About

Dear Business Representative:

I am interested in offering your organization paralegal services (civil litigation) at $22/hourly or project management services (Planning: gather estimates, create work breakdown structure, and schedule) (Execution: manage milestone list, schedule, and communications): at $20/hourly.  Because of my education, experience, and skillset, I can provide on-demand professional and high-quality services, which would enhance your organization’s productivity and reduce operating costs.

Beginning in February 2011, I began a home-based business, as a Guardian ad litem (GAL) and my client was the New York City Human Resources Administration, and then, beginning in the fall of 2012, I added the New York City Housing Authority, as a client.  As such, I was appointed by judges to advocate for the rights of disabled tenants during summary proceedings and administrative hearings, so they could preserve their tenancy.  Consequently, I prepared for those proceedings by consulting with attorneys, formulating a defense and/or counterclaims, gathering evidence, preparing witnesses, and, ultimately, presenting cases before judges.

Highlights of my duties as a GAL included the following:

  • Presented arguments, evidence, and testified before judges and attorneys.
  • Cross-examined opposing counsels’ witnesses.
  • Negotiated terms of stipulations with opposing counsel.
  • Coordinated with various city agencies, charitable organizations, and legal service providers.
  • Prepared defense and testimony outlines, and composed correspondence and memoranda.

Attached please find a copy of my résumé, which outlines my experience, educational achievements.  I am confident that I meet most of your requirements for a position as a project coordinator, or my skill set might be transferable for another role within your organization.  In addition, my salary requirement is negotiable.

If you are interested in scheduling an interview, please email me at thomas_dkhb@hotmail.com.  I thank you for your consideration, and look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

Dawn F. Thomas

 

Experience

Guardian ad litem

Dawn F. Thomas

Feb 2011 — May 2016

Clients: NYC Human Resources Administration and NYC Housing Authority, New York, New York
In an attempt to preserve the tenancy of disabled persons, NYC Civil Court, Housing Part judges and NYC Housing Authority, Law Department representatives appoint a guardian ad litem for active Housing Court summary proceedings and Housing Authority administrative hearings. On behalf of the tenant, a non-attorney guardian ad litem provides paralegal services to these city agencies.
• Obtained a rare exception to policy by a New York State rental subsidy program, by coordinating and negotiating with the state's representative, landlord’s attorney, tenant's relatives, and not-for-profit organizations
• Collaborated, calculated and, eventually, procured approximately over $100,000 from New York City Department of Social Services, various charitable organizations, and legal services providers to assist tenants with the payment of outstanding rental arrears
• Created digital tenant's document files and calendaring system, which resulted in paperless office environment and increased productivity

Paralegal

Temporary agencies and internships

Nov 2001 — Nov 2010

Provided litigation support services to several attorneys practicing in the Foreclosure Prevention, Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, and Commercial Loans Units.
• Last contract position: Bedford Stuyvesant Community Legal Services, 4/09 - 11/10. Created electronic applicant's file, which contained submissions for the United States Home Affordable Modification Program, schedule for deadlines, and online real estate property deed research

Legal Assistant

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood

Apr 2001 — Sep 2001

Large law firm with offices worldwide. Provided litigation support services to several attorneys practicing in the Litigation Unit for major corporations.
• Coordinated and assist with large-scale document reviews, productions, redacting, and copy-checking for pre-trial preparation
• Managed entire case file, from inception to conclusion, using document location index/spreadsheet

Legal Assistant

O'Hara & O'Connell

Jan 2000 — Jun 2000

Law firm, which specialized in education law and represented Upstate New York State school districts.
• Created and maintained database of entire law library contents

Projects

SKILLS • Case/Project Management (typical duration 6-9 months): investigated issues/requirements; formulated/developed strategies/plans for stakeholders (New York City agency and ward); assigned tasks to team members (legal service provider, city social services division, charitable organization, etc.); scheduled/tracked/updated plan/status report, using Trello, and; closed/settled • Trial/hearing preparation: reviewed/presented legal documents; filed court documents; responded/issued discovery and subpoena requests/demands, and; interviewed ward/additional parties • Online database proficiencies: Lexis/Nexis, WestLaw, and NYS Unified Court System eCourts • Transferrable: MS Office Word, Excel, and Outlook, and Relativity, version 9.6 • In-progress: Certified Associate in Project Management, self-paced exam preparation, anticipated exam date: December 2019, resources: “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMBOK Guide,” Project Management Institute, 6th Edition and “Head First PMP, A Brain-Friendly Guide: A Learner's Companion to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam,” O’Reilly, 4th Edition; Certifications in Microsoft Office Specialist Excel and Access 2016, self-paced exam preparation, anticipated exam date: December 2019, resources: University of Buffalo, Educational Opportunity Center, ATTAIN Lab

Education

Certificate

Long Island University

Jan 1998 — Sep 1998

Paralegal Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Syracuse University

Sep 1996 — May 2000

Major: Liberal Studies

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