Encia Padayachee
Paralegal
Johannesburg
Summary
Analytical, energetic, and detail-oriented Paralegal with a broad and deep experience in insolvency, liquidation and litigious matters. A dedicated administrative professional with 9+ years of experience assisting with work of high-achieving executives. Driven and resourceful track record supporting professional needs with well-organized precision. Skilled in working under pressure and successfully managing high-volume workloads in rapidly changing environments adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the productivity in the workplace with a history of meeting company goals by utilizing consistent and organized practices.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Litigation Secretary
Van Wyk Law Incorporated
Westville, KwaZulu-Natal
03.2021 - 03.2022
- Draft, negotiate and enforce leases and purchase & sale agreements.
- Negotiate purchase and sale contracts for residential and commercial properties, including foreclosures.
- Responded to emails and other correspondence to facilitate communication and enhance business processes.
- Transcribed phone messages and relayed to appropriate personnel.
- Handled scheduling for executive's calendar and prepared meeting agenda and materials.
- Interacted with vendors, contractors, and professional services personnel to receive orders, direct activities, and communicate instructions.
- Produced accurate office files, updated spreadsheets, and crafted presentations to support executives and boost team productivity.
- Organized and updated schedules for executives.
- Updated executives on changing business needs by thoroughly documenting internal and client meetings.
- Promoted team productivity by keeping supplies organized and well-stocked.
- Orchestrated successful conferences and associated travel for speakers and attendees.
- Investigated topics and produced concise summaries use.
- Managed mail and both incoming and outgoing correspondence, mail, email, and faxes.
- Filed paperwork and organized computer-based information.
- Handled incoming and outgoing mail, email, and faxes.
- Took notes and dictation at meetings.
- Answered high volumes of phone calls and email inquiries.
- Screened personal and business calls and directed them to the appropriate party.
- Volunteered to help with special projects of varying degrees of complexity.
- Created and managed office systems to efficiently deal with documentation.
- Coordinated events and worked on ad hoc projects.
- Wrote reports, executive summaries, and newsletters.
- Distributed company-wide announcements, booked conference rooms, and coordinated catering for the annual staff development forum.
- Worked with senior management to initiate new projects and assist in various processes.
- Upheld strict timetables by maintaining accurate, balanced calendars.
- Streamlined operations and prioritized tasks, allowing senior staff to increase productivity.
- Led staff and vendors in providing a high level of service for owners and guests.
- Organized logistics and materials for each meeting, arranged spaces, and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders.
- Worked with clients to effectively plan and coordinate logistics for special projects and events.
- Handled logistics, catering, agendas, and travel arrangements for meeting and event planning for the board of directors, president, and executive vice president.
- Used QuickBooks to produce monthly invoices, reports, and other deliverables.
- Executed basic banking and bookkeeping tasks.
- Visited residential properties and prepared homes for clients' arrival.
- Managed and reviewed filing and office systems.
- Worked independently with minimal supervision.
- Built relationships with customers and the community to promote long-term business growth.
- Gained customer trust and confidence by demonstrating a compelling, persuasive, and composed professional demeanor.
- Contributed to team objectives in a fast-paced environment.
- Negotiated prices, terms of sales, and service agreements.
- Prioritized tasks and projects to meet tight deadlines.
- Worked with sales team to collaboratively reach targets, consistently meeting or exceeding personal quotas.
- Set and achieved company-defined objectives.
- Performed effectively in the self-directed work environment, managing day-to-day operations and decisions.
- Fostered lasting relationships with customers through effective communication and quick response, resulting in long-term loyalty and expanded client base.
- Exceptional computer skills
- Fielded customer complaints and facilitated negotiations, resolving issues and reaching mutual conclusions.
- Developed new business relationships and maintained existing through regular communications and effective account management.
- Prepared and deliver briefs to Counsel.
- Trained new employees on office protocols handling and organizing files from start to close.
- Met with customers to discuss and ascertain needs, tailor solutions, and close deals.
- Identified new business opportunities through cold calling, networking, marketing, and prospective database lead.
- Collaborated with managers to provide customer feedback and recommend operational changes to meet emerging trends.
- Liaised between clients and support team to quickly resolve issues.
- Built and maintained positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Liaised between internal and external stakeholders, clients, and various external vendors to develop and implement client solutions.
- Communicated professionally with clients, colleagues, and legal partnership verbally and in writing.
