MACHANDA SMITH

206.218.5646 machandasmith1@gmail.com

PROFILE
Legal professional with advanced experience preparing legal documents, reviewing and preparing responses to
formal discovery requests, as a reliable, contributing member of a team. Intelligent, critical thinker and fast learner
who enjoys solving problems.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Westlaw/Lexis Nexus/CaseAware Prepare trial exhibits and courtroom aids

Legal processes/terminology
MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
Federal court filing & docketing systems (ECF/PACER)
Complaints, motions, pleadings, orders
Miscellaneous notices
Edit correspondence/reports/legal documents
e-Filing and hard copy filing
Distributing documents to defense attorneys and defendants
Draft/ transcribe/proofread
Manage and coordinate hearings

EXPERIENCE

Legal Secretary, Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Spokane, WA, 9/2016 - Present

 Researches, establishes, maintains, codes, modifies, tracks and/or retrieves information and compiles data that may
require information searches through legal files, contracts, records, microfilm or computer files including customized
database applications; enters, obtains and/or verifies information obtained from legal documents following established
clearly defined methods and court rules. Enters and retrieves case information using appropriate computer based data
system; prepares reports requiring the extraction of database information

 Performs counter and/or phone work providing information to the public; advising attorneys and other interested
parties regarding the status of cases and legal procedures while maintaining security and confidentiality

 May provide lead supervision over the work of a department section or unit. Makes work assignments, oversees
performance of assigned jobs and provides technical assistance as needed

 Researches and coordinates the collection and preparation of complex reports requiring technical expertise and a
thorough knowledge of departmental operations, procedures and regulations

Marketing Admissions Coordinator,Aldercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center, Edmonds, WA, 4/2015-4/2016

 Adhered to sales and marketing policies and compliance of marketing policies and procedures and compliance of the
marketing systems of each to ensure the consistency and effectives of the facility/company programs and brand
 Explained the following documents to the residents, Advance Directives, Voluntary Arbitration Agreement, Bill of Rights
 Complied with laws and regulations applicable to position and acted in the accordance with Extendicare Health Services,
Inc., Corporate Compliance Program
 Attended and participated in in-service training, performance improvement (“PI) committees and other meetings as
scheduled and directed
 Served as liaison between internal staff, clients and external agencies
 Worked with the Business Office Manager to ensure financial verification is accurate and complete
 Responsible for taking referral information from telephone and walk in inquires obtaining necessary clinical and financial
information
Litigation Paralegal ( Temporary), Condominium Law Group, PLLC, Seattle, WA, 10/2014-1/2015

 Prepared motions, summonses, complaints, pleadings, schedules and confirmed hearings and filed documents to the
court
 Maintained litigation calendar, including civil cases
 Scheduled and coordinated hearings
 Served as liaison between internal staff, clients and external agencies
 High-level of proficiency in MS Office Suite
 Assisted attorneys on litigation matters
 Handled litigation for counties across the state
 Organized all case files and documentation for staff attorneys; keeping all files completed and up to date
 Maintained strict confidentiality
 Filed, copied, mailed, applied payments, and updated ledgers and scanned documents
 Distributed documents to defense attorneys and defendants

Legal Assistant, Real Estate Foreclosure, Robinson Tait, P.S, Seattle, WA, 5/2012-10/2014

 Organized client documents including complaints, answers, notices of appearance, motions, miscellaneous notices, and
orders
 Conducted document searches and factual research
 Scheduled and coordinated hearings
 Prepared motions, summonses, complaints, pleadings and court filings
 Served as liaison between internal staff, clients and external agencies
 Performed high-level of proficiency with MS Office Suite
 Handled Judicial Foreclosures for the States of Washington and Oregon
 Trained 13 paralegals on foreclosure process
 Contributed to the revenue of the firm by processing the sale of over 60 properties, which accumulated over 1 million
dollars in sales
 Distributed documents to defense attorneys and defendants
 Assisted on special projects
 Answered telephone inquiries from clients and external agencies

Paralegal Specialist (Internship), The Office of General Counsel for the Social Security Administration, Seattle, WA, 1/2012-
4/2012

 E-filed documents using ECF/PACER docketing system for Federal Court

 Prepared documents for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
 Handled agency litigation for the State of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho
 Assisted other Paralegal Specialists with administrative duties related to litigation matters
 Organized documents for the General Litigation department
 Maintained strict confidentiality

Volunteer Complaint Analyst- Consumer Protection Division(completion of ECC internship), Washington State Office of the
Attorney General ,Seattle, WA, 4/2010 - 8/2011

 Answered telephone inquiries from citizens; providing information on variety of consumer protection topics including
general information and referral to additional resources
 Processed and informally mediated consumer complaints including written and phone contracts with businesses and
consumers
 Worked within the guidelines and policies of the Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division and the
Consumer Resource Centers
 Maintained strict confidentiality

Claims Associate IV, Premera Blue Cross, Seattle, WA, 8/2005 –4/2010

 Reviewed, researched and resolved complex claims according to contracts and policies
 Acted as team technical subject matter expert, trained and audited claims prepared by new employees, provided
technical support and supervision
 Established excellent relationships with customers by means of outbound and incoming calls
 Consistently met cycle deadlines and corporate productivity goals
EDUCATION

Associate Arts Degree, Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA, April 2018
Associate of Technical Arts Degree, Paralegal, Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA, March 2011