Mariah Kreiger
Birkdale,Queensland
Summary
Since 2019 I have specialised in personal injury litigation, with a focus on motor vehicle, WorkCover and Commonwealth workers' compensation claims. Highly-motivated with a desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working unsupervised and quick to master new skills.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Lawyer
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Brisbane, Queensland
03.2022 - 06.2023
- Intermittent part-time work whilst travelling Australia.
- Assisted partners and senior lawyers on CTP personal injury claims.
- Maintained current knowledge of laws to provide clarification on legal concerns.
- Conducted legal research and analysis to draft legal opinions and court documents.
- Drafted advices on quantum, liability and evidence.
- Researched and gathered evidence for personal injury claims.
- Prepared briefs to counsel and independent medical experts.
- Conferred with counsel to strategise progress of litigated matters.
Lawyer
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Brisbane, Queensland
03.2020 - 10.2021
- Specialised in personal injury insurance litigation in compulsory third party insurance motor vehicle accident claims.
- Specialised in personal injury insurance litigation in workers' compensation claims under the Commonwealth insurance scheme.
- Anaylsed and managed claims under the Safety Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (Cth), Safety Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (Defence-Related Claims) (Cth), Military, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2004 (Cth), Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) and Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW).
- Drafted initial and updated client advices on legal issues regarding employer liability, compensation for medical treatment, incapacity, permanent impairment and non-economic loss.
- Represented employers under the Commonwealth workers’ compensation scheme including the Australian Taxation Office, Department of Defence Housing and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- Represented clients in court, tribunals and government agencies.
- Presented evidence to defend clients in civil litigation.
- Interpreted laws, rulings and regulations for clients.
- Interviewed clients and witnesses to acquire additional insight into case details.
- Drafted statements for witnesses to present as evidence before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
- Advised clients regarding legal matters, claim liability and quantum assessment.
- Negotiated settlements with opposing parties to remedy disputes.
- Confered with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
- Maintained loyal client base by establishing trusting alliances and fair billing practices.
- Coordinated with investigators and law enforcement agencies to obtain information or evidence used in hearings.
- Successfully obtained suppression orders in the District Court in two related matters pertaining to useful surveillance evidence.
- Settled multiple claims by applying pressure on the plaintiff with the use of useful information obtained from social media investigations and meticulous review of medical records.
- Autonomously managed a case load of 30 claims whilst simultaneously assisting partners and senior associates on their files.
- Conducted pre-trial conferences with witnesses and independent medical experts.
Lawyer
BTLawyers
Brisbane, Queensland
06.2019 - 03.2020
- Specialised in personal injury insurance litigation for workers' compensation and asbestos exposure claims.
- Acted for WorkCover in an asbestos claim for damages involving five defendants where liability, apportionment of liability between the defendants and calculation of damages were in dispute. The matter successfully settled at a settlement conference.
- Sharp negotiation and communication skills and clear writing style, when preparing submissions for mediations.
- Instructed and briefed counsel on two similar matters regarding an application for case appraisal in an asbestos compensation claim before the District Court of Queensland.
- Responsible for my own case load whilst simultaneously completing work for senior lawyers.
- Attended and traveled to worksites to identify risks associated with insurance claims.
- Assisted and mentored paralegals in completing legal tasks.
- Prepared court documents including defences, third-party statement of claims and requests for particulars.
- Represented a self-insurer in a common law claim for damages regarding a right shoulder injury and an unassessed left shoulder injury. The claim involved in depth investigations and required a personal site inspection. Advised the client on their prospects of success and risks associated with liability, subsequent to the site inspection.
- Assessed quantum in asbestos exposure and workers' compensation claims. Asbestos claims required detailed attention to future special damages and future care owing to the plaintiff's age, health and the requirement for oxygen. Workers' compensation claims required specific attention to past and future economic loss, which can be significant depending on the severity of the injury.
- Conducted legal research and analysis to draft legal opinions, studies and reports.
- Interpreted recent court opinions and current legal research to remain current with developments.
- Developed comprehensive case plan to prepare for proceeding.
Graduate Solicitor/Paralegal/Legal Office Assistant
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Sydney, New South Wales
03.2017 - 07.2019
- Analysed claims under the Safety Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (Cth), Safety Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (Defence-Related Claims) (Cth), Military, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2004 (Cth), Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) and Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW).
- Attended mediations for dust and disease matters, prepared defendants’ reply and settled apportionment of liability and contribution towards damages between cross- defendants.
- Independently instructed counsel at a bedside hearing before the Dust & Diseases Tribunal on an asbestosis matter where the plaintiff also suffered lung cancer and had a significant smoking history. Liability, causation and contribution between cross- defendants was in dispute.
- Successfully instructed counsel before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in a military claim for damages for a head injury sustained during Naval service. In issue before the Tribunal was whether the claimant’s injury was caused, or significantly contributed to, by his service. The Tribunal decided the claimant had no entitlement to statutory compensation.
- Prepared briefs to counsel, defendant replies and discovery.
- Represented clients at preliminary telephone conferences before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
- Attended conciliation conferences on behalf of the client.
Education
Admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland
11.2020
Admission To The Supreme Court of New South Wales
08.2020
Graduate Diploma Legal Practice
College of Law
Sydney, NSW05.2019
Bachelor of Law (Honours)
University of Notre Dame Australia
Sydney, NSW12.2018
Skills
- Litigation experience
- Discovery and document review
- Verbal and written communication
- Legal case management
- Negotiation skills
- Statutory interpretation and adaptation
- Case law and outcome analysis
- Establishing effective relationships
- Client representation and advisement
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
- Legal document preparation
- Legal research and review
- Creative and critical thinking
Key Achievements
Successfully completed a large project for our client regarding the Royal Commission into Aged Care. The project involved:
- Analysing data from over 60 aged care facilities and organising information into an in-depth report within a two-month time frame.
- Coordinating legal tasks between a team of 10 lawyers in order to meet deadlines and ensure consistent reporting and data analysis, under significant pressure.
- Applied myself to work extended hours to complete the task on time.
- Collating information into comprehensive data to assist our client’s understanding of the relevant legal issues and the legal risks associated with the results.
Selected to represent the firm at Australia Post on secondment that involved:
- Forming appropriate client relationships, liaising and collaborating with the Rehabilitation, Litigation and Compensation team in order to provide wholistic, internal advice to the client.
- Advising on litigated matters in the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding entitlement to compensation, medical treatment and ceasing entitlement to statutory compensation.
- Independent management of client files, issuing summonses and drafting legal correspondence.
- Advising on the prospects of success in relation to complex matters concerning liability for compensation particularly psychiatric illness claims and determining whether administrative action was carried out by the employer in a reasonable manner.
- Successfully balanced secondment tasks whilst simultaneously completing work-related tasks in accordance with urgent deadlines.
Timeline
Lawyer
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
03.2022 - 06.2023
Lawyer
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
03.2020 - 10.2021
Lawyer
BTLawyers
06.2019 - 03.2020
Graduate Solicitor/Paralegal/Legal Office Assistant
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
03.2017 - 07.2019
Admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland
Admission To The Supreme Court of New South Wales
Graduate Diploma Legal Practice
College of Law
Bachelor of Law (Honours)
University of Notre Dame Australia
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