Karen Elizabeth DeSantis 111 Lee Drive Middlesex, New Jersey 08846 908-565-2481 kd13aec0c@westpost.

net Objective Paralegal/Legal Secretarial position in firm which provides stimulation, intell ectual challenge and opportunity for advancement. Work Experience Paralegal 10/2007 Present Shamy, Shipers & Lonski, P.C., New Brunswick, New Jersey Matrimonial/Workers Compensation Paralegal - work for Senior Associate on matrim onial files and associate on Workers Compensation files, meet with clientele, wo rk file up from inception to completion, prepare pleadings, motions, agreements , correspondence. Extensive contact with the Superior Court, scheduling attorne y agendas, as well as calendaring all court appearances/attorney meetings, respo nsible for billing for the firm using the Abacus program, knowledge of Word, Wor dPerfect, Windows, Easy Soft CIS. Legal Secretary 9/2005 10/2007 Law Offices of Craig Terkowitz Hanover Insurance Company Insurance Defense Litigation - Legal Secretary in firm which served as in-house counsel for Hanover Insurance Company. Supported three attorneys and was respon sible for correspondence, file upkeep, scheduling and calendaring all appointmen ts, depositions, court appearances, client contact, attending team meetings, pre paration of legal documentation, logging all correspondence that came in and out of office, notifying clients of all appearances and acting as administrative su pport in whatever capacity was needed. Paralegal 3/2004 9/2005 Stanton & Stieh, P.A., Piscataway, New Jersey General litigation. Estates, Wills, Matrimonial, Book Account Lawsuits, collecti on. Responsible for support of Partner in firm. Heavy client contact, prepar ation of pleadings, motions, Case Information Statements, worked independently a nd was in charge of managing files and assisting clients to prepare various requ ired legal documentation. Also responsible for calendaring and keeping time she ets and billing for partner and myself. Administrative abilities in addition to paralegal know how required for this position. Paralegal 8/2003 - 3/2004 Donahue Hagan Klein & Newsome, Short Hills, New Jersey Complex Matrimonial Litigation Support for Senior Partner and Associate in prest igious firm. Preparation of all court documentation, clientele file upkeep, pre paring pleadings, agreements, correspondence. Extensive contact with the Superi or Court, direct clientele contact, maintaining attorney calendar, document foll ow-up, use of Family Soft Case Information Statement Program. Heavy use of Micr osoft Office. Paralegal 12/2002 - 8/2003 Altman & Legband, Skillman, New Jersey Matrimonial Paralegal - work for Senior Partner in firm, clientele file upkeep, preparing pleadings, agreements, correspondence. Extensive contact with the Sup erior Court, scheduling attorney agenda for two offices as well as calendaring a ll court appearances/attorney meetings, responsible for billing for the firm usi ng the TABS III program, knowledge of Word, WordPerfect, Windows, Easy Soft CIS. Paralegal 3/1999 - 11/2002 McDonald, Rogers & Rizzolo, Somerville, New Jersey Practice based primarily in Family Law, General Litigation, Wills and Estates. Responsibilities included client intake and opening of files; preparation of ini tial pleadings such as Complaints; Answers and Counterclaims; Insurance Affidavi ts; Case Information Statements; Child Support Guidelines; Settlement Conference Forms; Probation Wage Execution Forms; Motions; Property Settlement Agreements;

Certifications; Wills; etc. Position required complete understanding of the pr ocedures of the Superior Court of New Jersey; billing; ability to track deadline s and handle attorney calendar; accuracy in preparation of pleadings. High prof ile position with heavy clientele contact, both in person and on the telephone. Legal Secretary 1/1998 - 3/1999 Schachter, Trombadore, Offen, Stanton & Pavics, Somerville, New Jersey Practice based primarily in Matrimonial Law. Responsibilities: Legal Secretary to associate who worked under partner in high profile law firm. Prepared all pl eadings, Case Information Statements, Child Support Guidelines, settlement confe rence documentation, Property Settlement Agreements, etc. Position required kno wledge of court procedure, accuracy in completion of pleadings, knowledge to wo rk up file from its inception to end, and ability to uphold standards of highly successful firm. Education 4/1992 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey * Certification * Paralegal Certification Program, Honors Accelerated Course. Included preparat ion of legal documentation; legal research and writing; computer training in Win dows, WordPerfect, Westlaw, and internet operations; attorney ethics; featured o verviews in litigation; wills; trusts; estates; criminal law; corporations; matr imonial law; real estate law; legal research and writing and bankruptcy law. 5/1991 Caldwell College, Caldwell, New Jersey * Bachelors Degree * BA in History with minor in English. Honors: Deans List, Member Phi Alpha The ta National Historical Honor Society. Graduated Cum Laude with 3.5 G.P.A. Skills Easy Soft - Case Information Statement Easy Soft - Real Estate Hot Docs - Legal Software Internet Explorer Microsoft Office Tabs - Billing Windows - WordPerfect - Corel Adobe Acrobat, Abacus Client database/bil ling, all office machinery and equipment, self starter who can work files up wit h clients from inception to end