Madalena Merke
Maple Ridge,BC
Summary
Driven Paralegal/Legal Administrative Assistant with 34 years of experience in Family Law, including 1 year as a mediation scheduler/coordinator.
Highly skilled in multi-tasking, prioritizing tasks, and managing court filing procedures and deadlines.
Proficient in legal document preparation, research, and various software programs.
Committed to streamlining processes to facilitate growth in Family Law.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Administrative Assistant-Mediation Scheduler
CMB MEDIATION
04.2023 - 05.2024
- Supported 8 Mediators simultaneously by efficiently prioritizing tasks according to urgency or deadline requirements.
- Scheduled mediations, pre-mediation discussions, and conference calls
- Managed general clerical needs such as opening and closing files, scanning sheets and faxing documents.
- Streamlined legal processes by drafting and proofreading documents including Minutes of Settlement, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
Senior Paralegal/Legal Administrative Assistant
RICHARDS BUELL SUTTON LLP
05.1995 - 06.2022
- Specialized in Divorce and Family Law, Wills Variation Act, and Estate Litigation
- Extensive use of Divorcemate and Merge Programs
- Managed file organization, document preparation, and court filings
- Coordinated court dates, trials, and client appointments
- Assisted 3 Lawyers in preparing for trials, leading to successful outcomes and client satisfaction.
- Handled billing, client inquiries, and general office administration
- Trained new employees on company policies and legal standards.
- Assisted in trial preparation, compiling critical documents and evidence for successful legal proceedings.
Legal Secretary
GREINER BETHELL & COMPANY
06.1992 - 05.1995
- Worked extensively in Family Law
- Worked extensively in Divorcemate Program
- Worked extensively in Merge Program
- Dicta Typing
- Maintaining B/F system
- Co-ordinate registration and filing of Supreme Court documents and Provincial Court Family documents
- Organized files for court proceedings
- Prepared legal correspondence for legal assistants and lawyers
- Review of lawyer's daily mail and e-mails to determine when a response is due in a timely fashion
- Drafting and preparation of court documents independently
- Received and placed telephone calls to clients and prospective clients
- Book appointments with clients, co-ordinate court dates, Trial dates and Examination for Discovery dates
- Diligently edited legal correspondence for grammar and spelling
- Opening and closing files
- Interviewing clients
- General office administration
- Transcribed legal documents and phone conversations
- Organized mail correspondence in order to coordinate with delivery and courier services
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses and court officials
- Created, indexed and maintained client binders
- Supported team of two lawyers in practice of Family law
Legal Secretary
DIEWOLD & UNTERMAN
11.1989 - 05.1992
- worked extensively in Family Law
- worked in Civil Litigation
- worked in Criminal Law
- worked in Corporate Law
- worked in Immigration Law
- Opening and closing files
- Interviewing clients
- Organized files for court proceedings
- Prepared legal correspondence and wrote professional letters for legal assistants and lawyers
- Received and placed telephone calls to clients and prospective clients
- Diligently edited legal correspondence for grammar and spelling
- Transcribed legal documents and phone conversations
- Organized envelopes, postage and mail correspondence for staff and management, maintaining postage meter and coordinating with delivery and courier services
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses and court officials
- Created, indexed and maintained client binders
- Answered and directed calls using multi-line switchboard
Education
Legal Secretary Program -
PITMAN BUSINESS COLLEGE
Vancouver, British Columbia10.1989
High School Diploma -
CARSON GRAHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL
North Vancouver, British Columbia06.1985
Skills
- Supreme/Provincial Court Family and Civil Rules,
- Family Law Act
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act
- Divorce Act Procedures
- Legal terminology and principles,
- Court filing
- Organized
- Excellent time management skills
- Strong written and oral communication
- Interpersonal skills and professional attitude
- Active listening
Legal Skills:
Soft Skills:
- Decision-making
- Ability to prioritize workload and handle deadlines
- Microsoft Outlook Office 365
- Sharepoint
- One Drive
- MS Teams
- Adobe Acrobat
- DocuSign
- Zoom
- Divorcemate
- Merge System
- Elite Accounting System
Knowledge of Programs:
Additional Information
Excellent language skills in Portuguese. Reference letters available upon request.
Timeline
Legal Administrative Assistant-Mediation Scheduler
CMB MEDIATION
04.2023 - 05.2024
Senior Paralegal/Legal Administrative Assistant
RICHARDS BUELL SUTTON LLP
05.1995 - 06.2022
Legal Secretary
GREINER BETHELL & COMPANY
06.1992 - 05.1995
Legal Secretary
DIEWOLD & UNTERMAN
11.1989 - 05.1992
Legal Secretary Program -
PITMAN BUSINESS COLLEGE
High School Diploma -
CARSON GRAHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL
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