• Perform substantive screening of habeas corpus petitions challenging prisoner disciplinary hearings and state convictions.• Review prisoner civil rights complaints to identify relevant issues and bases for relief. • Conduct independent legal research on issues raised in pleadings and court filings.• Draft recommendations, memoranda, and orders for approval by District Judges and Magistrate Judges.• Monitor docket for pending prisoner litigation to assure timely progression of… Show more • Perform substantive screening of habeas corpus petitions challenging prisoner disciplinary hearings and state convictions.• Review prisoner civil rights complaints to identify relevant issues and bases for relief. • Conduct independent legal research on issues raised in pleadings and court filings.• Draft recommendations, memoranda, and orders for approval by District Judges and Magistrate Judges.• Monitor docket for pending prisoner litigation to assure timely progression of cases.• Communicate with District Judges, Magistrate Judges, and other court staff on legal issues relevant to pro se prisoner cases.• Assist the court with hearings, conferences, trials and other proceedings, as needed. Show less

• Managed all Court proceedings, including Judge’s caseload (250+ cases). • Served as a public representative of the Court and liaison between the Clerk’s Office, the bar, and the public.• Ensured the Court’s business proceeded efficiently by timely calendaring and monitoring deadlines, scheduling court proceedings, preparing minutes of proceedings, filing critical documents, and recording court proceedings.• Conducted legal research, analyzed legal issues and drafted orders and… Show more • Managed all Court proceedings, including Judge’s caseload (250+ cases). • Served as a public representative of the Court and liaison between the Clerk’s Office, the bar, and the public.• Ensured the Court’s business proceeded efficiently by timely calendaring and monitoring deadlines, scheduling court proceedings, preparing minutes of proceedings, filing critical documents, and recording court proceedings.• Conducted legal research, analyzed legal issues and drafted orders and opinions for civil dispositive and non-dispositive motions.• Special Service Awards for outstanding work performance in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Show less

• Conducted legal research, analyzed issues, and prepared draft orders and opinions on speedy trial, ineffective assistance of counsel, sufficiency of evidence, unemployment benefits, premises liability, construction negligence, general negligence, insurance contract, consumer fraud, employment agreements, and fiduciary duty claims and issues.

• Researched the law, analyzed legal issues, and prepared draft opinions on social security disability cases.

• Researched the law, analyzed legal issues, and prepared draft orders and opinions on motions for summary judgment and motions for discovery.• Evaluated legal arguments in briefs and drafted opinions on Section 1983 constitutional rights, employment discrimination (race, harassment, and retaliation), social security disability, negligence, and attorney’s fee claims.

• Prepared major opinions on summary judgment, preliminary injunction, transfer, and discovery motions (compel, sanctions, and protective orders).• Assisted with trials, attended final pre-trial conferences, and drafted juror questionnaires, jury instructions, and verdict forms.• Conducted research, evaluated legal arguments in briefs, and drafted opinions on social security disability, overtime and minimum wage, attorney-client privilege, work-product doctrine, trade secrets, and… Show more • Prepared major opinions on summary judgment, preliminary injunction, transfer, and discovery motions (compel, sanctions, and protective orders).• Assisted with trials, attended final pre-trial conferences, and drafted juror questionnaires, jury instructions, and verdict forms.• Conducted research, evaluated legal arguments in briefs, and drafted opinions on social security disability, overtime and minimum wage, attorney-client privilege, work-product doctrine, trade secrets, and attorney’s fee claims. Show less

• Played role in establishing and organizing new District Judge’s chambers.• Prepared draft opinions for the U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT (Judge Van Bokkelen sat by designation, 5/2009).• Developed protocols for managing and tracking cases for Congressional reporting.• Researched the law, analyzed legal issues, and prepared 200+ draft orders and opinions.• Reviewed complaints, petitions, and motions to evaluate legal issues and determine the proper bases for… Show more • Played role in establishing and organizing new District Judge’s chambers.• Prepared draft opinions for the U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT (Judge Van Bokkelen sat by designation, 5/2009).• Developed protocols for managing and tracking cases for Congressional reporting.• Researched the law, analyzed legal issues, and prepared 200+ draft orders and opinions.• Reviewed complaints, petitions, and motions to evaluate legal issues and determine the proper bases for relief.• Provided trial assistance, attended pre-trial and instruction conferences, drafted rulings on motions in limine, and prepared jury instructions and verdict forms.• Assisted with criminal matters, reviewed plea agreements, presentence investigation reports, sentencing memoranda, and drafted change of plea and sentencing documents.• Prepared memoranda for court conferences and oral arguments.• Evaluated legal arguments in briefs pertaining to Title VII discrimination (race and retaliation), First Amendment (political affiliation), Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims.• Reviewed and finalized orders on pro se prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus cases. Show less

• Prepared 70+ major orders and opinions by researching the law and analyzing legal issues.• Drafted memoranda and orders for bench rulings.• Prepared written summaries of motions for weekly court calls.• Participated in settlement conferences and assisted with pre-trial criminal matters.• Analyzed cases involving Section 1983 constitutional rights, employment discrimination (age, disability, national origin, race, retaliation, and harassment), social security disability, and… Show more • Prepared 70+ major orders and opinions by researching the law and analyzing legal issues.• Drafted memoranda and orders for bench rulings.• Prepared written summaries of motions for weekly court calls.• Participated in settlement conferences and assisted with pre-trial criminal matters.• Analyzed cases involving Section 1983 constitutional rights, employment discrimination (age, disability, national origin, race, retaliation, and harassment), social security disability, and consumer credit protection claims.• For a 14-month period after Judge Levin retired from the federal bench (12/2005-1/2007), served as a Law Clerk to U.S. District Judges, U.S. Magistrate Judges, and Staff Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois. Show less

• Administered and awarded $375,000,000 in federal energy grants according to federal and state energy, administrative, and contracting laws. • Conducted budget, cost, and business management reviews of grant applications, which included personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual obligations, and indirect cost rates.• Coordinated with senior management and program officials to develop realistic objectives for energy grant program implementation and provided… Show more • Administered and awarded $375,000,000 in federal energy grants according to federal and state energy, administrative, and contracting laws. • Conducted budget, cost, and business management reviews of grant applications, which included personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual obligations, and indirect cost rates.• Coordinated with senior management and program officials to develop realistic objectives for energy grant program implementation and provided guidance to state agencies.• Assisted state agencies with administering federal energy and contracting laws. Show less

• Assisted state and local officials with implementing federal grant programs and regulations.• Provided technical, monitoring, and budgetary assistance to grant recipients.• 9 performance awards and 1 team award for administering major federal energy conservation grant programs (1989 to 1997).

• Evaluated and consulted with businesses in gaining government contracts.• Planned, organized, and ran government contracting assistance programs.