Mandy Tan

Aspiring Paralegal with 18+ years of legal research, case adjudication, and hearing support experience across the VA, SSA, DHS, and U.S. Navy/Naval Reserve. ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate holder skilled in statutory citation. Trilingual (English/Mandarin/Cantonese).

Rating Veterans Service Representative (Rater/VA Disability Adjudication Officers) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - VA Regional Office, Oakland, CA

(2024-01)

• Conducted legal research and case analysis on veterans' disability claims, citing specific statutory and regulatory authority under 38 CFR Part 3 and Part 4 and the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual to support determinations at the initial, supplemental, and higher-level review stages.
• Performed in-depth legal research using 38 CFR, M21-1, and relevant precedent decisions, identifying and citing applicable statutes and regulations in each written legal determination.
• Conducted discovery-style case development, including requesting and reviewing medical records, service records, and third-party evidence to establish factual and legal basis for claims.
• Drafted formal discovery-equivalent requests — including medical opinion requests (DBQs/interrogatories) to physicians and psychologists — to obtain rationale and evidence supporting legal findings.
• Analyzed and synthesized complex medical and legal evidence into case summaries, citing relevant legal authority to support findings, similar to legal memoranda preparation.
• Arranged and managed own hearing docket, scheduling and filling hearing dates to ensure efficient case flow and timely hearing coverage.
• Prepared thoroughly for hearings through legal research and case analysis, ensuring all evidentiary and regulatory citations were accurate and complete prior to proceedings.
• Hosted, conducted, and recorded formal hearings — delivering opening statements, administering oaths, eliciting sworn testimony from veterans and representatives, and posing rationale-based questions — in a manner similar to an Administrative Law Judge.
• Made legal determinations on contested hearing issues following each hearing, based on testimony, evidence, and applicable law.
• Drafted, finalized, and issued formal written legal decisions, citing specific regulatory code sections and integrating evidentiary findings, testimony, and legal rationale.
• Defended and justified legal determinations at the internal VA Reconsideration (Recon) level, preparing supporting legal research, citations, and rationale — comparable to appellate brief support.
• Ensured procedural and regulatory compliance and consistently met team productivity and quality metrics in support of VBA's missions.

Administrative Law Judge Legal Specialist (Lead Legal Assistant, promoted) - Social Security Administration - Office of Adjudication and Review, San Francisco, CA

(2022-01 - 2024-01)

• Delivered one-on-one and group training (in-person and via video chat, using PowerPoint) to office-wide legal assistants on technical support — including law and regulations under 20 CFR Chapter III (Social Security) — and logistical support for ALJ hearing operations, along with business operation guidance updates, ensuring office-wide alignment; provided live demonstrations and continuous post-training support to accelerate onboarding.
• Created presentation materials for training sessions and held monthly meetings with the Hearing Office Director and Chief ALJ to review hearing operations, discuss outcomes, and anticipate upcoming needs.
• Oversaw daily hearing office operations to ensure smooth workflow and that ALJs started and concluded hearings on schedule.
• Monitored, recorded, and documented in-person and video hearings with ALJs; coordinated all hearing participants to ensure timely attendance at the correct time and location.
• Drafted and issued dismissal decisions on behalf of ALJs.
• Observed case trends, alerting supervisors to potential issues at early stages and providing constructive solutions to mitigate problems, in alignment with Regional Chief Judge standards and regional goals.
• Oversaw office purchasing processes, validated contractor invoices, and tracked government payment checks to ensure timely procurement supporting hearing operations.
• Performed other senior legal assistant duties as assigned to support office and hearing operations.

