Working

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (Sept 2010- Aug 2019)

Federal Coordination & Compliance Section (April 2015-Aug 2019) – Paralegal Specialist

Assisted in assessing federal financial recipients for compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Professional portfolio focused on national origin discrimination by ensuring language accessibility for limited English proficient individuals. Conducted witness interviews, produced field notes, and analyzed relevant legal documents to assist in over 15 Title VI investigations and compliance reviews involving federally funded state-wide court and prison systems, public benefits offices, and law enforcement agencies.

Federal Coordination & Compliance Section (Sept 2010-June 2011) – Contract Paralegal

Participated in witness interviews of inmates, community activists, and prison staff; produced interview summaries; examined thousands of pages of voluntarily produced documents; and prepared internal investigative memos in relation to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office prison matter.

U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (July 2011-Apr 2015)

Criminal I & II Sections – Paralegal Specialist & Supervisor

Served as lead case paralegal and supervised 7 paralegals on a global price-fixing case relating to the auto part industry resulting in the largest penalties in criminal antitrust history: 27 corporate pleas, $2.9 billion corporate fines, and 35 individual pleas and indictments. Maintained and organized information regarding 55 companies; including tracking large electronic and hard copy document productions, creating and preserving computerized databases for case management, establishing operating procedures for the office, generating meeting notes, and analyzing documents.

Professional Honors

  • Civil Rights Division’s Special Achievement Award for Sustained Superior Performance (2016, 2017, 2018)
  • Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2014): DOJ’s second highest award for employee performance. 
  • Antitrust Division’s Special Achievement Award for Sustained Superior Performance (2013, 2014)
  • Antitrust Division’s Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Award of Distinction (2012, 2016)
Pictured from left to right are Attorney General Eric Holder, Paralegal Specialist Meghan Ballard (me), and Assistant Attorney General (Antitrust Division) William (Bill) Baer (2014).