Stephanie Upton
Jefferson City,MO
Summary
Dynamic Litigation Coordinator and Paralegal skilled in managing complex case files and overseeing court schedules. Adept at collaborating with legal teams to ensure accurate documentation while facilitating timely communication between clients, attorneys, and court officials.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Litigation Coordinator/Paralegal
MO Department of Health & Senior Services
Jefferson City, MO
11.2019 - Current
- Coordinate case files and documents for litigation proceedings (857 AHC cases initially). Created and maintain database of all active and closed cases.
- Assist attorneys in preparing legal documents and briefs. Analyze work product and perform quality control reviews and revise or improve documents where appropriate.
- Compile essential case materials to support legal proceedings and ensure thorough preparation. such as evidence, exhibits, motions and subpoenas.
- Manage schedules for court appearances, depositions and meetings.
- Handle all invoice review, editing and approval of contract law firm invoicing. Coordinate with DCR to ensure prompt payment.
- Review court documents for accuracy prior to filing deadlines.
- Collaborate with legal team and Div. of Cannabis Regulation to organize and prioritize litigation documents.
- Maintain detailed records of case progress and deadlines for attorneys as well as for the Director of DHSS.
- Implement workflow improvements to enhance team efficiency.
- Monitor, categorize, and maintain data in compliance with proper chain of custody protocols. in accordance with proper chain of custody protocols.
- Act as liaison between DHSS, Division, contract law firms, attorneys, etc.
- I am the coordinator of the Legal Expense Fund (LEF) and the Voluntary Health Services Act (VHSA) programs.
- Review, edit, and coordinate with legal team on the filing of Rules with JCAR, SOS & the Governor's office as needed.
- Initiate, write, edit and approve/deny contracts/bids for law firms for DCR litigation.
Legal Assistant
Newman, Comley & Ruth P.C.
Jefferson City, MO
01.2019 - 11.2019
- Supported multiple attorneys in civil, contract, and employment litigation, contributing to case preparation and strategy.
- Coordinated communications with courts for filings and case information, ensuring timely and accurate e-filings.
- Assisted attorney in trial preparation by organizing and presenting exhibits and evidence.
- Organized attorney calendars and tracked deadlines to enhance time management and case progression.
- Managed daily workflow by efficiently prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines.
- Drafted correspondence, maintained electronic and hard copy files, and organized client files for accuracy and consistency.
- Edited multiple contracts for various entities.
- Created Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations for attorneys.
- Responded to incoming cold calls while conducting thorough conflict checks.
Paralegal (Part-Time)
Carson & Coil, PC
01.2019
- Compiled weekly bankruptcy mailing lists and merged letters for potential clients sourced from case.net across twelve counties.
Administrative Coordinator
Heisinger Bluffs-St. Joseph's Bluffs Neighborhood
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Managed office operations in residential long-term care & rehabilitation facility.
- Direct assistant to the Administrator.
- Liaison for families and administration.
- Coordinated large-scale events for residents and families, enhancing community engagement.
- Supervised Activities Department and contributed to Leadership team initiatives.
- Created an inventory program for the Neighborhood.
- Generated and disseminated Quality Assurance meeting minutes.
- Point of contact for vendors.
- Executed notary services for documents.
Practice Manager & Paralegal
Paul T. Graham, LLC
Jefferson City, MO
10.2013 - 01.2018
- Managed all aspects of legal practice focused on family, SSA, criminal, and bankruptcy law, including paralegal work, accounting, billing, and vendor relations for software and services, overseeing firm software and databases, and completing end-of-year accounting.
- Managed Social Security cases, performing client intake, obtaining medical records, organizing files, and submitting SSA/SSDI applications.
- Facilitated communication with clients, legal professionals, and attorneys to discuss case details and conducted client interviews, intake, and initial paperwork.
- Managed communications with the courts regarding filings and case information and did all e-filings.
- Drafted various court documents, including pleadings, motions, interrogatories, affidavits, annual reports, Income/Expense/Property/Liability Statements.
- Helped attorney prepare for trials by preparing exhibits and evidence.
- Organized attorney calendars and oversaw deadlines.
- Generated mass mailings for our bankruptcy attorney.
- Recruited and trained temporary staff to support legal operations.
Program Secretary
Preferred Family Healthcare
Jefferson City, Missouri
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Managed office operations in residential/outpatient treatment facility, including ordering supplies and food to support program needs.
- Provided regular updates to Director on office operations, ensuring alignment with facility goals.
- Processed medical record requests, compiled charts, and conducted quarterly chart reviews and purges to maintain accurate patient records.
- Created daily reports to track office activities and patient progress.
- Liaison between outpatients and counselors/case workers.
Impress Supervisor
OfficeMax
Kansas City, MO
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Oversaw management functions, including scheduling employees, interviewing candidates, training staff, and conducting performance evaluations to maintain team effectiveness.
- Managed day-to-day operations of Printing Department, serving both individual and corporate customers to ensure quality service.
- Oversaw daily operations of the store, ensuring smooth functionality..
- Coordinated supply ordering and inventory management, ensuring timely availability of supplies, displays, and stock.
Education
B. A. - Chemistry
Columbia College
Columbia, MO06-1998
Skills
- Legal document drafting
- Litigation review
- Motions drafting
- Courtroom preparation
- Discovery management
- E-filing systems
- Case management
- Deadline tracking
- Process improvement
- Analytics
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
Accomplishments
- Researched and initiated the procurement of Law Pay software system to accept credit card payments online, over the phone and in person for Paul T. Graham, LLC.
- Implemented the reorganization of the front office to help streamline all office processes and make it more efficient for the consumers and employees.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- St. Raymond's Society, Volunteer, 2013
- Pregnancy Help Center, Mentor and Guest Speaker, 2013- Present
- CASA 2023-present
Timeline
Litigation Coordinator/Paralegal
MO Department of Health & Senior Services
11.2019 - Current
Legal Assistant
Newman, Comley & Ruth P.C.
01.2019 - 11.2019
Paralegal (Part-Time)
Carson & Coil, PC
01.2019
Administrative Coordinator
Heisinger Bluffs-St. Joseph's Bluffs Neighborhood
01.2018 - 01.2019
Practice Manager & Paralegal
Paul T. Graham, LLC
10.2013 - 01.2018
Program Secretary
Preferred Family Healthcare
01.2010 - 01.2011
Impress Supervisor
OfficeMax
01.2008 - 01.2009
B. A. - Chemistry
Columbia College