SUMMARY:

A legal professional with a track record of producing extraordinary results in the classroom and working with more than seven national and community-based organizations, public institutions and private law firms. Legal office experience and knowledge and preparation of legal documents.  Working knowledge in the areas of immigration, civil and criminal litigation. Committed to continuous learning and keeping abreast of new developments in the law.

SKILLS:

  • Proactive with strong advocacy, relationship building, counseling, and time management skills
  • Assess priorities and take appropriate action with minimal direction.
  • Excellent interpersonal and persuasive communication skills
  • Solid written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to explain complex situations in layman’s terms.
  • Financial literacy. Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Word, Excel, Adobe PDF, Sharepoint, and Blackboard; Knowledge of Customer Relationship Management both at the law firm and educational institution levels. Excellent legal writing and customer service skills.
  • Fluency in Russian Language.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

International Rescue Committee/Atlanta, GA/Intern Immigration Caseworker

01/17 – Present

  • Conduct comprehensive intake and needs assessment
  • Assist clients to complete applications for various immigration benefits (I-131, I-485, I-765, N-400, I-134 and prepare these for review by the Community Integration Manager, and Senior Immigration Caseworkers.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date files and detailed case notes on Immigration services to clients, enter required data in a timely manner into databases and meet all case reporting requirements within established deadlines and standards for final review by a caseworker.
  • Make service requests and refer case follow-ups to caseworkers for complicated cases.
  • Prepare a response for RFE’s
  • Assist clients in drafting response on missed USCIS interviews or those who need rescheduling
  • Assist clients in making NVC payment
  • Conduct File review monthly and address any matter with CI manager and Senior Caseworkers
  • Assist immigration case managers in making copies and creating new files
  • Assist in Citizenship Workshops
  • Complete change of address forms with CIS
  • Help maintain the filing system for immigration petitions filed with IRC in Atlanta
  • Other duties as needed and assigned by immigration case managers

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Strayer University, Roswell, GA /Adjunct faculty (legal studies and criminal justice program)

01/10 – Present

  • Teach Business Law; Law, Ethics and Corporate Governance at BBA and MBA level.
  • Teach Criminal Justice System courses at the BBA level.
  • Teach Introduction to Paralegal Profession at BBA level.
  • Teach Civil and Criminal procedures at BBA level.
  • Teach Contracts law and its applications to businesses.
  • Teach Legal Research and Writing.
  • Teach Critical Thinking.
  • Subject matter expert, curriculum development.

Gwinnett Technical College, Adult Education, Lawrenceville, GA/ Adjunct faculty (ESL/GED Program)

12/08- Present

  • English as a second language (ESL) Instructor.
  • Plan, prepare and deliver lessons to adult students whose first or main language is not English.
  • Prepare and set tests, examination papers and exercise.
  • Devise writing and utilize new materials, including audio and visual resources.
  • Best plus test administrator.
  • Student enrollment registration and intake.
  • Basic administration such as keeping student registers and attendance records on a daily basis.
  • Computer Lab Instructor

Phinia Aten & Associates, Atlanta, GA/Paralegal

 2007- 2008

  • Researched, drafted and prepared legal memorandum, documents, and correspondence including clients’ letters, pleadings, and interrogatories relating to criminal and immigration matters.
  • Coached clients for immigration interviews with the United States Citizen Immigration services (USCIS).
  • Attended Immigration interviews with clients at USCIS.
  • Drafted immigration forms and documents for attorneys review.
  • Organized, indexed and assembled casebooks and compilation of statutes and other legal documents.
  • Attended client meetings and court proceedings, and visited prisons to conduct interviews with client.
  • Liaised between clients, court officials, statutory, and federal agencies such as USCIS.

Grady Health System, Office of Legal Affairs, Atlanta, GA / Paralegal

2003 – 2005

  • Researched healthcare literature, guidelines, standards, and regulations as related to issues of a claim.
  • Performed research for tort and med malpractice claims for civil actions using LexisNexis.
  • Prepared pleadings and interrogatories for counsel’s review.
  • Drafted affiliation agreements and other legal documents for counsel’s review.
  • Prepared medical staff for depositions.

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Atlanta, GA /Paralegal

2002 – 2003

  • Provided case management in construction litigation.
  • Reviewed legal documents and contracts both electronically and manually
  • Managed and coded case pleadings, and Bates labeled document for production.
  • Performed legal research and web search on specific issues and organized research materials for attorneys. Made extensive use of Concordance and Opticon, Lotus Notes and UR-Law in database management.

EDUCATION:

  • University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
    LL.M, Comparative Law 2006.
  • Anglia Ruskin University, England, U.K.
    Legal Practice Course (Bar exam) 1997
  • University of Wolverhampton, England, U.K.
    LL.B (Honors) (Equivalent, J.D.) 1995.
  • Kiev State University, Kiev, Ukraine.
    LL.M, International Law (Joint Bachelor and Master of laws) 1988.

Certification and Licensure:

  • Immigration law for legal practitioners and paralegals Certificate 2016
  • General Civil Mediation Certificate 2015
  • Registered Neutral with Georgia Commission on ADR.
  • Certified Best plus Test Administrator.
  • Lexis Nexus Paralegal Mastery Certification in Legal Research 2015
  • Notary Public
  • ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate 1999.

Professional Membership and Activities:

  • Member, Room to Read, Atlanta Chapter.
  • Alumnus, MBHS/MGHS Alumni Association, USA.
  • Citizen Diplomat, Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV).
  • Member, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).
  • Alumnus, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
  • Treasurer, MBHS/MGHS Alumni Association.

HONORS AND AWARDS:

  • Scholarship to study International Law in Kiev, Ukraine.

EDITORIAL WORK:

  • Directive Research Paper: “How Does Under enforcement of the Fair Labor Standard Act Contribute to Everyone’s Welfare.” (2006).
  • Research Paper: “Gender Discrimination on Property Ownership and Inheritance – a Comparative study of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the State of Georgia.” (2006).
  • Thesis: “Restrictive Business Practices of Transnational Corporations.” (1988).

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