Melissa Macdecorney Attorney And Director
Cape Town
Summary
Accomplished attorney with extensive litigation experience at Macdecorney Attorneys. Expertise in negotiating settlements and drafting legal documents with exceptional attention to detail. Strong skills in legal research and client relationship management, leading to successful case outcomes.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Attorney and Director
Macdecorney Attorneys
Cape Town
08.2022 - Current
- Drafted wills, powers of attorney, trusts and estate planning documents.
- Developed legal strategies by analyzing case law and statutory requirements, ensuring a comprehensive approach to client representation.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of changes in local, state and federal laws.
- Drafted and reviewed pleadings, motions, briefs and other legal documents for court filings.
- Interpreted recent court opinions and current legal research to remain current with developments.
- Drafted and reviewed legal documents, including contracts, pleadings, briefs, motions, and settlement agreements, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Negotiated settlements between parties involved in disputes or litigations.
- Leveraged knowledge of precedents and applicable laws to determine probable case outcomes.
- Prepared litigation strategies for clients in civil law cases.
- Filed appeals when necessary after a judgment is rendered in a case.
- Assisted in drafting and negotiating commercial leases, real estate agreements, and facilitating property transactions with attention to legal and financial details.
- Presented court cases to jurors and judges.
- Managed case files and documentation, ensuring all relevant information was organized, accessible, and maintained in strict confidentiality.
Candidate Attorney
Stopforth Swanepoel and Brewis Inc
Pretoria
01.2020 - 07.2022
- Developed strategies for dispute resolution through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution methods.
- Performed legal research related to litigation cases, drafting briefs and other documents for submission to courts or tribunals.
- Gained hands-on familiarity with electronically stored information tools and electronic discovery procedures and resources.
- Built sound working knowledge of federal and state court system and legal research procedures and resources.
- Attended court proceedings to observe the proceedings and take notes.
- Attended hearings at the High Court or Magistrate's Court when necessary.
- Demonstrated and maintained professionalism in stressful and challenging legal situations.
- Organised documentation relating to real estate transactions such as leases and mortgages.
Education
Practise Management Training - Legal Management
LEAD
Pretoria06-2022
Conveyancing - Conveyancing
Gawie Le Roux Institute of Law
Pretoria02-2022
PLT - Legal Training
LEAD
Practical Legal Training05-2021
Bachelor in Law - LLB
University of South Africa
Pretoria10-2017
Skills
- Legal research
- Contract drafting
- Litigation strategy
- Document review
- Case management
- Settlement negotiation
- Client representation
- Attention to detail
- Professionalism
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Interpersonal communication
- Ethics and professionalism
- Practice management
- Continuous improvement
- Question witnesses
- Case interpretation
- Staff supervision
- Building trust and relationships
- Adaptability
- Efficient researcher
- Real estate law
- Lexis-nexis
- Estate administration
Timeline
Attorney and Director
Macdecorney Attorneys
08.2022 - Current
Candidate Attorney
Stopforth Swanepoel and Brewis Inc
01.2020 - 07.2022
Practise Management Training - Legal Management
LEAD
Conveyancing - Conveyancing
Gawie Le Roux Institute of Law
PLT - Legal Training
LEAD
Bachelor in Law - LLB
University of South Africa
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