Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Licenses
Professional Development
Interests
Timeline
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Maria Tagler

Valparaiso

Summary

Detail-oriented legal assistant with a robust background in legal support and document management, adept at providing comprehensive assistance to attorneys. Expertise includes drafting and filing legal documents, managing caseloads, and maintaining strict confidentiality while ensuring efficient calendaring. A proven track record of preparing necessary correspondence and a strong command of legal terminology and processes enhances the ability to contribute effectively in fast-paced legal environments. Committed to delivering high-quality support that drives successful outcomes for clients and legal teams.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Legal Assistant

O'Neill McFadden & Willett, LLP
08.2024 - 09.2025
  • Managed case files and legal documents, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company standards.
  • Maintained electronic filing systems, enhancing document retrieval processes and data integrity.
  • Developed process improvements that streamlined administrative tasks, increasing overall team productivity.
  • Maintained strict confidentiality, protecting sensitive client information as required by legal ethics and regulations.
  • Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
  • Support attorneys in case preparation.
  • Coordinated schedules and appointments for attorneys, optimizing time management and workflow efficiency.
  • Drafted legal correspondence, pleadings, and other documents with attention to detail and formatting standards.

Legal Assistant

Krieg DeVault, LLP
07.2023 - 08.2024
  • Provide traditional administrative needs for multiple attorneys.
  • Provide legal administrative support for litigation and transactional practice attorneys.
  • Prepare highly confidential documents such as agreements, contracts, correspondence and communications to clients.
  • File court documents in Illinois through Odyssey and CM/ECF, through Indiana Odyssey, CM/ECF, and in the Southern District of Indiana Bankruptcy court.
  • Prepare legal documents, revise, format and proof-read pleadings to be filed with the court.
  • Pull court filings from Pacer, Indiana’s MyCase, the CCC which is Illinois Cook County Circuit Court’s case management website.
  • Profiling documents in the firm’s legal software, and calendaring court dates and deadlines.
  • Maintaining attorneys’ calendar, scheduling CLE courses, attorney renewal applications, appointments, travel arrangements and meetings.
  • Entered billing entries for attorneys, reimbursement requests such as travel mileage charges, marketing expenses, ticket/event expenses, etc.
  • Provided legal administrative support in areas such as: Bankruptcy, Medical Mal-practice defense, Construction litigation, Collections, Business Evictions, Breach of Contract, Employment Litigation, Employment law matters for business, Wills Estates and Trust matters, SBA Loan Opinion letters, etc.
  • Prepare and open new files, preparing conflict checks, new business memos, and engagement letters.
  • IN and IL Transactional and Litigation Practice

Paralegal

Kelly Law Offices, LLC
11.2022 - 07.2023
  • Communicating with new potential IN workers’ compensation claimants to determine compensability and case value.
  • Maintaining client files, requesting medical records, TTD ledgers, and ensuring workers’ compensation claims are progressing.
  • Maintaining constant contact with clients, following up on treatment status, and preparing claims for resolution.
  • Communicating with insurance claim representatives and attorneys’ offices to ensure claim issues are being addressed and resolved.
  • Schedule and coordinate depositions, including scheduling court reports, and interpreters for the upcoming IME’s and depositions.
  • Opening new case files, inputting information into firms’ legal software while ensuring information accuracy.
  • Investigating claims by performing searches for insurance information, reviewing WCB website to determine filing of FROI, reviewing medical records, and creating injury timelines for the attorneys.
  • IN and IL PI Firm/IN WC

