EXPERIENCE

For over 25 years, Kathy Whitmire has been in the legal field as a legal secretary and for over 7 years has offered the small law firm or sole practitioner a flexible and comprehensive alternative for probate paralegal services.  During her career, she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of West Los Angeles School of Paralegal Studies, magna cum laude, and certificates in Legal Assistant, Litigation Specialist and Corporations Specialist and has also worked as a freelance paralegal.  Although physically located in Ventura County, Southern California, she provides support services for attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of California throughout the state. Her extensive experience in probate, conservatorship and guardianship estates enables her to provide attorney support services in this field.

EDUCATION     

                     University of West Los Angeles:  2000 -  Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, MCL

                    1997 -  Legal Assistant Certificate, Litigation Specialist Certificate and Corporations Specialist Certificate

EXPERIENCE

Present        Independent Probate Paralegal For Various Attorneys and Paralegals

                   Prepare, draft and file initial petitions, reports and accountings related to probate, guardianship and

                   conservatorship estates.  Designed and maintain website: californiaprobateparalegal.com

Previous Employment:

1997-2000    Paralegal/Litigation Secretary - Participated in a team environment involved in the legal defense

                      of workers’  compensation insurers in the area of claims mishandling and policyholder dividend lawsuits,

                      including lawsuits related to class actions, securities fraud, collection of insurance premiums, subrogation,

                      and post judgment proceedings

Developed skills in all phases of the litigation process from inception to appeal, such as drafting and processing various correspondence, complaints, answers, motions, trial and appellate briefs, discovery, and  post judgment documents

Conducted investigation, skip tracing and collection work

Implemented and maintained on data related to claim file reviews

Generated pro-rata report spreadsheets required in class action lawsuits

Managed and prepared time and billing for attorneys

1990-1997   Paralegal/Legal Secretary - Participated in all phases related to business formations and transactions,

                     probate, wills, trusts and estate planning for sole practitioner, including assisting the part-time CPA in the

                     accounting and tax preparation for individual and corporate clients

Developed skills in drafting various correspondence, organizational, probate, wills, trust and property transfer documents, collection documents for federal and state income tax returns; prepared and filed tax return extensions and estimated tax payments; processed analytical spreadsheets encompassing financial statements, business ventures, estate and tax planning

Maintenance of corporate and partnership records

Created and maintained calendars for payroll, accounting, and tax returns

Performed all administrative functions, including management of and preparation of time and billing, bookkeeping services for probate estates and corporations

Attended execution of documents for notary public services

1986-1990     Senior Partner Litigation Secretary

Processed various correspondence, status reports, and summaries of discovery documents, indexed pleadings, prepared subpoenas to obtain medical records, processed, filed and served various litigation and trial documents involved in a personal injury defense law firm

Implemented and maintained case management and appearance and trial calendar databases

Responsible for assessment and purchase of computer hardware and software

1972-1986    Legal secretarial experience related to entertainment, business and family law,  defense litigation in maritime,

personal injury, and medical malpractice.

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

Proficient in WordPerfect Corel 8.0, Hot Docs, Timeslips, Excel, Quicken and TaxTools.  Familiar with MS Word,  Legal Solutions, Outlook, Adobe,  Internet, Westlaw, Windows and network environment, Trellix/Global Web Design

Affiliations:  Los Angeles Paralegal Association, Probate Section, Ventura County Paralegal Association and

                    the Beverly Hills Bar Association

CLE             2001-2007 52.75 CLE Credits through LAPA, CEB and the Rutter Group in Trust & Estates

 2006-2007 42 CLE Credits through CEB in Trust & Estates

References upon request