Tshepiso Callylupatra Kermis
LEGAL- SECRETARY
Pretoria west,Gauteng
Summary
I am a self-motivated diligent legal secretary with over 10 years of experience, committed to archiving high standards of competence and professionalism in whatever I do. I am able to adapt easily to new environment. I am looking for role wherein I will be adding value to the environment and growing as an individual.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
29
29
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
3
3
Languages
Work History
Commercial Paralegal/ Secretary
MAHUMANI INCORPORATED
Pretoria
03.2022 - Current
- Assisting with drafting pleading, notices, letters, record & outcomes
- Attending to updating client/ following up on queries
- General administration duties (Typing, Emailing, Telephone screening and attending to telephone queries, printing and scanning). Manage over 30 to 50+ emails per day
- Drafting fee agreements
- Open new files online and a hard copy upon receipt of new instructions
- Draft acceptance letters
- Update and maintain list of matters on an excel sheet
- Attend to file on case lines/ Court online system
- Assist attorney with research on case law/ other legal matters
- Drafting opinions and memorandum to be finalised by the attorney
- Drafting L & D account
- Drafting settlement agreement
- Drafting memorandum to Counsel
- Preparing briefs for Counsels
- Appoint experts, if necessary, e.g tracers
- Liaising with clients and opponents
- Diary management (on outlook)
- Scheduling virtual consultations/ meetings internally and externally on Microsoft Teams
- Booking the boardroom
- Taking minutes during team meetings
- Research
- Update printing and filing
- Invoicing on AJS: update WIP, ensuring all disbursements are captured and finalise invoices monthly to be submitted to client
- Follow up payments with clients
- Assisting all departments when needed
- Reception duties when the receptionist is on leave
- Preparing briefs for counsel (collating in chronology, paginating & indexing)
Medico-legal Coordinator
MEDEXPERTS (PTY) LTD
Pretoria
02.2021 - 01.2022
- Appointing Medico-legal experts for medical negligent cases, following up reports and deliver within deadline, liaising with clients daily to update them on reports, arranging round-table meeting, arranging court attendance of experts
- General admin duties
- Managing over 5 new instructions per week and ensuring same are attended to with urgency
- Enhanced operational workflows by maintaining well-organized documentation systems and updating records accurately as needed.
Commercial/Litigation Secretary
DIALE MOGASHOA INCORPORATED
Pretoria
01.2015 - 01.2021
- Secretary to two attorneys (Senior and Junior associates with over 300 RAF files and over 50 commercial files)
- File management
- Tracking of incoming mail for the practitioner - from notices, letters and emails in order to bring the same to the attention of the practitioner and place on the relevant file
- Printing and chronological filing of documents
- Typing and proof-reading of documents (Opinions, notices, pleadings for Magistrates court and High court, and letters and brief letters.) for each file for sign-off by the practitioner
- Tracking of billing activity for each file in order to assist with the fees that have been generated on the said file
- Working on Caselines - filing notices & pleading, applying for application dates etc
- Diary Management
- Arranging of internal meetings and external client or other stakeholder consultations
- Keeping track and reminding practitioner of upcoming tasks which need to be attended to on each file
- Manage schedules, diaries and calendars
- Billing Management
- Proficient use of the AJS accounting system namely for: Opening of new file/instructions from clients
- Capturing of WIP for the practitioner in order to generate an invoice
- Ensuring that each disbursement generated on a file is accurately captured against each file
- Liaising with the finance department regarding finalization of invoices and processing of payments due to creditors
- Managing of creditors on each file (sheriffs, counsels) and diarizing payment date due for each creditor
- Liaising with client regarding outstanding invoices and payments
- General
- Managing of incoming telephone calls and messages (managing over 15 telephone calls and over 50+ email daily)
- Interfacing with candidate attorneys, messengers, filing clerks or other individuals in the department in order to ensure the efficient running of the practitioner's practice
- Following-up with clients or other stakeholders on outstanding tasks
- Prepare, manage and maintain spreadsheets, databases and other means of reporting to the firm and/or to clients
- Implementing new procedures and administrative systems
- Develop and maintain a filing system
- Liaising with relevant organizations and clients
- Make travel arrangements for office personnel and clients
- Filing
- Undertake occasional receptionist duties and/or meeting and greeting clients
- Fulfill other secretarial duties and/or administrative roles and/or any other support necessary for the firm's requirements
Paralegal
DOLAMO ATTORNEYS
Pretoria
11.2013 - 12.2014
- Plaintiff's RAF work, late estate matter, Administration duties, drafting documents, issuing Summons, Drafting serving and serving notices
- Paginating and briefing Counsel
- Applying for trial dates and applications at the Magistrates and High court
- Drafting correspondence correspondent attorneys and managing the office
- Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
Administrator
MITIRO AMAL INVESTMENT HOLDING
Pretoria
11.2012 - 10.2013
- Applying for business development tenders for small business
- Drafting diagnostic report, and quotations
- Screening call
- CIPC: Name reservation of Company registration, amendment of director, drafting resolutions and drafting minutes of meetings
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
Education
Bcom - Law
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Pretoria, South Africa 01.2015 - Current
No Degree - Office management
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Pretoria, South Africa 04.2001 - 12.2017
Higher certificate - Accounting Science
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Pretoria, South Africa 04.2015 - 12.2015
Diploma - Paralegal (Commercial Law)
INTEC COLLEGE
Pretoria 01.2012 - 12.2012
Matric - Tourism, Physical Sciences, English, Mathematics
REITUMETSE HIGH SCHOOL
Pretoria, South Africa 04.2009 - 12.2009
Skills
Telephone etiquette
Good communication skills
Ability to work in a team and without supervision
Customer service
Administrative support
Research and data collection
Proficient in MS office
Problem-solving abilities
Adaptability and flexibility
Multitasking Abilities
Computer Literacy Skills
- AJS
- Caseline
- Court online system
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- CIPC
- Nexis Lexis
- Windeed Search
Personal Information
- ID Number: 9107080624087
- Citizenship: South African
- Date of Birth: 07/08/91
- Driving License: Code 10
Training
Attended a 1day (one) Legal Costs workshop by Peta Fernie and Beverly Shiells., 01/01/23
Certification
Star employee of the year
Timeline
Star employee of the year
12-2023
Commercial Paralegal/ Secretary
MAHUMANI INCORPORATED
03.2022 - Current
Medico-legal Coordinator
MEDEXPERTS (PTY) LTD
02.2021 - 01.2022
Higher certificate - Accounting Science
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
04.2015 - 12.2015
Commercial/Litigation Secretary
DIALE MOGASHOA INCORPORATED
01.2015 - 01.2021
Bcom - Law
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
01.2015 - Current
Paralegal
DOLAMO ATTORNEYS
11.2013 - 12.2014
Administrator
MITIRO AMAL INVESTMENT HOLDING
11.2012 - 10.2013
Diploma - Paralegal (Commercial Law)
INTEC COLLEGE
01.2012 - 12.2012
Matric - Tourism, Physical Sciences, English, Mathematics
REITUMETSE HIGH SCHOOL
04.2009 - 12.2009
No Degree - Office management
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
04.2001 - 12.2017