The Zorra Group, LLC

SKILLS & QUALITIES

Proficient in Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Suite, including Outlook / general familiarity with WordPerfect / proficient with the federal E-file system / proficient with Clio case management software / proficient with scanning of documents and image manipulation / proficient with legal research (specifically LoisLaw and LexisNexis) / excellent at training others / adept at completing and integrating unexpected projects into case load / high degree of professionalism within interactions with supervising attorneys, co-counsel, staff, opposing counsel, mediators, experts, witnesses and clients / well-versed in confidentiality / highly organized and detail oriented / learns quickly / highly adaptable / multitasks well with high case load / excellent memory and recall / self-motivated / undaunted by tight deadlines and high stress environments

EMPLOYMENT

Quinn & Heus, LLC

Legal Assistant, November 2023 to present

Workers’ Compensation

• Legal Assistant for two attorney firm / client intake and interface / drafting, preparing, and filing documents before the Workers’ Compensation Board and Division and Oregon Appellate Court / organization of legal files and voluminous claims files / calendaring / records requests / lien management

The Zorra Group, LLC

Contract Paralegal, November 2020 to present

Primarily Plaintiffs’ work in personal injury cases

• Contract paralegal services on as needed basis / draft, edit, and review demand letters / information gathering with clients / draft, edit, and review discovery and pleadings / transcription of witness statements / organization, review, and summarization of medical records and billing / calendaring / electronic file organization

Corbin Hildebrandt, J.D.

Senior Paralegal/Executive Assistant August 2010 – November 2020

Primarily Plaintiffs’ work: personal injury, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, premises liability, mass tort, including mass tort action against Biotronik, Inc., and adult guardianship and conservatorship cases.

• Supervised staff / trained new staff, including legal assistants / familiarity and expertise in all aspects of case development and management from initial client intake through pre-trial preparation and settlement document preparation / drafted, edited, filed and served Tort Claims Notices, FOIA requests, discovery, pleadings for all Judicial Districts in New Mexico State Court, pleadings in federal court (US District Court of NM), pleading in NM Appellate Court pleadings, pleadings in adult guardianship and conservatorship cases for all Judicial Districts in NM State Court / implemented new filing systems, including records request tracking / reorganization of file systems (over 60 active cases) / maintained file system and client contact for medical malpractice mass tort case involving 34 active plaintiffs over the course of 6 years / attorney support in depositions, mediations, and court hearings / created trial exhibits / assessed and summarized jury questionnaires / drafted and edited settlement demands and statements to mediators, case closing statements, correspondence regarding subrogation/liens, including Medicare and Medicaid / liaison for attorney with difficult client matters, direct consultation with experts and in- and out-of-state co-counsel, communications with opposing counsel and their staff, and communication with judges’ assistants / calendaring / transcription services / medical records and bills records requests / organization, review, and summarization of medical records and billing / prepared detailed summaries of medical records and bills for review by experts / monthly expense and receivables accounting / payroll

James K. Gilman, J.D.

Senior Paralegal, June 2007 – August 2010

Plaintiffs’ work: catastrophic injury and wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home, personal injury, trucking accidents, aircraft accidents, insurance, products liability

• Supervised staff / trained new staff / familiarity and expertise in all aspects of case development and management / drafted, edited filed, and served Tort Claims Notices (including FTCA), discovery, pleadings for all Judicial Districts in State Court, pleadings in federal court (US District Court of NM and US District Court of Southern California), pleadings in NM Appellate Court / reorganization of file systems (over 30 active cases) / implemented new filing systems, including records request tracking / basic and general file maintenance and audit / reorganization of file systems (over 30 active cases) / attorney support in depositions, mediations, and court hearings / created trial exhibits / drafted and edited settlement demands and statements to mediators, case closing statements, correspondence regarding subrogation/liens, including Medicare and Medicaid / liaison for attorney with difficult client matters, direct consultation with experts and in- and out-of-state co-counsel, communications with opposing counsel and their staff, and communication with judges’ assistants / calendaring / transcription services / medical records and bills records requests / organization, review, and summarization of medical records and billing / prepared detailed summaries of medical records and bills for review by experts

NM Public Defender’s Office, Office of Vera S. Ockenfels and John Bogren

Contracted Paralegal for attorney and mitigation Specialist, November 2004 – May 2007

Criminal Defense, Juvenile Amenability, and Mitigation

• Created chronological summaries of, including, but not limited to, educational, social work, medical, prison, court and police documents / maintained extensive case files, including pleadings and billing / prepared pleadings and motions / edited attorney work product, including interview memos and social histories / created and maintained case files / inter- and intra-state records requests, including Federal Court documents / assessed and summarized jury questionnaires / created and maintained trial notebooks / analyzed witness statements / assisted with appeals preparation / trained new paralegals / assisted with client and witness interviews, in office and on-site / assisted with expert witness preparation, involving summarization of various mitigation documents

EDUCATION

University of New Mexico

M.A. in Philosophy, May 2004  

B.A. in English, July 2001