TRESA L. JACKSON

1650 West 92^nd Place

Chicago, Illinois 60620

Home: (773) 779-7603

Cell: (773) 612-6258

 

Paralegal

                                 

Education

      

       Chicago State University, Chicago, IL                                         

       Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, 2002, Honors graduate                                         

      Robert Morris College, Chicago, IL                                                                                                 

       Paralegal Certificate, 1991, Honors graduate, Approved by the ABA

Course of studies included:

     Trials and Appeals                              Law and Motion                            Contracts

     Tort Law and Personal Injury                Bankruptcy                                          Real Estate Law

     Wills Estate and Trust Law                Litigation Management              Business Law

     Commercial Law                                            Criminal Law                            Family Law

     Legal Research and Writing                Paralegal Ethics

      University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL                           

       Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, 1985, Dean’s List 1984

 

Skills and Abilities

 

Ability to analyze documents, digest depositions, draft discovery, and prepare cases for trial.

Self-starter able to perform all multi-task duties needed in a fast-pace environment.

Knowledge of real estate, and family law, legal research techniques, and basic civil procedures.

Drafted documents including complaints, answers, motions, and memos of points and authorities.

Proficient in MS Word for Windows, MS Excel, WordPerfect, LEXIS and Westlaw.

 

Work Experience

Paralegal/Property Manager – Commercial                                                                      2006 - Present             

             

Performed all matters relating to the property such as landlord and tenants issues, leasing rules, interpretation of rules, operations documents, acquisitions and disposition.

Responsible for rent collection, bill payments, banking, book keeping, and payroll.  

Knowledge of building codes, written leasing rules, filing of housing motions, section-8 housing standards, and procedures of appearances/answers in the civil legal arena.

Prepared documents for property tax appeals, buildings violation hearings, eviction court cases, annual taxes, leases, notices, extermination, and leasing advertisement.

Communicated with court personal and positively interact with oppositional tenant complaints.  

Coordinated prospective tenant interviews, criminal backgrounds, and credit checks.

Hired maintenance staff, land scraping crew, plumbers, electricians, general repair people, created work contracts and orders.

 

Paralegal Freelance Experience                                                                                 2006 - Present

Real Estate Law/Family Law/Tax Law 

 

Performed case preparations, legal research, discovery, and witnesses’ appearances.

Prepared research of building code violations, titles searches, lien searches, duplicate tax bills, water certificates, condominium letters, certificates of insurance, and payoff letters.

Provided support to clients by receiving evidence, creating, preparing, filing, and creating motions, objections, responses, subpoenas, witness lists, closing documents, taxes, petitions, discovery, and answers.

Performed legal research into legislative history, case precedent, decisions, and opinions.

 

Professional Experience                 

Cook County Public Guardian Office

Paralegal – Family Law - Juvenile Court                                                                    2002 – 2006

 

Successfully provided support to attorneys by receiving evidence, creating, preparing, filing, and distributing motions, objections, responses, subpoenas, witness lists, expunge petitions, discovery, and answers.

Assisted attorneys with trial preparation, case subject matter details investigation requests, analysis of legal matters, appeals, and special projects. 

Advocated at various case hearings, clinical formats, educational expulsions, and juvenile delinquency trails.

Represented and set up travel itinerary, meetings, staffing, inter-office case analysis and case presentations. Scheduled conferences, depositions, interrogatories, and calendar meetings. 

Maintained daily docket system and Illinois client database.  Created and maintained out of state client data bank, pleadings, and discovery indexes.

Organized case files, printed and prepared discovery documents for Termination Pending Parent Rights (TPR) cases, Adoption, and Return Home trials. 

Secured licensing records, birth certificates, death certificates, social security cards, school records, court transcripts, criminal records, mental health records, and medical records.

Retrieved/filed documents with the Clerk of the Court. Coordinated collaterals’ with internal and external legal entities in special projects, statewide criminal/residential facilities, various physicians, psychologies, psychiatrics, and mental health professionals.

Traveled the United States to advised clients of legal rights and Department of Children and Family Services policy and procedures.                                      

 

Affiliations

 

Phi-Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity – Global Liaison

Chicago Public School Local School Council – Finance Chairperson

City of Chicago – Block Club President

National Association of Professional Women - “Women of the Year” 2010/2011

 

Achievements, experiences, and references available upon request