
- Issue interoffice memos to employees, including associate attorneys as he deems necessary in pursuit of business
- Attend events with medical providers and marketing events
- Review demands prepared by staff and authorize for attorney signature
- Negotiate and settle personal injury cases
- Perform legal research such as: collecting, compiling, verifying, and presenting status for further investigation, reports, pleadings and preparation for Trial
- Calendar deadlines, court hearings, statute of limitations, request medical records and billing records, verify lien amounts and request reductions
- Perform client intake and review if case is suitable to retain
- Communicate daily with insurance adjusters, medical providers and marketers
- Assist clients with the process of their property damage
- Met with clients to update them on the progress of cases
- Research statutes, decisions, legal articles and codes
- Developed a working relationship with courts, clients, debtors and attorneys
- Pre-screen and interview potential legal assistant candidates
- Work as a team with attorneys, administrative assistants and fellow legal assistants
- Manage cases of clients with highest levels of confidentiality and discretion.
Legal Assistant
Goldberg & Osborn
Phoenix, AZ
03.2015 - 12.2015
- Maintained a file case load of approximately 90-130 cases monthly
- Met with clients and completed intakes in English and Spanish
- Gathered and organized medical records and billing records to document cases and prepare demand for negotiations and settlement
- Consistent contact with clients, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and loan companies
- Assisted clients with property damage and gap companies up to final resolution
- Provided advocacy to each individual client
- Work as a team with attorneys, administrative assistants and fellow legal assistants
- Manage cases of clients with highest levels of confidentiality and discretion.
Paralegal
Law Office of John Minore, P.L.C.
Yuma, AZ
03.2014 - 01.2015
- Prepared correspondence, coordinated calendars, scheduled meetings and conferences, prepared and reviewed legal documents
- Met, screened and interviewed clients for completion of their divorce, criminal matters and personal injury and civil matters
- Maintained files by assuring that all necessary pleadings were filed and disclosure was complete and current
- Assisted clients with explanation of procedures and providing information
- Prepared legal documents such as but not limited to: petitions, responses, stipulations, motions, complaints, summons, subpoenas, notices, memos, correspondence, orders and any other pleadings necessary to support the individual manner
- Performed legal research such as: collecting, compiling, verifying and presenting status for further investigations, reports, pleadings, and preparation for Trial
- Calendar deadlines, court hearings, statute of limitations, request medical records and billing records, verify lien amounts, screen telephone calls, schedule appointments, depositions and arbitrations
- Investigated facts and laws to determine causes of action and to prepare cases
- Directed and coordinated law office activity
- Assisted attorney in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email and mail
- Communicated with outside vendors on behalf of attorneys and legal departments.
Office Manager/Legal Secretary
Law Office Cornelius Candy Camarena, P.C.
Yuma, AZ
05.2009 - 03.2014
- Trained, directed and assigned duties, supervised and ordered all subordinate employees
- Issued interoffice memos to employees, including associated attorneys as he deems necessary in pursuit of office business
- Open, dated and stamped mail
- Assisted attorney on special assignments, including marketing, budgeting, and vendors
- Ordered all office supplies for the office
- Received all monies, provided invoices, bank deposits and bank reconciliation
- Assisted attorney with completion of criminal matters, immigration, personal injury and civil litigation
- Prepared correspondence, coordinated calendars, scheduled meetings and conferences and prepared legal documents
- Maintained files by assuring that all necessary pleadings were filed and disclosure was complete and current
- Assisted clients with explanation of procedures and providing information
- Prepared legal documents such as but not limited to: petitions, responses, stipulations, motions, complaints, summons, subpoenas, notices, memos, correspondence, orders and any other pleadings necessary to support the individual manner
- Performed legal research such as: collecting, compiling, verifying and presenting status for further investigations, reports, pleadings, and preparation for Trial
- Calendar deadlines, court hearings, statute of limitations, request medical records and billing records, verify lien amounts, screen telephone calls, schedule appointments, depositions and arbitrations
- Investigated facts and laws to determine causes of action and to prepare cases
- Directed and coordinated law office activity
- Assisted attorney in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email and mail
- Communicated with outside vendors on behalf of attorneys and legal departments.
Program Services Evaluator III
Department of Economic Security
Yuma, AZ
03.2005 - 03.2009
- Strong interviewing, investigative and case management skills
- Data gathered from clients, employers, and other agencies for determination of eligibility for cash assistance (TANF), Food Stamps, General Assistance, TPEP and medical assistance
- Referrals to other agencies for potential benefits
- Impose sanctions to cash and medical assistance for noncompliance with Jobs, child support, immunizations and school attendance
- Represent family assistance in fair hearings with an administrative law judge and gather information needed
- Strong budgeting skills and interpersonal communication with staff, clients, and outside agencies
- Interpret Federal and State Medicaid laws and policy
- Investigative financial and non-financial sources verified information to make approval and denial decisions.
Legal Secretary
Roberson & Shelly, PC
Yuma, AZ
01.2002 - 03.2005
- Sole assistant to attorney with administrative duties, which included: preparation of correspondence, coordinating calendars, scheduled meetings and conferences, prepared and reviewed legal documents
- Opened, dated and stamped mail
- Performed clerical duties, such as, but not limited to: filing, copying, assembling reports and documents, and processing mail
- Maintained files by assuring that all necessary pleadings were filed and disclosure was complete and current
- Screened telephone calls and scheduled appointments.
Receptionist/Legal Secretary
Law Office of John H. Serrano
Yuma, AZ
02.1999 - 01.2002
- Answer, screen and route multi-line phone calls
- Opened, dated and stamped mail
- Performed clerical duties, such as, but not limited to: filing, copying, assembling reports and documents, and processing mail
- Maintained files by assuring that all necessary pleadings were filed and disclosure was complete and current
- Prepared correspondence, coordinated calendars, scheduled meetings and conferences and prepared legal documents
- Maintained files by assuring that all necessary pleadings were filed and disclosure was complete and current.
Education
Associate of Arts - Administration of Justice
Arizona Western College
Skills
- Drafting legal documents
- Type 75 wpm
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Quickbooks/Bookkeeping
- Legal Files/Needles Software
- Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Human Resources
- Office Practice
- Efficient/Dependable
- Management
- Honest/Loyal
- Public Relations/Marketing
- Works well under pressure
- Wordperfect/Excel/Word
- Strong work values/ethics
- Computer-savvy
- Conflict Resolution
- Fluent in legal terminology
- Professional
References
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Pre-Litigation Department Manager
Shapiro Law Team, PLC
06.2020 - 01.2024
Case Manager
Lerner and Rowe
09.2018 - 06.2020
Public Relations/Paralegal Manager
Martinet Law
01.2016 - 09.2018
Legal Assistant
Goldberg & Osborn
03.2015 - 12.2015
Paralegal
Law Office of John Minore, P.L.C.
03.2014 - 01.2015
Office Manager/Legal Secretary
Law Office Cornelius Candy Camarena, P.C.
05.2009 - 03.2014
Program Services Evaluator III
Department of Economic Security
03.2005 - 03.2009
Legal Secretary
Roberson & Shelly, PC
01.2002 - 03.2005
Receptionist/Legal Secretary
Law Office of John H. Serrano
02.1999 - 01.2002
Associate of Arts - Administration of Justice
Arizona Western College
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