Tara N. Smith HC 82 Box 87B, Brussels, Illinois 62013 Home (618) 883-2254 * Cell (618) 401-3916

 

 

Summary of Qualifications

●     Twelve Years Legal Administrative Assistant/Legal Assistant Experience

●     Practice Area Knowledge- Real Estate, Probate, Domestic, Corporate, Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation,    Estate Planning, Healthcare and Criminal Law

●     Knowledgeable in all aspects of case preparation and representation

●     Familiarity with filings, petitions, interviewing clients and case management

●     Excellent communication skills and attention to detail

Education

Lewis & Clark Community College Godfrey, Illinois

 

●    Associates in Science- 2011

 

●    Paralegal Degree- Associates in Applied Science- 2012

 

●     Business Management-Human Resources Certificate- expected graduation May 2013

Experience

December 2011-current | Legal Assistant

Burke. Wulff, Flach, Luber & Briscoe, LLP | St. Charles, Missouri

Daily Transcription

Maintain Client Files

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

Daily Use of E-filing on Missouri Casenet

Draft/Prepare Criminal Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Domestic Law Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Domestic Discovery

Conduct Informational/Discovery Meeting with Clients

Draft/Prepare Civil Litigation Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Estate Planning Documents

Daily Interactions with Clients

Draft/Prepare Correspondence

Daily Update of Pleadings Boards

Daily Use of PC Law

Responsible for Docketing Cases/Calendaring/Tickler System

Familiarity with St. Louis County Courts, St. Charles County Courts, United States Bankruptcy Court

Billable Legal Assistant

Proficient in PCLaw

 

August 2008-March 2009 | Legal Administrative Assistant- Floater

Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP | Clayton, Missouri

Daily Use of Transcription

Daily Filing Duties

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

Draft/Prepare Healthcare Contracts

Draft/Prepare Bankruptcy Pleadings

Daily Use of Live Court Database for filing Bankruptcy Pleadings/Claims

Draft/Prepare Litigation Pleadings

Draft Corporate Reports and Document Preparation

Prepare 401(K) spreadsheets for Employer/Employee Accounts

Draft/Prepare Estate Planning Documents

Draft/Prepare Family Law Pleadings and file with appropriate Court

Daily Interactions with Clients

Draft/Prepare Real Estate Closing Documents

Daily Main Receptionist Duties/ Main Switchboard

Draft/Prepare Correspondence

Daily Update of Pleadings Boards

Daily Use of Lexis-Nexis Suite

 

February 2008-August 2008 | Legal Administrative Assistant- Partner

Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP | Clayton, Missouri

Daily Use of Transcription

Daily Filing Duties

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

Draft/Prepare Real Estate Documents

Prepare Real Estate Closing Binders

Draft/Prepare Commercial Real Estate Closing Transactions

Daily Update of Accounts Receivable

Draft/Prepare Correspondence

Daily Use of Time Entry

Draft/Prepare Deed of Trust and Loan Documents

Prepare Civil Litigation Pleadings for Filing

Update Civil Litigation Pleadings Folder

 

May 2007-February 2008 | Legal Secretary- Partner

Thompson Coburn LLP | St. Louis, Missouri

Draft/Prepare Correspondence

Daily Use of Transcription Program Winscribe

Daily Filing Duties

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

Daily Update of Accounts Payable

Draft/Prepare Estate Planning Documents

Draft/Prepare Probate Estate Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Health Care Litigation Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Health Care Physician Contracts

Daily Use of Time Entry

 

September 2001-May 2007 | Legal Secretary

Richard J. Ringhausen Law Office | Hardin, Illinois

Daily Update of Accounts Receivable

Daily Update of Accounts Payable

Daily Filing Duties

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

Draft/Prepare Real Estate Closing Documents

Daily Interactions with Clients

Draft/Prepare Estate Planning Documents

Draft/Prepare Construction Lien Waivers/Progress Reports/Advance Requests/Contracts

Draft/File Bankruptcy Forms and Pleadings Online in Live Database

Draft/File Foreclosure Notices and Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Family Law Pleadings

Draft/Prepare Civil Litigation Pleadings

Daily Update of Civil Litigation Pleading Folders

Daily Calendaring of Litigation Filings

Draft/Prepare Probate Estate Pleadings

Daily Court Runs

Daily Receptionist Duties

Daily Update of Attorney’s Calendar

 

September 2000-May 2002 | Secretary

Karen Hanneken Bookkeeping | Hardin, Illinois

Daily Filing Duties

Daily Data Entry

Daily Use of Quickbooks

Daily Use of Microsoft Office Suite

 

September 1996- September 2000 | Waitress

Apple Shed Restaurant | Batchtown, Illinois

Accounts Receivable

Public Relations

Balance receipts and cash drawer

References

Ben Goetten-  618-498-5571 x. 147

Richard J. Ringhausen- 618-576-9013

James L. Fogle- 314-602-6035