ROMULO A. RIVERA
Paralegal * Legal Assistant * Philippine Lawyer
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Flat 1 Montague Court, Montague Hill South, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8HS, UK
Home Phone No. 01179093738: Mobile Phone No. 07789992921
E-Mail Address:
1. CAREER OBJECTIVE: Paralegal/ Legal Assistant/ Fee Earner/ Claims Handler/ Administrative or Litigation Support.
2. SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
More than ten years as Legal Assistant, plus more than ten years of working as Litigation Attorney for reputable Philippine law firms which specializes in civil, criminal, personal injury, family, corporate and labor litigation as well as in legal consultations, rendering legal advise and legal opinions, claims negotiation, debt recovery, contracts drafting and contracts preparation.
Able to make day to day routine decisions based on precedents and procedures, uses own initiative to resolve issues at basic level but seeks guidance, as appropriate, when dealing with more complex issues; takes personal responsibility for making things happen within the context of the role, considers others’ views and feed backs offered.
Independent and self-directed professional, able to cultivate strong relationships with individuals from diverse organizational and cultural backgrounds, collaborates effectively with team members to achieve overall organizational objectives, responds promptly and effectively to requests for assistance from customers, establishing and checking their service requirements; understands gender and race issues and maintains positive attitude to equal opportunities developments; understands health and safety issues affecting working environment; has a good understanding of office routines and procedures and possesses skills in planning, organizing and monitoring work.
Basic knowledge of Word processing, spreadsheets, database and powerpoint but currently enrolled at LearnDirect to upgrade IT skills.
Authorized to work with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Educator and civic leader.
3. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Witness Support Service Worker (Current and at flexible time):
o Working in a court environment offering help or information to victims, their families or witnesses to talk to in confidence; accompanying them to court to give evidence and conduct pre-court visits so that they are familiar with the court room and the roles of the various people in court before they give their evidence; offering emotional and other practical support about the courts and legal processes; act as their liaison with other statutory or voluntary agencies.
Citizens’ Advice Bureau Generalist Advice Work (Currently on training):
o Ensuring that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them or through an inability to express their needs effectively; exercising a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally on clients’ main enquiry areas regarding (i) benefits, (i) debts, (iii) employment, (iv) housing, (v) consumer, (vi) family and personal, (vii) immigration and nationality.
RIVERA, RIVERA, CAROY & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICES (1980 - 2006); BATI & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICES (1978 – 1980):
Consultant/ Office Manager/ Litigation Attorney/ Legal Assistant -
Developed strategic business plans for client retention and plans for market penetration; monitored outside counsels and coordinated communications to streamline litigation process and ensure accuracy of information; analyzed organization’s strengths and weaknesses and assessed clients’ needs.
Handled all stages of litigation and supported litigation attorneys in a diverse array of high profile legal cases, including contract dispute resolution, civil, criminal, personal injury, and family litigation; hired and supervised legal staff and two attorneys, designed and delivered dynamic and interactive training to office staff, reviewed litigation strategies, prepared, reviewed, edited legal briefs, memoranda and various court pleadings, orders and processes, and successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements with labor unions.
Met with trial witnesses and testifying experts as part of trial preparation and complex phase of arbitration; prepared and scheduled conferences, meetings with counsels, collated and analyzed trial exhibits, prepared deposition testimonies, various motions, pleadings, memoranda, appellate briefs, conducted extensive legal research for authorities, performed extensive field work to gather relevant information, interviewed prospective and expert witnesses preparatory to court trial.
Collaborated with associates on shared and complex cases as well as with team of legal and professional experts to discuss elements and developed mitigation strategies; summarized amounts of information for attorneys and recommended next steps in case developments; wrote letters to hospitals, schools, police and prison stations to preserve documents to be used as evidence in court.
SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE/ DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL
STATE UNIVERSITY/ SEA & SKY COLLEGES:
1980 - 2004: Part Time College/ University Professor -
Took part time jobs on spare time as college/ university professor;
Taught and lectured on the following subjects: Obligations and Contracts; Sales, Agency and Bailments; Partnership and Corporation Law; Negotiable Instruments Law; Wills and Succession; Torts and Damages; Transportation Law; Public and Private International Law.
4. EDUCATION: -
Currently enrolled in Higher Paralegal Studies on line at the SAS Law School in London. Emphasis: The seven foundations of law and procedures. Only two assessments to complete to finish the course.
Certificate in Paralegal Course at the University of Houston, Texas, USA. Emphasis: Legal Assistantship, Office and Case Management, Legal Research using the computer, Lexis Nexis and Westlaw (01 November, 2004 to 23 April 2005).
Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) at the Baguio Colleges Foundation, Philippines (1973-1977), certified by The Law Society as a Graduate Diploma in Law.
Bachelor of Arts Degree and Bachelor of Science in Education (AB-BSE) at Saint Louis College, Philippines (1969-1973), with History as Major and English as Minor. Graduated on top of class as Cum Laude.
5. SPECIAL TRAININGS/ SEMINARS/ WORKSHOPS ATTENDED: -
Fellow at the Center for American and International Law (Formerly The South Western Legal Foundation) at Dallas, Texas, USA (May - July 2004). Studies taken: U.S. Constitutional Law, Contract Law, Antitrust Law, Intellectual Property and E-Commerce Law, Labor and Employment Law, Administrative and Environmental Law, International Tax Law, International Banking and Finance, International Business Transactions, Negotiations and Arbitration (The Rule of Law), Business Organizations, Stock Markets, Securities Regulation, Legal Accounting, Commercial and Consumer Law, Products Liability, The U.S. Justice System, and International Litigation in the U.S. Courts.
Commercial Arbitration Workshop of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration.
Seminars on Insurance, Investments and Annuities, Asset Protection, Wealth Maximization and Cash Flow, Real Estate and Mortgages, Equity and Trusts, sponsored by the MILI Group of Companies and conducted by the American Allied Business Schools, held at the Pechanga Resort and Casino Convention Center, Temecula, California, USA (October, 2006).
Victim Support Service Avonvale (September to October 2007).
Citizens’ Advice Bureau Certificate in Generalist Advice Work (Currently on training since March 2008).
6. CIVIC/ PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS and HONOURS RECEIVED: -
Past President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), La Union Chapter (2001-2003), and Governor of the IBP for Northern Philippines (2003 - 2006).
Past President (1995 - 1996) and District Governor’s Group Representative (1996-1997), Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union North, Rotary International District 3790.
Past President and Lifetime member, YMCA of the Philippines.
Honorary Citizen of the City of Dallas – conferred by the City Mayor Laura Miller of Dallas City, Texas, USA in July 2004.
7. REFERENCES: -
o Mr. Don Rombaoa
President – Association of Filipinos in Bristol (Evening Post Employee)
5102 Apartments, Flat 516, St. James Barton
Tel. No. 01179232726/ 07853556489
E-mail:
o Helen Maynard, Supervisor
Victim Support Service, Magistrates’ Courts, Marlborough St., Bristol
Tel. No. 01179302469
o Atty. Myra Diwata Caroy
Rivera, Rivera, Caroy & Associates Law Offices
2nd Floor Rivera Building, Quezon Avenue, San Fernando City
La Union, Philippines 2500; Tel. Nos.+639167253960/ +63727001646