Kimberly Lakers
Rapid City
Summary
Organized legal team member versed in legal practices and procedures relevant to law. Skilled at keeping documentation and records updated, cases organized, and calendars accurate.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Paralegal
Dakota Plains Legal Services
Rapid City
05.2025 - Current
- Paralegal to an A&N attorney, Juvi attorney, and Criminal attorney.
- Prepared motions and Orders for the court.
- Organized and managed discovery materials for each case, facilitating effective case preparation.
- Coordinated calendar for hearing dates and appointments, ensuring timely scheduling for both telephone and in-person meetings.
- Handled daily docket processing to maintain accurate court calendaring and support case management.
- Scheduled Meeting and phone calls; jail visits.
- Received calls from the jail and clients.
Paralegal; Disputed Small Claims Manager-Legal Department
CCB - Credit Collections Bureau
10.2023 - Current
- Prepared comprehensive documentation for First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Circuits, including itemized statements, consent for treatment, pictures, insurance information, and court letters, ensuring thorough representation for all defendant disputes.
- Attend court (3-5 times a week in Seventh Circuit, Fourth and Sixth Circuit).
- Prepare questions for witnesses, send paperwork to defendants, including letters to the court, itemized statements etc.
- Facilitated communication by promptly sending denial notifications to attorney in east river area, enhancing case management efficiency.
- Prepared and filed notices and orders for continuance and dismissals to appropriate circuits and judges, ensuring timely processing of cases.
- Maintain the court date list and assign cases to east or west river and specific people.
- Prepare all judgments for filing.
- Assisted in filing small claim cases.
- Performed various additional tasks as required by supervisors to support team operations.
Paralegal
Lynn Jackson Shultz & Lebrun
Rapid City
06.2020 - 03.2023
- In charge of tracking billable hours, payroll, client invoices, and attorney schedules for two attorneys.
- Took client calls and responded to inquiries by asking open-ended questions and providing relevant information.
- Created and implemented all policies, workflow processes, and work assignments.
- Accurately entered data into company-based software (AIM) for hundreds of clients.
- Created and promoted firm online systems, as well as communicating with users to obtain feedback.
- Assisted legal teams in locating records and documents relevant to the case.
- Drafted legal documents using Perfect Law software to support case preparation.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers to discovery requests and provided necessary documentation.
- Maintained organization of case files to ensure easy access for legal teams.
- Served as intake specialist, managing new client inquiries and data collection until December 2022.
- Open cases and run conflict check on new matters; drafting legal documents such as pleadings (filing in eCourts) and Litigation reports; dictation; file management; prepares deposition summaries; docket control; record keeping; communicating with clients; manage attorney calendars; schedule mediation; manage email accounts for two attorneys; profile and archive relevant documents; answering phones and taking messages.
Paralegal
State of Wyoming-Office of the District Attorney
02.2020 - 05.2020
- Assisted attorneys in drafting pleadings, orders, and memorandums; requested discovery from appropriate agencies and provided to defense counsel.
- Prepares probation and bond revocations, charging documents and files with the court in a timely manner.
- Managed case files and maintained accurate docket records, ensuring compliance with court requirements.
- Scheduled and tracked deadlines to advance cases and ensure compliance with procedural requirements.
- Process subpoenas for law enforcement and witnesses.
- Evaluates information for accuracy and verifies accuracy of cited cases.
- Prepares deposition summaries from transcripts.
Paralegal
Clayborne, Loos and Sabers, LLP
06.2018 - 02.2020
- Prepare and file (e-file) motions, pleadings, orders, subpoenas, withdrawals and briefs.
- Reported directly to two attorneys, managing the preparation of cases from discovery to trial phase.
- Summarized depositions, scheduled mediation and depositions, wrote memos, proofed briefs, and organized miscellaneous files for attorneys.
- Prepared and served interrogatories and responses to questions, ensuring compliance with legal procedures.
- Discovery requests, look for conflicts, log receipt of discovery in database.
- Monitor court appearance dates.
- Confirms and relays information such as hearing or trial dates, case status to defendants.
- Developed and managed detailed billing records for two attorneys, facilitating accurate tracking of legal services provided.
- Track and input attorney time data and maintain records.
- Performed dictation for legal documents, ensuring accurate transcription of attorneys' notes.
- Probate preparation and filing.
Legal Assistant
Public Defenders Office
01.2015 - 10.2015
- Supported four attorneys by managing complex case preparation from discovery through trial, ensuring timely completion of all legal documents.
- Executed timely filing of documents with courts to uphold procedural requirements.
- Prepare and file (e-file) Motions, pleadings, orders, subpoenas, withdrawals and briefs.
- Discovery preparation-copy, look for conflicts, send to defendant, log receipt of discovery in database.
- Maintain attorney calendar for planning and scheduling.
- Monitor court appearance dates.
- Confirm and relay information such as hearing or trial dates, case status to defendants.
- Answered phone calls, took messages, and managed email correspondence to ensure effective communication.
- Developed and maintained accurate billing records for four attorneys, facilitating transparent financial tracking.
- Tracked and input attorney time data, maintaining organized records to support accurate billing and case management.
HR Specialist
Rapid City Area Schools
Rapid City
09.2009 - 03.2014
- Administered benefits, managed employee relations, facilitated training and onboarding, and ensured accurate maintenance and organization of personnel and applicant files, school transcripts, and related forms.
- Assisted employees daily through email, phone, and in-person interactions.
- Compiled and distributed materials and information packets to support effective communication.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA01-2018
Montana State University
Billings, MT01-2005
Skills
- Legal research
- Litigation support
- Discovery processing
- Case management
- Attorney support
- Legal case files
- Court procedures
- Westlaw
- Document filing
- Court filing
- Case file organization
- Notary public
- Time management
Timeline
Paralegal
Dakota Plains Legal Services
05.2025 - Current
Paralegal; Disputed Small Claims Manager-Legal Department
CCB - Credit Collections Bureau
10.2023 - Current
Paralegal
Lynn Jackson Shultz & Lebrun
06.2020 - 03.2023
Paralegal
State of Wyoming-Office of the District Attorney
02.2020 - 05.2020
Paralegal
Clayborne, Loos and Sabers, LLP
06.2018 - 02.2020
Legal Assistant
Public Defenders Office
01.2015 - 10.2015
HR Specialist
Rapid City Area Schools
09.2009 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Paralegal Studies
Liberty University
Montana State University