Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Montserrat Zepeda
Fall 2014 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Education
The University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. Political Science; December 2014
Career
Paralegal Manager and Human Resource Manager at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.
Fall 2014 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Education
The University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. Political Science; December 2014
Career
Paralegal Manager and Human Resource Manager at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C.
(In my internship) “I was responsible for conducting detailed telephone interviews with over 60 Spanish-speaking unaccompanied minors who were detained at the border and referred to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants by case managers from immigrant and refugee assistance organizations.”
Q & A with Montserrat
Can you tell us more about your current position?
I am the Paralegal Manager and Human Resources Manager at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I am primarily responsible for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and supervising the professional development of the paralegal and executive staff. I coordinate and manage the workflow and am the key liaison between the attorneys, paralegals, and interns and legal externs. I am also the Chief Foreclosure, Title and Real Estate Litigation Paralegal. I uphold all administrative responsibilities for the Supreme Court cases in these departments.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
At the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) I worked on the Unaccompanied Migrant Children program. I was responsible for conducting detailed telephone interviews with over 60 Spanish-speaking unaccompanied minors who were detained at the border and referred to USCRI by case managers from immigrant and refugee assistance organizations. I also wrote referral memos to assist in placing minors with pro bono attorneys who represent children seeking various forms of relief. Interning at USCRI helped me gain a deeper understanding of the broken immigration system that exists in the United States and taught me about what can be done to help immigrants and refugees once they arrive at the border. I also learned how to conduct intakes with trauma victims, how to build a relationship with unaccompanied minors and their sponsors, and how to answer basic questions regarding the immigration court process.
What has been your general career path?
After graduating college, I moved to New York City and started working as a paralegal at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I was quickly promoted to Chief Paralegal and eventually took on the role as Paralegal Manager and Human Resources Manager. My plans of going to law school changed and I am now focusing on continuing my career in legal recruitment.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
My Archer Fellowship experience provided me with an abundance of skills that have helped me further grow in my professional path.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
The Archer Fellowship was a fundamental chapter in my professional career that provided me with the skills and connections needed to step into the professional world.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
What I value the most about being an Archer Fellow Alumna is the invaluable experience of stepping into the professional world and figuring out what I wanted to do after graduation.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
My favorite Archer Fellowship Program memory was spending Thanksgiving with my Archer family. All of the houses got together in one house and cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner that we shared together sitting around tables, talking about our experiences and future plans.
Can you tell us more about your current position?
I am the Paralegal Manager and Human Resources Manager at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I am primarily responsible for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and supervising the professional development of the paralegal and executive staff. I coordinate and manage the workflow and am the key liaison between the attorneys, paralegals, and interns and legal externs. I am also the Chief Foreclosure, Title and Real Estate Litigation Paralegal. I uphold all administrative responsibilities for the Supreme Court cases in these departments.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
At the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) I worked on the Unaccompanied Migrant Children program. I was responsible for conducting detailed telephone interviews with over 60 Spanish-speaking unaccompanied minors who were detained at the border and referred to USCRI by case managers from immigrant and refugee assistance organizations. I also wrote referral memos to assist in placing minors with pro bono attorneys who represent children seeking various forms of relief. Interning at USCRI helped me gain a deeper understanding of the broken immigration system that exists in the United States and taught me about what can be done to help immigrants and refugees once they arrive at the border. I also learned how to conduct intakes with trauma victims, how to build a relationship with unaccompanied minors and their sponsors, and how to answer basic questions regarding the immigration court process.
What has been your general career path?
After graduating college, I moved to New York City and started working as a paralegal at Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. I was quickly promoted to Chief Paralegal and eventually took on the role as Paralegal Manager and Human Resources Manager. My plans of going to law school changed and I am now focusing on continuing my career in legal recruitment.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
My Archer Fellowship experience provided me with an abundance of skills that have helped me further grow in my professional path.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
The Archer Fellowship was a fundamental chapter in my professional career that provided me with the skills and connections needed to step into the professional world.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
What I value the most about being an Archer Fellow Alumna is the invaluable experience of stepping into the professional world and figuring out what I wanted to do after graduation.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
My favorite Archer Fellowship Program memory was spending Thanksgiving with my Archer family. All of the houses got together in one house and cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner that we shared together sitting around tables, talking about our experiences and future plans.
