Judy Cayford
Tillsonburg,Ontario
Summary
Driven Paralegal successful at thriving in high stress, high-pressure environments and situations involving constant change. Over 15 years of experience advocating for clients and the administration of justice in a multitude of settings.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Licenced Paralegal
Mandryk & Morgan Barristers & Solicitors (also known as Mandryk, Stewart & Morgan)
12.2009 - Current
- Small Claims Court- client intake, preparing documents, issuing documents, serving documents, settlement conferences, mediation, motions, case law research, preparation of oral and written arguments (factums), collect and evaluate evidence, trial and witness preparation and trial
- Landlord & Tenant Board-preparing forms, filing forms, mediation, preparation of oral and written arguments and trial
- WSIB and WSIAT Tribunals- Appeal forms, appeal material, medical briefs, preparing clients for trial, preparation of oral and written arguments and trial
- Ontario POA Court-Resolution, court appearances, preparation of oral and written arguments (factums), collect and evaluate evidence, interpretation and application of applicable statutes, meet and conduct early resolution meetings with the Crown on behalf of clients, Appeal applicable decisions when necessary, provide disclosure and correspondence and attend trial
- Social Security Tribunal-Canadian Pension Appeals, Unemployment matters and ODSP Appeals
- Human Rights Tribunal- issuing documents, mediation, preparation for trial and trial
- Criminal Compensation Board- forms, preparing clients, preparing material for trial and trial
- Ontario Criminal Court-Preparing documents, court appearance, resolutions, bail hearings, sentencing, trial preparation and trial
- Superior Court- filing documents, issuing documents, serving documents, preparation of documents, preparing Affidavit of Documents, Motion material, factums, case law research and preparation for trial
- Ontario Superior Court- family division- preparing documents, case conference briefs, factums, forms, filing, issuing, and serving
- Human Resources and PC Law certified
- Case law and research
- Reduced lead Counsel workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and affidavits.
- Managed scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain smooth flow of firm operations.
- Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation, and information for discovery request.
- Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Liaised with other paralegals and legal staff to complete common tasks on schedule.
- Contributed to firm-client relationship building through professional interactions with clients during meetings or phone calls, conveying empathy while maintaining confidentiality.
- Communicated with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Helped Counsel prepare for trial by organizing exhibits and calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
- Streamlined communication between clients and legal staff by managing client inquiries promptly and professionally.
- Ensured compliance with court rules and procedures by accurately preparing and submitting legal filings within established timeframes.
- Facilitated timely and accurate billing by recording billable hours, expenses, and other relevant information in the firm's billing system.
- Assisted in preparation of settlement proposals and agreements to help Counsel negotiate settlement in best interest of client.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into company database.
- Assisted lead Counsel with trial preparation through thorough research and analysis of relevant laws and regulations.
- Summarized depositions, legal documents and other material to provide attorney with relevant material for cases.
- Promoted a positive work environment by providing training and guidance to junior paralegals or interns as needed.
- Expedited document review process by conducting initial reviews of key documents for relevance and privilege status.
- Aided settlement negotiations with effective summary reports outlining key points from discovery materials for use during mediation sessions or pretrial settlement talks.
- Saved firm resources by conducting cost-effective legal research using both traditional library resources and online databases such as LexisNexis or Canlii.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of changes in laws or regulations relevant to practice areas through continuous professional development opportunities such as seminars or webinars with the Law Society CPD courses.
- Examined and generated memos on statutory law, case law and federal, provincial regulations and By-Laws using online research databases, such as Canlii and Government websites.
- Contacted witnesses to testify under oath at court hearings.
- Prepared various exhibits for attorneys for public meetings, zoning commission meetings, and legal resolutions.
Education
Paralegal Diploma - Paralegal Studies
Westervelt College
London12.2009
CPD Credits - Law
Law Society of Ontario
Toronto, ONSkills
- P1 License with the Law Society of Ontario since 2009
- Thorough knowledge of the Highway Traffic Act, Provincial Offences Act, The Charter of Rights & Freedoms and applicable case law
- In-depth knowledge of the policies, practices and court procedures related to the prosecution of provincial offences
- Understands the role and function of the prosecutor in trial and appeals and understands opposing counsels roles and responsibilities
- Professional written and oral communication skills
- Effective at preparation of correspondence and legal documentation
- Interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with clients, witnesses, court staff and other counsel
- Strong advocate for the administration of justice and clients
- Ability to advocate for clients in Provincial Offences Court and other Courts/Tribunals
- Able to work well independently or in a team environment in varies work environments and maintain effective communication
- Able to manage large case loads and manage time effectively ensuring statutory and administrative limitation dates are met
- Ability to manage frustrated individuals when conflict arises in settlement discussions
- Years of experience with programs such as G-mail, Outlook, Adobe, MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint Use of the Internet to search relevant caselaw etc
- Legal Research
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Ojibwe
Elementary
Affiliations
- Woodstock Police Service Board - First Chair 2014-2020
- Crime Stoppers Program 2009-2020
- Community Living Volunteer 2010-2014
- Tillsonburg Lions (Secretary, Bylaws, Policies and procedures, Health and Welfare and Project Pride) 2009-Present
- Tillsonburg Legion 2019 to Present
- Canadian Mental Health Certified 2019-Present
- Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Board of Directors (Treasurer & Chair) member 2022-Present
- Tillsonburg Little School - President 2023-Present
Timeline
Licenced Paralegal
Mandryk & Morgan Barristers & Solicitors (also known as Mandryk, Stewart & Morgan)
12.2009 - Current
Paralegal Diploma - Paralegal Studies
Westervelt College
CPD Credits - Law
Law Society of Ontario