- Scheduled and made appointments for 4 attorneys
- Transcribed information from typed or handwritten notes, shorthand, or dictation and confirmed accuracy and correct formatting of documents
- Planned and organized internal and external events, meetings, and conferences
- Generated documents and presentations using a large repertoire of software programs
- Filed documents with courts on behalf of an attorney
- Researched and booked reasonably-priced and comfortable airfare, hotels, and ground transportation for senior leadership
- Produced and filed various legal documents and electronically preserved updated case record system
- Completed minor preventive maintenance and mechanical repairs on switchboard equipment
- Communicated professionally with clients, colleagues, and legal partnership verbally and in writing
- Transcribed information from typed or handwritten notes, shorthand, or dictation and confirmed accuracy and correct formatting of documents
- Planned and organized internal and external events, meetings, and conferences
- Filed documents with courts on behalf of an attorney
Litigation Paralegal
Lister & Company
Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal
09.2018 - 02.2021
- Researched legal issues for senior counsel and assisted in the representation of clients on a range of small business
- Drafted legal memoranda
- Second chair in multi-million-dollar telecom litigation.
- Managed general clerical needs such as opening and closing files, scanning sheets, and faxing documents.
- Helped with the intake of new clients and materials by setting up files and documenting important information
- Maintained organized office and case-specific paper and digital files for easy tracking and retrieval.
- Prepared drafts of forms, letters, and agreements for legal staff use.
- Scheduled and coordinated meetings between legal teams and clients.
- Screened phone calls to effectively handle less important inquiries and keep senior staff free for more important matters.
- Kept office efficient and organized by managing tasks such as supply restocking and general upkeep without oversight.
- Generated pleadings and other legal documents for review by attorneys and paralegals.
- Processed expense reimbursements and updated Ghost Practice accounts with current information.
- Created and submitted a weekly legal summary to managers, covering current cases, records requests, and collections statuses.
- Reviewed wide-ranging contracts and agreements and summarized terms for easy assessment.
- Assisted Managing Director by conducting research into issues such as track and trace reports, compiling information, and preparing legal summaries.
- Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
- Filed court documents and legal pleadings with court clerk on behalf of attorneys.
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality and extreme discretion.
- Worked alongside attorneys, administrative assistants, and fellow legal assistants on complex cases and legal processes.
- Scheduled appointments, court appearances, and depositions for a busy law firm.
- Developed positive working relationships with courts, clients, law enforcement members, and attorneys.
- Completed electronic filings, initiated billing statements, and managed firm administrative matters.
- Completed document revisions, court document filings, travel arrangements, and client billing.
- Reviewed, edited, and proofread legislation drafts for proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting.
- Prepared for trials, conducted legal research, and drafted pleadings.
- Organized key evidence exhibits to prepare for trials.
- Interviewed and prepared intake sheets for clients in IsiZulu and English.
- Transcribed weekly and bi-weekly calendar meetings for attorneys.
- Prepared case summaries for mediation conferences.
- Maintained complex files for sales, foreclosures, and traditional real estate transactions.
- Supported partners and associates in areas of appellate and complex commercial litigation.
- Analyzed client balance sheets for auditing purposes.
- Assessed real and personal property inventory for estate planning.
- Conducted WinDeed / CIPC search reports for research in support of legal initiatives.
- Offered tech support to four paralegals and attorneys
- Offered tech support to paralegals and attorneys
- Managed day-to-day legal activities such as subpoena services for fast-paced legal practice with four attorneys
Paralegal
Geeta Desai Attorneys & Conveyancers
Asherville, KwaZulu-Natal
05.2018 - 09.2018
- Represented and advised parties on process of winding up deceased estates and issues arising from matrimonial regimes.
- Researched and analyzed a wide range of legal issues
- Assisted in the representation of a client in corporate dissolution litigation and received incentives for supervised receivership and dissolution of the corporation.
- Successfully maintained law and administrative library, as well as organized department files and records for law society audits.
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into the company database.
- Contributed to, maintained, and updated online data repositories for accessibility and to reflect firm standards.
- Surpassed specific company objectives by cooperating with staff to implement project initiatives.
- Developed project management processes to improve cost-effective service to clients.
- Implemented emergency procedures to save time and spearhead specific legal projects.
- Established knowledge-sharing culture through focused communications to publicize benefits.
- Assessed cases for probable outcomes by researching black letter law and other legal authority, comparing fact patterns to those of precedential cases.
- Analyzed evidence gathering and presentation, client counseling, and jury selection methods processes for civil litigation.
- Mitigated the legal team's workload by reviewing and evaluating legal documents, discovery materials, and contracts.