Administrative Law Judge Senior Legal Assistant (promoted) - Social Security Administration - Office of Adjudication and Review, San Francisco, CA

(2014-01 - 2022-01)

• Received, reviewed, and worked up social security benefit appeal cases from scratch at the start of the appeal cycle, managing procedural legal documents and verifying benefit accuracy.
• Conducted comprehensive legal research in PolicyNet, POMS, HALLEX, and 20 CFR, applying relevant laws and rules to analyze non-disability case issues.
• Investigated income resources, incarceration history, substance use, and residential status, taking prompt action to resolve discrepancies affecting case eligibility.
• Established and maintained relationships with law firms to obtain necessary documents, including hearing medical evidence and procedural jurisdiction records.
• Drafted, processed, and followed up on subpoena requests, consultative exam requests, and interrogatory medical/vocational requests to fully develop cases.
• Organized and managed complex cases, including court remands, multiple hearing dates, and Appeals Council cases, per the SSA Business Processing Guide.
• Created pre-hearing case summary worksheets using precise legal language to facilitate expedited ALJ review, providing final case validation ahead of hearings.
• Responded to Congressional interest cases, providing status updates and closures to Congressional representatives.

Administrative Law Judge Legal Assistant - Social Security Administration - Office of Adjudication and Review, San Jose, CA

(2011-01 - 2014-01)

• Organized, filed, and maintained claimant's legal and medical documents upon case intake to prepare for ALJ proceedings.
• Independently analyzed and summarized documents, establishing pertinent exhibits and ensuring complete case processing prior to hearings, in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
• Identified conflicting documents during case review and initiated developmental actions — including Consultative Examination (CE) requests and subpoenas to medical facilities — to resolve gaps before proceeding.
• Managed case development across status stages, generating templates and correspondence for SSA ODAR letters, notices, and dismissal decisions.
• Conducted independent research on SSA Daily Policy Net Instructions and SSA Intranet resources to stay current on policy changes supporting accurate case handling.
• Monitored, recorded, and documented in-person and video hearings with ALJs, coordinating all participants to ensure timely attendance at the correct time and location, completing the case cycle.

Office Automation Clerk - Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, San Francisco, CA

(2010-01 - 2011-01)

• Provided technical/logistical support to asylum officers for case research and evidence prep, including fingerprint verification and jail record checks.
• Completed procedural documents aligned with judges' dockets, supporting pre- and post-hearing case flow.
• Processed litigation files for attorneys via National File Tracking, Central Index, and General Counsel Electronic Management Systems, coordinating motions and pre-/post-hearing documentation.
• Reviewed motion requirements from asylum-side attorneys and managed asylum family case files.
• Interpreted/translated English-Chinese/Cantonese/Mandarin for claimants during hearings, conveyed ALJ messages, explained forms, and processed pre-/post-/closed-case documents; converted Chinese communications into English emails for ALJ.
• Contacted attorney offices for documentation and asylum inquiries.

Supply Chain Logistic Specialist - US Navy Reserve - Sea Bee Construction Battalion, Port Hueneme, CA

(2010-01 - 2018-01)

• Coordinated cross-functional supply chain operations supporting Army deployment and unit readiness; resolved equipment shortfalls and system discrepancies while managing budget allocations for mission-ready material.
• Managed personnel files, arranged officer-level travel itineraries, trained team leaders on travel procedures, and published the command's daily Plan of the Day upon Commanding Officer approval.

Supply Chain Logistic Specialist - US Navy Active - USS Halsey, San Diego, CA

(2008-01 - 2010-01)

• Responsible for the Material Obligation Validation Program across 20 Naval work centers, including accounting, inventory, and internal auditing; managed $9.5M in government assets.
• Led cross-functional supply chain operations, coordinating with vendors and departments to receive, issue, and ship material; negotiated with internal and external stakeholders to resolve discrepancies and expedite shipments.
• Managed the Hazardous Material Center as an independent store, overseeing budget compliance, ordering, replenishment, offloading/on-loading, storage, and supply issuance to work centers.
• Served as liaison between 20 shipboard divisions and the Supply Office, acting as the Supply Officer's eyes and ears to identify needs and ensure fulfillment supporting mission readiness.

Paralegal Certificate - San Francisco State University

Bachelor of Science - Accounting - University of Phoenix