Michelle Mitchell

Senior Law Clerk with 15+ years of experience providing high-level legal and administrative support in a busy civil litigation boutique. Skilled in drafting and preparing pleadings (Statements of Claim, Defence, Reply), motion records, application records, affidavits, notices of motion, confirmation forms, draft orders, and trial records. Experienced in e-filing through Justice Services Online, preparing documents for issuance, coordinating process service, and ensuring compliance with the Rules of Civil Procedure at all levels of court, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (civil and family divisions).

Strong background in discovery and evidence management, including preparing and organizing Affidavits of Documents, managing productions, summarizing examination for discovery transcripts, preparing undertakings and refusals charts, and organizing trial binders, appeal books, and compendiums. Experienced in drafting Bills of Costs, preparing post-judgment enforcement documentation, and managing trust accounting, retainer processing, and client payments through Clio. Adept at substantive client communications and corresponding professionally with opposing counsel at all levels.

Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented, and dependable. Proven ability to support multiple lawyers simultaneously across high-volume matter lists, manage competing deadlines without missing critical responsibilities, and produce meticulous, reliable work under pressure.

Experience in a senior capacity developing internal resources and mentoring junior legal staff.

Senior Legal Assistant – Civil Litigation and Construction Law - Milosevic & Associates - Toronto

(2023-07)

Providing senior legal assistant support to multiple lawyers and law clerks at a boutique civil litigation firm. Assisting with all aspects of active litigation files across civil litigation, construction law, and bankruptcy matters.

• Preparing and filing court documents for matters before the Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal for Ontario, including Statements of Claim, Statements of Defence, Motion Records, Application Records, Costs Outlines, Requisitions, Affidavits, and Appeal materials. Perfecting and coordinating the filing of appeals with the Court of Appeal.
• Managing discovery processes including preparation of Refusals and Undertakings Charts. Uploading and organizing court materials on CaseLine and Case Centre.
• Managing all active client files through SharePoint/OneDrive, maintaining file management and bring-forward systems, and managing matters in Clio practice management software.
• Drafting and processing retainer agreements, client correspondence, and general communications.
• Scheduling and coordinating motions, pre-trials, trials, examinations, mediations, and case conferences.
• Corresponding directly with clients, opposing counsel, courts, and other external parties.
• Maintaining lawyer calendars and providing day-to-day administrative support to the firm.
• Serving in a senior capacity, including mentoring junior support staff and liaising with firm management regarding staff development and team operations.

Legal Assistant – Civil Litigation and Construction Law - Teplitsky, Colson LLP - Toronto

(2017-11 - 2023-07)

Assisting litigation practices of senior and junior counsel in a variety of civil litigation matters. Collaborating with other administrative staff and sharing work assignments, as required. Ensuring prompt attention to client matters through ongoing organization and bring-forward procedures.

• Preparing and filing various Court documents for matters before the Superior Court, Divisional Court and Court of Appeal, including: Statements of Claim, Statements of Defence, Motion Records, Application Records, Mediation Briefs, Affidavit of Documents, Appeal Books, Compendiums, and Facta.
• Processing client accounts, managing numerous hard copy and electronic files, transcribing digital dictations and proof-reading correspondence, maintaining calendars, processing expense requisitions, booking boardrooms, managing incoming and outgoing email and regular mail, and scheduling motions, pre-trials, trials, and examinations, bookmarking court documents, uploading to OneKey and Caselines.

Legal Assistant – Litigation and Construction Law - Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP - Toronto

(2014-11 - 2017-05)

• Prepared Builders Arbitration Forum appeals, Notice of Proposal appeals, Divisional Court Applications, Litigation, prepared Statement of Claims, Statement of Defence, Motion Records, Application Records, Mediation Briefs, Builder Arbitration Forum Appeals, Appeals to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, scheduled dates for notice of examinations, mediations, pre-trial and trial, kept track of lawyer docketing records and billing, filed legal documents, transcribed digital dictations, corresponded with

Legal Assistant - Clyde & Co LLP

(2013-09 - 2014-09)

• Formatted briefs, prepared pleadings and other legal documents, kept track of docketing records and billing, filed legal documents, transcribed dictations, corresponded with clients, maintained calendars.

Legal Assistant/Floater - Various Temp Assignments

(2011-03 - 2013-07)

• Drafted correspondence to Tax Court of Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, prepared Fairness Applications on behalf of tax payers, responded to emails, telephone calls and correspondence from investors and clients.
• Prepared individual tax receipts, corporation financials for LSUC, arranged conferences, prepared payroll, responsible for banking and accounts receivables.

Legal Assistant, Bankruptcy/Litigation - Macdonald Sager Manis LLP

(2010-05 - 2011-01)

Contract – Sick Leave

• Prepared Statement of Claim, Statement of Defence, Motion Records, Default Judgments, Writs of Seizure and Sale, Garnishments, Notices of Examinations, Affidavit of Documents, Affidavits of Service and general daily correspondence.

Legal Assistant - Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

(2006-08 - 2009-04)

• Worked as a legal assistant in Document Production Centre in areas such as Litigation and Corporate.

Legal Floater/Legal Assistant - Temporary and Contract Assignments

(1999-01 - 2006-12)

• Assisted in various areas of law including Corporate, Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defence, Personal Injury, Employment Law, Family and Intellectual Property.
• Prepared Merger and Acquisition Agreements, Business Name Registration, Notice of Change, Financial Statements, Annual Reports, Minutes of Settlement, Orders, Judgments, Requisitions, Filings, Affidavits, Affidavits of Documents, Motions, Pre-trial Memos, Factums, Writs, Garnishments, Medical Briefs, Documents Briefs, Trust Notices, Requests for Information.

Executive Legal Assistant Program - Toronto School of Business (1997-01 - 1998-12)

Legal Assistant - Humber College (1995-01 - 1997-12)

O.A.C. Diploma - Emery Collegiate Institute (1994-01 - 1995-12)