Deanna M. Sears, MPS, RP®
Ashfield
Summary
Legal professional with proven track record in providing comprehensive support to attorneys. Capable of managing complex legal documentation and ensuring case files are meticulously organized. Team-oriented and results-driven, always adapting to meet shifting priorities. Skilled in legal research and document preparation, valued for reliability and flexibility.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Employment Law Paralegal
Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.
08.2023 - Current
- Collaborate with attorneys in all stages of litigation process.
- Manage scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain smooth flow of firm operations.
- Ensure compliance with court rules and procedures by accurately preparing and submitting legal filings within established timeframes.
- Communicate with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Prepare pleadings, motions, and discovery requests/responses.
- Review and organize evidence for use during discovery phase and for use at trial, mediation and arbitration.
- Edit and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Electronic filing in State and Federal Courts (MA and CT), Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, EEOC, National Labor Relations Board, and American Arbitration Association.
- Prepare audit response letters for clients’ accountants.
- Facilitated timely and accurate billing by recording billable hours, expenses, and other relevant information in the firm''s billing system.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes in laws or regulations relevant to practice areas through continuous professional development opportunities such as seminars or webinars.
Adjunct Faculty - Legal Studies
Bay Path University
03.2020 - Current
- Contract Law
- Paralegals: The Essentials
Litigation Paralegal
Bacon Wilson, P.C.
01.2019 - 08.2023
- Managed attorney calendars and maintaining litigation docket.
- Obtained, reviewed and summarized medical records at direction of trial attorneys, consulting outside experts and arranged for medical examinations when relevant to cases.
- Scheduled independent medical examinations.
- Prepared pleadings, discovery, affidavits, subpoenas, motions, briefs, exhibits and other legal documents.
- Retained experts and prepared documents for expert review.
- Used state and federal electronic filing systems in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
- Gathered evidence, documentation and information necessary for commercial evictions.
- Researched real estate records, reviewed and analyzed contracts, and gathered evidence associated with filing mechanic’s liens.
- Prepared demand letters and complaints for breach of contract claims.
- Met with clients and communicated pertinent information via phone, email and mail.
- Reviewed and summarized discovery responses served by all parties in the case.
- Organized and prepared trial notebooks.
- Created and updated case management and client account databases.
- Analyzed legal statutes, codes and previous court decisions to determine optimal course of action.
- Contacted witnesses and scheduled interviews and depositions.
- Managed high-volume caseloads effectively by creating organized systems for tracking deadlines and prioritizing tasks.
- Ensured accurate record-keeping by maintaining up-to-date case files, both physical and electronic formats.
Litigation Paralegal (Insurance Defense)
Law Offices of James H. Breen, Jr.
01.2007 - 01.2019
- Communicated with clients, insurance adjusters, opposing counsel, court personnel, experts, etc.
- Prepared initial case pleadings, including answers, motions and discovery requests.
- Coordinated subrogation investigations.
- Prepared subrogation demand letters/packages.
- Organized and prepared case exhibits and evidence for trial.
- Investigated and located at-fault parties and insurance carriers for subrogation.
- Prepared subrogation demand letters/packages.
Instructor – Paralegal Program
Branford Hall Career Institute
04.2016 - 12.2016
Senior Paralegal (Personal Injury)
Law Firm of William Y. Christie, P.C.
11.2005 - 01.2007
Litigation Paralegal
Daniel & Fontaine, LLC
12.2002 - 11.2005
Paralegal (Construction Litigation)
Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C.
08.2001 - 12.2002
Personal Injury Paralegal
Ludwig Law Firm, PLC
01.2000 - 01.2001
Paralegal (Nursing Home Litigation)
Wilkes & McHugh
01.1999 - 01.2000
Medicaid Planning Paralegal
Kearns & Kearns, PC
01.1997 - 01.1999
Education
Master's Degree - Professional Studies/Paralegal Studies
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.08.2011
Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA05.2009
Paralegal Certificate -
Branford Hall Career Institute
Windsor, CT11.1997
Skills
- Experienced in Lexis Nexis, Bloomberg, and Westlaw
- Experienced with MS Office applications
- Skilled in utilizing ORION and Prolaw for effective case management
- Notary Public - Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Memberships
National Federation of Paralegal Associations Member, NALA – The Paralegal Association, Massachusetts Paralegal Association, Hampden County Bar Association, Former Board Member, NFPA Primary Representative - Western Massachusetts Paralegal Association, MCLE Paralegal Conference Committee Member and Speaker
Certification
Obtained PACE Certification (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam) in September 2017
Timeline
Employment Law Paralegal
Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.
08.2023 - Current
Adjunct Faculty - Legal Studies
Bay Path University
03.2020 - Current
Litigation Paralegal
Bacon Wilson, P.C.
01.2019 - 08.2023
Instructor – Paralegal Program
Branford Hall Career Institute
04.2016 - 12.2016
Litigation Paralegal (Insurance Defense)
Law Offices of James H. Breen, Jr.
01.2007 - 01.2019
Senior Paralegal (Personal Injury)
Law Firm of William Y. Christie, P.C.
11.2005 - 01.2007
Litigation Paralegal
Daniel & Fontaine, LLC
12.2002 - 11.2005
Paralegal (Construction Litigation)
Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C.
08.2001 - 12.2002
Personal Injury Paralegal
Ludwig Law Firm, PLC
01.2000 - 01.2001
Paralegal (Nursing Home Litigation)
Wilkes & McHugh
01.1999 - 01.2000
Medicaid Planning Paralegal
Kearns & Kearns, PC
01.1997 - 01.1999
Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice
Bay Path University
Paralegal Certificate -
Branford Hall Career Institute
Master's Degree - Professional Studies/Paralegal Studies
George Washington University
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