Legal Assistant

Ganan & Shapiro, P.C.
08.2014 - 11.2022
  • Prepare correspondence through dictation and review drafts by correcting the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting, prior to providing drafts to the assigned attorney for review and changes.
  • Communicate in a professional, courteous, and efficient manger with opposing counsel, insurance adjusters, Respondents, Pro-se Petitioners, and Arbitrator’s regarding workers’ compensation cases.
  • Consistently maintain and update a reference guide for the legal assistants to adhere to the guidelines and vendor preferences set forth by our clients.
  • Responsible for monitoring CompFile, which is the e-filing system of the Illinois Industrial Commission and docketing all court dates and motions filed in the firm’s cases.
  • Prepare and distribute docket call sheets for the attorney’s weekly court scheduled meetings.
  • Schedule and coordinate independent medical examinations and depositions, including scheduling court reports, and interpreters for the upcoming IME’s and depositions.
  • Issue and follow up on subpoenas to medical providers, and employers.
  • Prepare and file Motions for Trial, Request for Hearings, Responses to Section 19(b) Petitions, and Responses to Petitions for Penalties and Attorney Fees.
  • Provide backup secretarial support to our reception desk and assess incoming calls and direct them to the appropriate party.
  • Maintain heavy case load files, and continuously keep files organized for the attorneys.
  • IL Workers’ Compensation Defense Law Firm

Legal Assistant/Payroll Administrator/Office Manager

Dean J. Caras & Associates P.C.
04.2008 - 08.2014
  • Assess and respond to Civil Court documents.
  • Provide exceptional customer service to client’s and assist them with court documents.
  • Maintain a good relationship with the firm’s clients by consistently communicating and updating clients on their cases status, following up on their medical treatment, and advising them of important court dates and procedures.
  • Responsible for answering high call volumes for current clients and assessing potential client’s cases.
  • Created a New Client Intake Form to obtain the pertinent information needed by the attorney to assess whether there is a potential claim.
  • Request and consistently follow up with medical providers, billing offices, human resource departments, and lien holders regarding document requests.
  • Coordinate the firm’s payroll through its ADT payroll company.
  • Responsible for coordinating any payroll adjustments, including ensuring pay increases, vacation time, and new employees were added to the payroll system.
  • Civil Rights Law Firm / PI

Education

Real Estate Broker Pre-licensing Course

McColly School of Real Estate
Valparaiso, IN
06.2023

Legal Assistant Professional Diploma - Paralegal Studies

Robert Morris University
Chicago, IL
02.2008

High School Diploma -

Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School
Chicago, IL
01-1999

Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent ability to prioritize, organize and follow up to ensure all aspects are fully complete
  • Extensive experience working and communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds This applies not only in professional career, but also in my personal life
  • Demonstrated ability to follow protocols, meet deadlines, maintain confidentiality, and succeed in a high volume fast paced environment
  • Keen attention to detail and ability to notice discrepancies thereby assisting in avoiding any potential future issues
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe, Pro-law, Imanage, Lexis-Nexus, CompFile, Odyssey e-filing for both the State of Indiana and Illinois
  • Typing speed of 75 wpm
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and master software with a strong ability to assist and problem solve technology issues
  • File organization
  • Microsoft office
  • Calendar management
  • Legal document preparation
  • Administrative support
  • Document filing

Certification

Legal Administrative Certificate

Licenses

Indiana Real Estate Broker's License - License Number: RB24000289

Indiana Notary Public - Commission Number: NP0750717

Professional Development

  • Skill Path Seminars
  • Attendee to the Professional Administrative Assistants Conference – June 2011
  • Chicago E-Filing Learning Course Attendee – May 2007

Interests

Boating

Lap swimming

Reading

Timeline

Legal Assistant

O'Neill McFadden & Willett, LLP
08.2024 - 09.2025

Legal Assistant

Krieg DeVault, LLP
07.2023 - 08.2024

Paralegal

Kelly Law Offices, LLC
11.2022 - 07.2023

Legal Assistant

Ganan & Shapiro, P.C.
08.2014 - 11.2022

Legal Assistant/Payroll Administrator/Office Manager

Dean J. Caras & Associates P.C.
04.2008 - 08.2014

Real Estate Broker Pre-licensing Course

McColly School of Real Estate

Legal Assistant Professional Diploma - Paralegal Studies

Robert Morris University

High School Diploma -

Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School

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Maria Tagler