lawanda benson

 

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

 

An experienced paralegal professional with diverse experience in business services, contract review and preparation, probate, litigation, family and civil law; additional qualifications include:

- Microsoft Certified Applications Specialist in Word, Excel and Outlook

- Proven negotiation skills with the ability to successfully develop professional relationships

-  Proven research, information analysis and writing skills

-  Extensive knowledge of legal terminology, general law and legal proceedings

-  Demonstrated ability for accuracy and thoroughness

-  Discreet and resourceful team member who thrives in a fast-paced working environment

 

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

 

Self Employment - Legal Assistant/Paralegal - Sreenan & Cain, P.C., Meyer & Horning, P.C. and Attorney Sharon R. Rudy, P.C., - Rockford, IL, September 2012 – Present

Attorney Sharon R. Rudy, P.C – Provide support to the Public Guardian for Winnebago and Boone County, Illinois; draft court pleadings; manage billing process for the office using Time Matters; work directly with clients on the preparation of annual financial filings to the Court; and prepare financial analyses

 

Meyer & Horning, P.C. - Provided support to two attorneys working in civil, family law, business and corporate services:  Drafted and reviewed contracts; researched and prepared documentation for the formation and maintenance of corporations, partnerships and LLC entities; prepared and tracked documentation for dissolutions, amendments and corporate resolutions; drafted shareholder consents and proxies and meeting minutes;  maintained and organized corporate books; prepared documents for real estate transactions; maintained client files, managed attorney’s personal and court calendar; ordered supplies and tracked time and expenses using Quickbooks.

 

Sreenan & Cain, P.C  - Provide support to attorneys handling civil, family law, criminal, and personal injury cases, duties include:  drafting complaints, responsive pleadings, compiling responses to discovery requests and subpoenas; compiling, preparing and assembling documents for presentation as evidence at hearings and trials; drafting legal memoranda and pleadings that reflect applicable law and comply with court requirements; preparing, coordinating and facilitating the appearance of witnesses at depositions and hearings; e-filing documents for federal filings, meeting with clients, managing the attorneys’ calendars and ordering and maintaining office supplies and equipment.

 

Legal Assistant, Staffing Advantage, Inc., Rockford, IL, July 2010 – September 2012

Working directly with an attorney in the practice of Family Law, handling high profile divorce and custody cases, duties included:  compiling responsive documents and drafting responses to discovery requests and subpoenas; compiling, preparing and assembling documents for presentation as evidence at hearings and trials; drafting legal memoranda and pleadings that reflect applicable law and comply with all requirements; and preparing, coordinating and facilitating the appearance of witnesses at depositions and hearings; meeting with clients; transcribing dictation; researching legal findings for case preparation; calendar management; requesting and analyzing transcripts; assisting in review and inventory of assets and liabilities; filing documents with the courts; completing financial analyses; office management which entails managing incoming and outgoing mail; answering telephones; ordering and maintaining supplies; and providing accurate tracking of client timekeeping.

 

Student, Rockford Career College, Rockford, IL, February 2009 – June 2010

Maintained a full-time class schedule completing a two year degree in one and a half years graduating with an Associate degree in Paralegal Studies from an American Bar Association approved program.  This included a Paralegal internship with Dady Law Office from October 2009 through January 2010.

 

Contractor, Administrative Assistant, Temporary Staffing Services, Rockford, IL, March 2008 – October 2009

Worked full-time as a contract Administrative Assistant through Workplace Staffing, Express Personnel Services and QPS Staffing while settling into Rockford, IL and taking classes full-time

 

Human Resources Specialist, Fluor Corporation, Irving, TX, May 2006 – August 2007

(Promotion from Senior Administrative Assistant) Managed the executive perquisite program; completed internal and external benchmark and salary surveys; processed retention awards and special payments; participated in the annual salary review process; completed compensation analyses; ran reports using Microsoft Access, Crystal Reports and SAP; built tracking database which tracked departmental expenses; and managed the relationships and contracts with executive search firms, which included creating contracts and managing the payment process and initial startup search activities.

 

Human Resources Operations Supervisor, Valor Telecom, Irving, TX, June 2005 – May 2006

(Promotion from Executive Assistant to HR VP in September 2005)Managed the transactional human resources functions for the corporate office including: partnering with HR team and business partners to design and develop HR programs and services that meet current and future business needs; recruiting, HRIS reporting, merit/bonus administration, leave requests, employee recognition, and management of executive support to VP of HR. Responsible for managing a $1.3m departmental budget and supervision of two HR Specialists.

 

Production Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago:  Chicago, IL, August 2003 - July 2004

Provided executive administrative support to the VP of Large Bank Supervision and four Directors:  demonstrated leadership in the absence of executives;  coordinated and initiated complex travel arrangements; accessed electronic mail; maintained executives’ calendars; drafted and finalized correspondence in executives’ absence; responded to inquiries and forwarded information as necessary in executives’ absence; prepared reports using the Microsoft Suite of products; prepared advanced level; attended management meetings and took meeting minutes; planned intricate meetings/conferences both domestic and international.

 

Contractor, Office Administrator, Volt Services, Oakbrook, IL, September 2001 - August 2003

Provided executive administrative support to the VP of Compensation, Benefits & Leadership Resource Planning and to the Office of the Chairman and CEO at The Boeing Corporation; duties performed: answered all calls in to the Chairman and delegated to appropriate contacts; opened and reviewed all incoming mail; greeted guests; and logged all correspondence into the Chairman’s office into an electronic tracking system.

 

Controlled the calendar and personal accessibility to the Director of Community and Education:  compiled information and scheduled meetings; distributed assignments based on commitments and deadlines and followed up as required; facilitated business travel and related social events for the executive and guests; composed documents and delegated action based on the subject matter and awareness of executive’s business priorities; and maintained heavy phone contact with both internal and external contacts at all levels.

 

Operations Supervisor, Arthur Andersen; Chicago, Illinois, February 2000 - September 2001

Coordinated the operations and client accounting functions for the eBusiness Design and Marketing Practice:  hired and supervised 2 executive assistants; tracked all hours worked on client engagements; generated monthly pro-forma reports and reported back to management the status of all projects; coordinated the new-hire orientation and training function working with Human Resources to ensure that all applicable paperwork was completed;  performed adhoc reporting; created and maintained a hardware and software inventory database.

 

Human Resource Analyst, Andersen Consulting; Chicago, Illinois, March 1996 - January 1999

 

Sr. Executive Assistant, Arthur Andersen LLP; Chicago, Illinois.  August 1990 - March 1996

 

EDUCATION

 

Rockford Career College, Rockford, Illinois, Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies

First Business School, Chicago, Illinois, Certificate in Secretarial Science/Word Processing