April Stesney
Wilkes-Barre
Summary
Adept at transforming complex legal and disability accommodation challenges into actionable solutions, I leveraged my strong writing and negotiation skills at the Social Security Administration to enhance productivity and decision quality, maintaining a productivity level above 100%. My ability to multitask and provide technical guidance has consistently driven successful outcomes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Reasonable Accommodation Quality Review Specialist
Social Security Administration
Baltimore
01.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity
- Work for the Center for Accommodations and Disability Services
- Contributed to detailed assessments starting April 2022, leading to permanent placement success.
- Addressed concerns in draft decisions autonomously, writing and editing as needed.
- Conducted comprehensive analysis and research on high-level materials such as the Personnel Policy Manual, the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforcement guides on reasonable accommodations.
- Communicated critical concerns to leadership to ensure prompt responses.
- Support team analysts with procedure guidance and draft improvement tips.
- Executed large-scale task volumes as a top contributor by successfully delivering numerous critical outcomes.
- Expert at promptly reorganizing workloads and tracking duties awaiting completion.
- Engaged executives in discussions to address organizational needs.
- Safeguarded sensitive information by ensuring confidentiality at all times.
- Key figure for last-minute high-quality draft production.
- Reviewed, edited, and issued decisions on accommodation requests across five regions under delegated signature authority.
- Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity
- Work for the Center for Accommodations and Disability Services
Supervisory Paralegal Specialist (Group Supervisor)
Social Security Administration
Wilkes-Barre
11.2017 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge/Philadelphia Region
- Supervised team operations for over six years, ensuring alignment with federal guidelines.
- Created work schedules to meet deadlines while considering task complexity and staff skills.
- Consistently devised strategies to enhance productivity and efficiency.
- Assessed performance metrics for assigned employees and provided targeted guidance on work-related challenges.
- Handled employee complaints and administered disciplinary actions.
- Negotiate policies and Standard Operating Procedure recommendations through effective communication with Administrative Law Judges, supervisors, and regional staff.
- Generated and audited essential reports for process accuracy and efficient reviews.
- Supervised high-performing employees tasked with scheduling hearings across the Philadelphia Region.
- Performed comprehensive reviews of scheduling calendars across 18 regional offices to maintain consistency and reliability.
- Engaged in outreach meetings with representatives.
- Oversaw national workload support initiatives at recently formed assistance centers.
- Collaborated with national workload management officials to verify weekly assistance capacity.
- Coordinated team efforts by effectively planning and assigning work.
- Partnered with various Hearing Office leaders nationwide to meet office demands.
- Enhanced work processes to boost productivity and efficiency.
- Ensured consistent accessibility for team via various communication platforms.
- Partnered with Regional Special Project Officer for space needs analysis.
- Generated detailed reports on Case Assistance Center workforce metrics each month.
- Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge/Philadelphia Region
Paralegal Specialist (Paralegal Analyst)
Social Security Administration
Wilkes-Barre
01.2012 - 11.2017
- Company Overview: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review/Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge/Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge/Philadelphia Region
- Served as Decision Writer at Wilkes-Barre, PA Hearing Office with over five years of experience in a federal government role.
- Ensured accurate case resolutions by integrating rigorous analysis of challenging medical and legal details.
- Guaranteed consistency of decisions with both the Social Security Act and related regulations.
- Consistently maintained a productivity level greater than 100%, and was one of the top decision writers in the nation.
- Composed detailed decisions based on extensive case analysis and research.
- Acted as a specialist offering technical guidance to Administrative Law Judges during case analysis and review around hearings.
- Identified key strengths and weaknesses in cases, devising effective strategies to address challenges.
- Researched diverse elements related to unique and intricate case matters.
- Analyzed case details to recommend dismissal, conduct hearings, or record-based decisions.
- Provided mentorship to peers for improved decision writing outcomes.
- Office of Disability Adjudication and Review/Office of Chief Administrative Law Judge/Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge/Philadelphia Region
Education
Computer Tools for Management, Business Management, Effective Writing, Psychology, Critical Thinking, Legal Research and Writing, Legal Terminology, Medical Terminology
No Fear Act, Inclusion & Diversity, Unconscious Bias, Information Security Awareness, Records Management, National Leadership Training, Workplace and Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Performance Management, Active Shooter Awareness, Incident Reporting, Environmental Health & Safety, Conflict Management, Emotional Intelligence Training, Ethics
Skills
- Strong writing skills
- Strong speaking skills
- Active listening skills
- Presenting skills
- Proficient in Multi-tasking
- Strong performance skills
- Time management skills
- Thorough task accomplishment
- Extremely organized
- Ability to maintain contact using multiple methods
- Guidance and advice skills
- Training skills
- Information planning skills
- Work coordination skills
- Negotiation skills
- Work planning skills
- Work assignment skills
- Priority setting skills
- Schedule preparation skills
- Report running skills
- Audit skills
- Data entry skills
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Legal support skills
- Technical support skills
- Case file review skills
- Decision drafting skills
- People skills
- Volunteer experience
- Spanish language skills
Volunteer Experience
2021, Volunteered and selected for the Unaccompanied Children mission, stationed at the POMONA Emergency Intake Site.
Aastes1@aol.com, April.Stesney@ssa.gov
Education
Computer Tools for Management, Business Management, Effective Writing, Psychology, Critical Thinking, Legal Research and Writing, Legal Terminology, Medical Terminology, No Fear Act, Inclusion & Diversity, Unconscious Bias, Information Security Awareness, Records Management, National Leadership Training, Workplace and Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Performance Management, Active Shooter Awareness, Incident Reporting, Environmental Health & Safety, Conflict Management, Emotional Intelligence Training, Ethics
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Reasonable Accommodation Quality Review Specialist
Social Security Administration
01.2023 - Current
Supervisory Paralegal Specialist (Group Supervisor)
Social Security Administration
11.2017 - 01.2023
Paralegal Specialist (Paralegal Analyst)
Social Security Administration
01.2012 - 11.2017
Computer Tools for Management, Business Management, Effective Writing, Psychology, Critical Thinking, Legal Research and Writing, Legal Terminology, Medical Terminology
No Fear Act, Inclusion & Diversity, Unconscious Bias, Information Security Awareness, Records Management, National Leadership Training, Workplace and Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Performance Management, Active Shooter Awareness, Incident Reporting, Environmental Health & Safety, Conflict Management, Emotional Intelligence Training, Ethics
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