Tess Byers
Wakerley,Queensland
Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow.
Tony Robbins
Summary
- I am 47 years of age, married with 2 children aged 9 and 11.
- I currently work full-time for a Barrister who specialises in personal injury law and have slowly completed my Bachelor of Law part-time online for the past 7 years.
- I have experienced in the legal and financial sectors and started working at the age of 17 in my first legal job on the Gold Coast in 1993. I continued working in law until I decided to break out into the mortgage broking industry and worked for various financial planners and mortgage brokers from May 2005 to November 2008 and then returned to the legal industry.
- I have worked in all departments of law over my 26 year legal career including employment law, commercial and leasing law, immigration law, family law, estate planning and construction law.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Office Manager
AJ Williams Barrister-at-Law
Brisbane, Qld
08.2015 - Current
- Maintained computer and physical filing systems.
- Oversaw office inventory activities by ordering and requisitions and stocking and shipment receiving.
- Optimized organizational systems for payment collections, AP/AR, deposits and recordkeeping.
- Established workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve overall performance of personnel.
- Managed office operations while scheduling appointments for department managers.
- Compared vendor prices and negotiated for optimal savings.
- Sourced vendors for special project needs and negotiated contracts.
Temp Worker
Various
Brisbane, Qld
11.2014 - 08.2015
- Worked for various Law Firms answering and screening calls, taking accurate and details messages.
- Digital dictation.
- Running various matter related reports as requested.
- Maintaining diaries.
- Managing Practice areas income and outgoing mail.
- Preparation of client engagement letters, costs and disclosure notices (as directed/required).
- Ensuring all files are kept up to date with relevant inclusions.
- Filing and archiving of files.
- Processing of bills monthly.
- Court filing.
- Assist with discovery and research.
- Document delivery and follow-up.
- Assisting with client queries.
- Time recording.
Paralegal
Cleary Hoare Solicitors
Newstead, Qld
08.2012 - 11.2014
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into company database.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
- Coordinated trial exhibits by organizing materials, writing documentation and preparing digital materials and displays.
- Managed billable hour tracking, payroll, client invoicing and schedules for office.
- Collected, drafted and maintained resources to provide comprehensive materials accessible to all firm lawyers.
- Maintained ongoing communication with opposing parties from discovery to trial phase to facilitate expeditious litigation.
- Adhered to privacy laws to avert possible information breaches and protect client data.
- Drafted, signed and certified key legal documents for judicial review.
- Examined and generated memos on statutory law, case law and federal and state regulations using online research databases, such as Westlaw, and print sources.
Paralegal
MacPherson + Kelly Lawyers
Brisbane, Qld
11.2009 - 08.2012
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into company database.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
- Coordinated trial exhibits by organizing materials, writing documentation and preparing digital materials and displays.
- Managed billable hour tracking, payroll, client invoicing and schedules for office.
- Communicated with outside vendors on behalf of attorneys and legal departments.
- Collected, drafted and maintained resources to provide comprehensive materials accessible to all firm lawyers.
- Maintained ongoing communication with opposing parties from discovery to trial phase to facilitate expeditious litigation.
- Adhered to privacy laws to avert possible information breaches and protect client data.
- Drafted, signed and certified key legal documents for judicial review.
- Created highly researched and articulate legal paperwork such as pleadings, contracts and briefs.
- Drafted responses for exceptions on foreclosure procedural errors.
- Contributed to, maintained and updated online data repositories for accessibility and to reflect firm standards.
- Cooperated with legal teams to create performance documents for curative action planning.
- Reviewed contracts and reported findings to support legal team in development of breach of contract defences.
Education
Bachelor of Law - Law
11.2022
Completed but yet to enrol into my Practical Legal Training or engage in on the job training
Skills
- Staff Training
- Office Management
- Policy and Procedure Modification
- Team Management
- Report Preparation and Analysis
- Office Supplies and Inventory
- Data Communications
- Inquiry Requests
- Cash Flow and Reconciliation
- Preparation of Pleadings
- Client Correspondence
- Executive Calendars
- Preparing Proposals
- Maintenance Coordination
- Travel Arrangement Management
- Hotel Accommodations
- Trial Proceedings
- Maintenance Requirements
- Travel Coordination
- Database Maintenance
Justice of the Peace
I have been a Justice of the Peace since 2005.
Timeline
Office Manager - AJ Williams Barrister-at-Law
08.2015 - Current
Temp Worker - Various
11.2014 - 08.2015
Paralegal - Cleary Hoare Solicitors
08.2012 - 11.2014
Paralegal - MacPherson + Kelly Lawyers
11.2009 - 08.2012
University of Southern Queensland - Bachelor of Law, Law
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