Brianne Williams

551 W. North Avenue, Unit 403

Chicago, IL 60610

bcohen02@gmail.com  -  (760) 525-2426 (C)

 

 

 

OBJECTIVE /SUMMARY: Paralegal position with an established firm. Recent paralegal graduate with leadership, management, teaching and analytical skills, offering strong written and verbal communications abilities as well as precise attention to detail. 

 

EDUCATION

Ÿ Roosevelt University, Chicago, June 2013: ABA- Approved, Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate      with honors.

Ÿ Grossmont College, San Diego, June 2009: Certificate in Forensic Technology with honors.

Ÿ University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2006: Bachelor of Science- Criminal Justice with minor in Communication Studies.

 

RELEVANT COURSEWORK / SKILLS

Ÿ Litigation; civil law; commercial law, including contracts, environmental, real estate, transactional and bankruptcy law; business entities; legal research and writing; litigation, legal ethics

Ÿ   Forensics, law enforcement and social work training and experience

Ÿ  Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (including MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint), Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, Internet Research

Ÿ   Working knowledge of Word Perfect, Quicken, Summation, Sanctions II, HTML

Ÿ  Trained knowledge of Concordance, Case Map, Time Map, Text Map, Special Education Law and Bankruptcy (Best Case Software).

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

February – June, 2013: Trial Division/Trial Technology Paralegal Intern, Cook County Public Defender, Chicago, IL

Ÿ   Under direction of counsel, prepared electronic presentations for attorneys; created and edited exhibits for court presentations; utilized trial presentation software, such as Sanctions II and TrialPad; set-up electronic audio/visual equipment in courtrooms, such as the Elmo and the Nomad; reviewed, analyzed and cataloged files; assisted with subpoena preparation and preparation of legal documents, all during Roosevelt University paralegal internship. 

 

April 2012-Present:  Volunteer at Robert and Ann Lurie Children’s Hospital-Nursing Assistant-Oncology/Hematology Department, Chicago, IL

Ÿ  Assist nurses, interact with patients and families, prepare all rooms for the next patient, file confidential medical and internal records and participated in HIPPA training

 

August 2009 to December 2011: Foster Care Caseworker/Assistant Supervisor, Volunteers of America, Chicago, IL

Ÿ  Promoted to Assistant Supervisor of the Foster Care Program (June 2010).

Ÿ Provided casework and permanency planning to children in foster care, counseled foster parents, natural parents, and others; maintained case files and all pertinent documentation.

Ÿ Assisted with developing program and community resources and provide training and reference materials for case management staff. 

Ÿ Developed curriculum and conducted training sessions for peer skill development / resource sharing. 

Ÿ Assisted with managing program record keeping, data collection and evaluation to provide for continuous improvement of case management services. 

Ÿ Managed a client caseload averaging 24 cases as assigned.

 

Jan. 2009- May 2009: Evidence Technician/Field Evidence Technician Intern, Oceanside Police Department, Oceanside, CA

Ÿ  Collected evidence from the Police Station and transported it to the Evidence Facility; logged and stored evidence in the appropriate areas; shadowed evidence technicians to court and to crime scenes, and properly tagged all evidence, all during Grossmont College internship.

 

Oct. 2006-June 2009: Childcare Worker/Supervisor, Casa De Amparo, San Diego, CA

Ÿ  Promoted to Supervisor (May 2008).

Ÿ  Provided guidance to childcare staff regarding appropriate limit setting and crisis interventions; supervised and directed unit volunteers; provided on-going training and feedback to childcare staff.

Ÿ  Provided crisis intervention, situational and group counseling to residents; participated in milieu treatment planning and implementation.

 

Oct. 2006- Jan, 2009: Promotions Assistant, Clear Channel Communications, San Diego, CA

Ÿ  Generated inter-office correspondence, implemented contests, coordinated and hosted on-site events/remotes, including the set-up and breakdown of the promotional booth, canopy and equipment.

Ÿ Additional duties included updating the station’s web site, dubbing air checks, assisting in acquiring merchandise and other products for listener promotions and contests.

 

Apr. 2005-Aug.2005: Case Work Management, Lincoln Correctional Center, Lincoln, NE 

Ÿ Assisted unit caseworkers in coordination and observation of inmates, inmate activities, distribution of essential items to inmates, inspections, and disciplinary hearings.

Ÿ  Maintained and updated inmate records, ensuring that inmate moves were accurately recorded in each folder as well as on the inmate location wall.

 

Mar. 2005-Aug, 2005:  Community Living Assistant, Developmental Services of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

Ÿ Acted as an advocate in a professional manner for those receiving services, providing habilitation as prescribed by the Individual Program Plan.

Ÿ Maintained all applicable records in an accurate, confidential and organized manner.

 

Jan. 2005-May 2005: Assistant Supervisory Instructor, Department of Communication Studies- University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ÿ  Promoted after initially serving as an Instructor Assistant (Aug. - Dec. 2004).

Ÿ  Acted as advisor and role model to a team of Instructor Assistants. Duties included record keeping, facilitating smooth transitions between sections, dealing with problem students, and explaining course policies and procedures.

Ÿ  Acted as a peer tutor.  Graded student tests and homework, explained advanced communication concepts to first-time learners, and tracked student grades.

Ÿ  Identified students’ problem areas and assisted them in overcoming obstacles to learning. 

 

AFFILIATIONS

Ÿ  Illinois Paralegal Association, Student Member

Ÿ  Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Ÿ  American Bar Association Student Member

Ÿ  American Criminal Justice Association, Lambda Alpha Epsilon

Ÿ  Big Brother Big Sister-Heartland Program, Lincoln, NE

Ÿ  Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority-Sigma Chapter

Ÿ  Criminal Justice Student Association, University of Nebraska-Lincoln