MARI AGUILERA
New York
Summary
Dynamic litigation support specialist with extensive expertise in managing complex legal cases and a proven track record of achieving optimal results through effective team collaboration. Demonstrates adaptability to evolving needs while excelling in legal research, case management, document drafting, and trial preparation. Known for reliability and strong analytical skills, thriving in high-pressure environments to deliver exceptional outcomes. Committed to leveraging a comprehensive understanding of legal processes to support attorneys and enhance case strategies.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Morgan & Morgan NY, PLLC
05.2023 - Current
- Senior Litigation Paralegal with extensive experience in premises liability and slip/trip and fall cases, representing plaintiffs at a leading national personal injury firm.
- Conduct comprehensive case investigations, including gathering pre-suit evidence, reviewing medical records, and drafting detailed summaries to support premises liability and slip/trip and fall cases.
- Manage all aspects of case preparation, from initial intake to trial, including drafting pleadings, motions, discovery demands and responses, and other legal correspondence.
- Coordinate and schedule depositions, mediations, client IMEs, and court appearances, ensuring adherence to all deadlines and procedural rules in New York courts.
- Liaise between attorneys, clients, experts, and preferred vendors to facilitate efficient case development and strategy.
- Maintain client communication throughout the litigation process, ensuring clarity and responsiveness to client needs and concerns.
- Specialize in compliance with state and federal court procedures, including e-filing documents through NYSCEF and other electronic filing systems.
Litigation Paralegal
Haworth Barber & Gerstman, LLC
03.2017 - 05.2023
- Litigation Paralegal in a high-volume defense firm concentrating on the defense of high-profile personal injury, premises/products liability, construction/labor law and other general liability, motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall, and wrongful death matters.
- Accomplished comprehensive and consistent litigation support from pre-suit investigation through trial and post-trial activities, including arbitration, mediation, and appeals, meticulously applying court rules, procedures, and best practices, closely assisting senior counsel with the drafting, revising, finalizing, and filing of all substantive legal documents within the State and Federal Courts of New York and New Jersey, while regularly surpassing billable requirement and collaboratively yielding high-profile cases at a firm-established rate for the timely management of litigation.
- Identified, analyzed, and prepared key pleadings, discovery, motions, and exhibits required in litigation, trial, and arbitration.
- Optimized fact investigation through diligent analysis and summarization of discovery, depositions, and medical records.
- Specialized in Table of Contents and Authorities, and comprehensive cite-checking on all legal briefs and memoranda.
- Arranged depositions, IMEs, service of subpoenas, and all other pre-trial submissions and substantive legal documents as needed, and consulted with clients, outside counsel, court personnel, litigation vendors, experts, investigators, and medical providers and facilities in a firm-established and efficacious manner.
- Prepared detailed trial binders, exhibits, and presentations, ensuring seamless trial preparation and courtroom efficiency.
- Supervised legal assistants, paralegals, and junior associates on role operations and firm procedures and practices, providing extensive hands-on training, and peer mentorship that promoted problem-solving and collaborative project management.
- Advocated for productivity and efficacy by analyzing firm algorithms and developing proposed strategies.
Paralegal
Peter M. Zirbes, P.C.
12.2016 - 03.2017
- Paralegal in a personal injury, wills, trusts, and estates firm.
- Drafted and filed notices of claim, letters of representation, and good faith correspondence, including transcribing attorney notes and memoranda.
- Processed bodily injury/no-fault claims and assisted counsel with settlement procedures and negotiations with insurance companies.
Litigation Paralegal
Rubert & Gross, P.C.
10.2014 - 05.2016
- Litigation Paralegal in malicious prosecution, false arrest, medical malpractice, and personal injury firm.
- Developed, implemented, and managed strategic systems that positively impacted the firm’s financial accounts and ledgers, organizational structure, productivity, and overall client services by internally streamlining and fine-tuning the firm’s document management applications, and central operations calendar, and other confidential case and office materials.
- Obtained and analyzed pertinent transcripts, reports, and records, including but not limited to those from city agencies for information pursuant to FOIA/FOIL and Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 to verify claims and effectuate extensive litigation support within the New York State, Federal, and Appellate Courts.
Intern
American Arbitration Association
03.2013 - 05.2013
- Work-based legal internship with an international non-profit arbitration firm.
- Monitored and facilitated corporate client services, educated potential clients on alternate dispute resolution processes, and promptly and courteously responded to systematic inquiries, in addition to expediting tech support communications among executive and staff-level members.
Intern
Jose Rey, P.C.
06.2012 - 12.2012
- Work-based legal internship in immigration, bankruptcy, and family law firm.
- Performed initial client intakes and served as a liaison between clients and attorneys, in addition to researching immigration forms, applications, and procedural rules and requirements to aid clients in processing paperwork.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College
New York City04.2016
Skills
- Team collaboration
- Professionalism and ethics
- Results-driven problem solver
- Commitment to ongoing education
- Litigation support
- Project management expertise
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Morgan & Morgan NY, PLLC
05.2023 - Current
Litigation Paralegal
Haworth Barber & Gerstman, LLC
03.2017 - 05.2023
Paralegal
Peter M. Zirbes, P.C.
12.2016 - 03.2017
Litigation Paralegal
Rubert & Gross, P.C.
10.2014 - 05.2016
Intern
American Arbitration Association
03.2013 - 05.2013
Intern
Jose Rey, P.C.
06.2012 - 12.2012
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College