JANET OPITZ

8107 Sun Vista Way a Orlando, Florida 32822 a jof067b8@westpost.net

a 407-273-5936
Legal secretary with extensive experience working in major law firms performing
case management and preparing cases for trial in the areas of personal injury, i
nsurance defense, asbestos litigation, defense of product liability ca
ses and medical malpractice defense.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
a Licensed Notary Public
a Expertise in law office operations, electronic filing of legal documents, lega
l research, compliance with Bluebook standards, legal file management from openi
ng to closing, and paralegal duties, such as setting hearings and depositions, r
eview of opposing counselas documents and files, preparation of documents for pr
oduction as well as indexing and Bates stamping them.
a Strong skills in personal organization, case management, oral and written comm
unication, maintaining excellent client relations, and performing complete work;
consistently meets deadlines and works well independently.
a COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel; Fast Case, Workflow, Car
pe Diem, Worksite, Pacer and I-Manage; electronic filing in state and Federal co
urts; electronic filing in LexisNexis; UPS shipping online; timekeeping for part
ner; keep partner up to date on Florida Law Weekly publications.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LEGAL ASSISTANT April 2010 a" October 2010
GRAYROBINSON, P.A. Orlando, Florida
Florida-based law firm involved with all types of law: commercial, toxic torts,
product liability litigation, insurance defense, foreclosures, medical malpract
ice defense for nursing homes, hospitals, insurance companies, etc.
a Moved to GrayRobinson, P.A. with Benjamin W. Newman, the attorney I worked wit
h at Bobo Ciotoli Bocchino Newman Corsini White & Buigas, P.A. Assistant who wo
rked under me did not make the move with us.
a Provided legal assistance to busy partner on the medical malpractice team; man
aged calendars, scheduled appointments; prepared and processed legal documents.
a Intake of all new cases; prepared acknowledgement letters, scheduled telephone
conferences and in-person meetings on all new cases and set up initial files.
a Worked on medical malpractice cases while in pre-suit litigation and during li
tigation.
a Set depositions of experts and set mediations, worked with clients and insuran
ce carriers. Key to this position was interacting with clients and insurance ca
rriers on a daily basis in all aspects of each case.
a Scheduled mediations on behalf of partner who is also a mediator.
a Drafted correspondence and answers, defenses, affirmative defenses and discove
ry to Plaintiffs. Worked well with all parties involved in case and with judici
al assistants.
a Performed general office duties, such as receiving and placing telephone calls
, making photocopies, scanning, and sending legal correspondence to clients, wit
nesses, and court officials via mail, fax or courier.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LEGAL ASSISTANT/TEAM LEADER April 2009 a" March 2010
BOBO CIOTOLI BOCCHINO NEWMAN CORSINI WHITE & BUIGAS, P.A. Orlando, Fl
orida
Medical Malpractice Defense for Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Insurance Companies, e
tc.
a Position was temporary from April 2009 to August 2009 when I became a permanen
t employee.
a Provided legal assistance to partner as team leader for one of the teams opera
ting out of the Orlando office; managed calendars, scheduled appointments; prepa
red and processed legal documents, such as notices of taking depositions, subpoe
nas, answers to complaints and discovery. I also delegated work to legal assist
ants as I deemed necessary.
a Intake of all new cases; prepared acknowledgement letters, scheduled telephone
conferences and in-person meetings on all new cases and set up initial files.
a Worked on medical malpractice cases while in pre-suit litigation and while in
litigation.
a Set depositions of experts and set mediations, worked with clients and insuran
ce carriers. Key to this position was interacting with clients and insurance ca
rriers on a daily basis in all aspects of each case.
a Scheduled mediations on behalf of partner who is also a mediator.
a Drafted correspondence and answers, defenses, affirmative defenses and discove
ry to Plaintiffs. Worked well with all parties involved in case and with judici
al assistants.
a Performed general office duties, such as receiving and placing telephone calls
, making photocopies, scanning, and sending legal correspondence to clients, wit
nesses, and court officials via mail, fax or courier.
a Worked with minimal supervision.
SENIOR LEGAL SECRETARY/LEGAL ASSISTANT January 1993 a" February 2009
HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP Orlando, Florida
International law firm involved with all types of law: commercial, construction
litigation, real estate, employment law, toxic torts, product liability litigat
ion, insurance defense, asbestos litigation, etc., as well as charitable work.
a Provided legal assistance for up to two attorneys and associates; managed cale
ndars and scheduled appointments; prepared and processed legal documents, such a
s summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, and pre-trial agreements.
a Assisted with preparation of witness and exhibit lists; prepared witness and e
xpert files with documents relating to each (e.g., Curriculum Vitae, expert repo
rts, and attorney notes).
a Drafted correspondence and answers, defenses, affirmative defenses, and update
d lists of Fabre defendants to complaints; reviewed documents prepared by attorn
eys for correct formatting and proofed citations according to bluebook standards
.
a Assisted with preparation of motions, compiling of exhibits, cited deposition
testimony, and case law; compiled and reviewed files and documents produced by o
pposing counsel and created corresponding sub-files.
a Worked with opposing counsel and staff to establish deadlines and set depositi
ons or hearings; filed documents with court and reviewed court dockets in prepar
ation for trial; collaborated with judicial assistants to provide judges with co
pies of motions, notices of hearing, memoranda of law, and copies of supporting
case law.
a Prepared general office duties, such as receiving and placing telephone calls,
making photocopies, scanning, and sending legal correspondence to clients, witn
esses, and court officials via mail, fax, or courier.
a Filed pleadings electronically in state and Federal courts; also filed asbesto
s pleadings via LexisNexis; performed case management, including mailing, filing
, and indexing of pleadings.
a Made arrangements for trials outside of Orlando (e.g., conference rooms, tempo
rary office space, hotel accommodations, office supplies, hardware and software
to meet technology needs, on-site file and reference materials).
a Attended trials to assist with preparation of last minute motions/memoranda, p
reparation of exhibits to be used at trial, outlines for expert and trial testim
ony, opening and closing arguments, and any other needed preparations.
a Reviewed legal publications and performed database searches to identify laws a
nd court decisions relevant to pending cases.
a Charitable work such as making arrangements for special events associated with
local Boy Scout Troop (camping trips, day trips, etc.); handled registration pa
perwork and payments.
a Coordinated all CLE (Continuing Law Education) training for assigned attorneys
; maintained database for updating Florida Bar Association.
a Consistently contributed to the profitability of the law firm by influencing r
epeat business through timely and accurate client encounters, initiating process
improvement strategies to increase efficiency, and creating marketing materials
that were in compliance with the Florida Bar Association advertising regulation
s.
LEGAL SECRETARY September 1990 a" December 1992
ALLEN & BUSH Orlando, Florida
a Provided legal assistance for two attorneys and associates in the areas of med
ical and legal malpractice defense; interacted with clients on a regular basis;
prepared motions, memoranda of law, and witness/exhibit lists; made arrangements
for out-of-town trials; managed calendars.
a Also selected to train non-legal secretaries in legal processes and procedures
; prepared and processed legal documents (summonses, subpoenas, notices of heari
ng, pre-trial agreements, etc.).
a Attended trials to assist with preparation of last minute motions/memoranda, p
reparation of exhibits to be used at trial, outlines for expert and trial testim
ony, opening and closing arguments, and any other needed preparations.
a EDUCATION
a Graduated from Edison High School a" Edison, New Jersey.