Tatiana Canas
San Francisco,USA
Summary
Detail-oriented legal professional committed to supporting a high-performing Managing Partner through effective inbox management, calendar operations, and workflow optimization. Demonstrates strong judgment and initiative with a proven ability to anticipate needs and streamline processes. Adept at maintaining the efficiency of a fast-paced legal practice, ensuring seamless operations without constant direction. Passionate about contributing to team success by enhancing productivity and fostering an organized work environment.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Secretary
JKZ LLP
09.2021 - Current
- Document Preparation and Production
- Format, proofread, and finalize legal documents for all Family Law matters, including declarations, pleadings, motions, discovery, settlement proposals, and correspondence
- Prepare Judicial Council filings, including Dissolutions, Requests for Orders, Income & Expense Declarations, and Parenting Plans
- Prepare and assemble signature packets, exhibit sets, and document binders
- Manage redlines, version control, and document revisions for attorneys and paralegals
- Ensure all documents comply with firm formatting standards and jurisdiction-specific requirements
- Create hearing binders, mediation/settlement conference materials, and trial binders
- Client Communications and Coordination
- Serve as a primary administrative point of contact for clients, including scheduling meetings, signings, and document review appointments
- Assist clients with submitting required information and documentation
- Provide procedural guidance regarding filings, deadlines, mediation preparation, and signing requirements
- Coordinate electronic signing and notary arrangements for client documents
- Track outstanding client information and follow up as needed
- Communicate with opposing counsel, custody evaluators, mediators, and court-appointed professionals regarding scheduling
- Scheduling and Deadline Management
- Maintain attorney calendars, including client meetings, court hearings, mediation sessions, settlement conferences, and discovery deadlines
- Track deadlines for Requests for Orders, responsive pleadings, mandatory disclosures, financial documentation, and mediation timelines
- Schedule meetings with clients, witnesses, and experts, and manage task lists to ensure timely completion
- Monitor court timelines for custody evaluations, mediation reports, and compliance deadlines
- File and Document Management
- Maintain organized electronic and physical files for all Family Law matters
- Upload, name, and store documents according to firm naming conventions and departmental standards
- Scan and process signed originals, notarized documents, and court orders for long-term storage
- Ensure legal indexes are accurate and aligned with court filings
- Prepare, update, and maintain pleadings, discovery, mediation, and trial binders
- Track custody-related materials, financial documentation, and sensitive submissions
- Assist with organizing exhibits for hearings, settlements, and depositions
- Court-Related Administrative Support
- Prepare filing packets for Family Law pleadings, forms, declarations, and evidentiary attachments
- Coordinate e-filings with court vendors or designated filing staff
- Track hearing dates, court notices, continuances, and required follow-up filings
- Prepare routine service documents, including proofs of service and service lists
- Confirm court-specific requirements for settlement conferences, Requests for Orders, trial readiness, and custody mediation
- Assist with logistics for remote and in-person hearings, including uploading exhibits to court portals as required
- Family Law-Specific Case Support
- Prepare administrative correspondence to opposing counsel, mediators, therapists, and evaluators
- Assist attorneys and paralegals with financial disclosure packets, including formatting, scanning, and verifying completeness
- Track deadlines and documentation for mandatory disclosures (Preliminary and Final Declarations of Disclosure)
- Assist with compiling evidence for custody matters, asset tracing, and support modification requests
- Prepare client information sheets for mediation, custody evaluations, and settlement conferences
- Support trial preparation, including witness lists, exhibit lists, trial briefs, and exhibit management
- Document Execution and Notary Support
- Schedule client signing appointments for stipulations, settlement agreements, declarations, and related documents
- Prepare witness sheets, notary logs, signature tabs, and required documentation
- Ensure signed originals are properly processed, scanned, and stored in accordance with firm policy
- Coordinate mobile notaries and remote signing arrangements as needed
- General Administrative and Operational Support
- Assist Intake with opening and closing matters
- Process incoming mail, route correspondence, and prepare outgoing certified and overnight mailings
- Assist with attorney time entry and expense reimbursements
- Coordinate with internal teams (Finance, Intake, Office Services, and Records) as needed
- Prepare file transfers and coordinate transitions with new counsel or self-represented clients (Pro Per), including preparing and filing Notices of Withdrawal or Substitution of Attorney
Program Coordinator
Salinas YMCA Family Center
08.2019 - 08.2020
- Provided customer service to organization members
- Generated monthly program set-ups using Excel
- Conflict management and resolution among staff members
- Crucial decision-making regarding programs and member experience
- Prioritize multiple responsibilities
- Produced and executed a budget plan for department
- Coordinated monthly meetings with staff of 20-30 to update safety skills and customer service
- Communicated important announcements and events to all staff and members (emails, phone calls and social media)
- Empowered co-workers and staff to provide services to the local community daily
- Supervised a team of 20-30 people (including volunteers and trainees) and created bi-weekly work schedules
Paralegal/ Legal Assistant
Law Office of Cathy E. Rincon
08.2016 - 01.2017
- Executed multiple tasks throughout the day including following up with clients on their signing dates and deadlines, drafting legal documents, filing/mailing legal documents, filing legal documents with the courts, organizing files, updating case management and frequent communication with supervising attorney, field professionals and community with little supervision form supervising attorney.
- Law Firm provided legal help administering Trust and Wills.
Paralegal Internship
Skyline College Legal Clinic
01.2016 - 05.2016
- Experienced in Legal research, Pre-scanning clients, Intake, Referrals to outside resources, Drafting Legal documents, Filling, and making appointments.
- Clinic provided services in Criminal Law, Litigation practice, Administrative Law, Business Organization, Real Property, Torts, Legal Research, Analysis and Writing.
Naturalization Workshop
San Francisco Pathways
03.2016 - 04.2016
- Pre-scanning and intaking, Proof reading, document verification, finalizing applications before approval stage.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Communication, Minor in Pre-Law
California State University Monterey Bay
Monterey, CA05-2020
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Skyline Community College
05-2017
Associate of Arts - Paralegal/ Legal Studies
Skyline Community College
05-2016
Skills
- Court filing
- Document formatting
- Efficient multi-tasker
- Appointment setting
- File organization
- Client communication
- Document filing
- Calendar management
- Client correspondence
- Document preparation
- Administrative support
- Case management
Affiliations
- Legal Professionals Association - San Francisco
- Skyline College Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee
Certification
- Notary Public, State of California
- Fluent in Spanish
Timeline
Legal Secretary
JKZ LLP
09.2021 - Current
Program Coordinator
Salinas YMCA Family Center
08.2019 - 08.2020
Paralegal/ Legal Assistant
Law Office of Cathy E. Rincon
08.2016 - 01.2017
Naturalization Workshop
San Francisco Pathways
03.2016 - 04.2016
Paralegal Internship
Skyline College Legal Clinic
01.2016 - 05.2016
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Skyline Community College
Associate of Arts - Paralegal/ Legal Studies
Skyline Community College
Bachelor of Science - Human Communication, Minor in Pre-Law
California State University Monterey Bay