- Investigated facts and laws to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Collected, drafted, and maintained resources to provide comprehensive materials accessible to all firm lawyers.
- Communicated with outside vendors on behalf of attorneys, legal departments, and various stakeholders.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions, and pleadings.
- Supported family law proceedings by managing documents such as wills, separation degrees, powers of attorney, bonds of security, and deeds of transfer.
- Investigated claims and prepared processing documentation.
- Prepared and uplifted/ filed legal documents at court and/ or with legal Counsel on brief.
- Drafted responses to correspondence independently with very little to no supervision.
Executive Legal Secretary
Shameer Goolabjith Attorneys & Associates
Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal
11.2017 - 05.2018
- Handle landlord tenant issues, including leasing, eviction, and dispute resolution
- Research, analyze and apply state and local environmental, land use and zoning laws in relation to legal dispute
- Oversee due diligence on potential real estate purchase opportunities
- Work with outside counsel on litigation, permitting and other specialized firm -related legal matters.
- Organized files for court proceedings.
- Prepared legal correspondence and wrote professional letters for legal assistants and attorneys.
- Received and placed telephone calls to clients and prospective clients.
- Screened telephone calls and forwarded to appropriate departments.
- Transcribed legal documents and phone conversations.
- Diligently edited legal correspondence for grammar and spelling.
- Arranged for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses and court officials.
- Entered new cases into company database.
- Filed documents with courts and Master of the High Court on behalf of attorney.
- Scheduled all appointments, appearances and briefings.
- Assisted attorneys in collecting employment, medical and other records.
- Answered and directed calls using multi-line switchboard.
- Processed appeals, motions and pretrial agreements.
- Maintained calendar and tickler system for managing partner, associate attorney and senior paralegal.
- Supported team of four attorneys in practice of litigious law.
- Completed accident reports, trial and courtroom requests and applications for clients.
- Developed and maintained filing and retrieval systems.
- Created, indexed and maintained client binders.
- Obtained signatures from attorneys for legal documents.
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - LLB - Law
The University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 05.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Criminology
The University of South Africa
Durban, South Africa 06.2019
Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Critical Thinking
- Data Research and Compilation
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Honest and Ethical
- Detail-Oriented
- Reliable and Responsible
- Time Management
- Decision Making
- Problem Solving
- Team Leadership
- Persuasive Negotiation
- Conflict Resolution
- Work Prioritization
- Microsoft Office
Hobbies
- Table Tennis
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Reading
- Travelling
- Photography
- Volunteer at Missionaries of Charity
Certification
- Bachelor of Arts Degree (Criminology);
- Ghost Practice, Legal Suite, E4 and Quickbooks Course Training;
- Tertiary Certificate for End User Computing Course (The University of South Africa, 2016);
- Lexis Nexis Course (The University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, 2013);
- Toastmasters Certification for Best International Speaker - (Wingen Heights Secondary School, 2009);
- Rotary Highnoon - Harmony Speech Contest Winner (Wingen Heights Secondary School, 2009);
- Table Tennis Tornament Winner (CADSA) (Wingen Heights Secondary School, 2008 - 2009);
References
1. Van Wyk Law Incorporated
- Mr Gary Van Wyk ( Director)
Tel: (031) 266 1013
Cell: 083 635 9507
2. Sid Singh Incorporated
- Mr Siddhartha Singh (Director)
Tel: (031) 630 0202
Cell: 072 122 7229
3. Lister & Company
- Mr John Lister (Director)
Tel: (031) 765 7477
Cell: 083 459 3407
- Mr Garry Ian Bell (Director)
Tel: (031) 765 7477
Cell: 083 357 8422
4. Kopano Auctioneers (Client)
- Mr Graeme Warrack
Cell: 071 205 9767
5. Shameer Goolabjith Attorneys & Associates
- Shameer Goolabjith (Attorney)
Tel: (031) 401 7379
6. Sherona Mahabeer
(Colleague at Shameer Goolabjith Attorneys & Associates)
Cell: 079 781 4636
Timeline
Litigation Secretary
Van Wyk Law Incorporated
03.2021 - 03.2022
Litigation Paralegal
Lister & Company
09.2018 - 02.2021
Paralegal
Geeta Desai Attorneys & Conveyancers
05.2018 - 09.2018
Executive Legal Secretary
Shameer Goolabjith Attorneys & Associates
11.2017 - 05.2018
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - LLB - Law
The University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Arts - Criminology
The University of South Africa