Katherine M. Stafford has over 10 years of experience in law, real estate, and customer service. She received her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 2008 and has worked as an account manager facilitating short sales, a law clerk conducting legal research, and an intern providing legal assistance to clients. Currently, she works as an account manager for a real estate company in North Carolina, where she handles all aspects of the short sale process.

1. Katherine M. Stafford, J.D.
2221 Shallowford Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
(813) 435­0880 ∙ katherinemercedes77@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Stetson University College of Law, ​Gulfport, FL
Juris Doctorate, December 2008
Activities: Law & Order Society, Family Law Society, Hispanic Bar Association, American Bar Association, Hillsborough County
Bar Association
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, ​New York, NY
Transferred following first year.
University of South Florida, ​Tampa, FL
Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, August 2005
Honors: Golden Key International Honor Society, Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa Nominee
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Metrolina Estates Realty, Inc. d/b/a Short Sale Cooperative, ​Concord, NC
Account Manager, October 2012­Present
Facilitated short sale negotiation and real estate closings where I was responsible for the entire process from the initial marketing
stages through the closing & post­closing task states. Responsible for “selling” the company to gain new real estate agent and
homeowner accounts, researching and gathering all documentation for client accounts and cases to put together settlement proposals
directed to mortgage servicing financial institutions & creditors, data collection and entry into the MLS & our company’s CRM
systems, determining marketing strategies for marketing real estate properties, completing listing agreements, pulling title searches,
tax information, liens and judgments searches, processing and negotiating offers and contracts to purchase real estate properties,
negotiating settlements and lien releases with servicing banks and creditors, drafting deeds, lien waivers and HUD­1 documents for
real estate closings, helping train paralegals and attorneys not versed in the differences of closing short sales to complete successful
real estate short sale closings, and completing post­closing tasks with the companies agreeing to release the liens from the
homeowners who short sold their properties. Also continually advised company directors, attorneys, and real estate agents on
strategic business plans, making our company more efficient, and new marketing ideas​.
The Owens Law Firm, ​Tampa, FL
Law Clerk,​ November 2010­March 2011
Assisted attorney with legal research in a firm that handles foreclosure defense, bankruptcy, debt relief, and criminal cases.
Responsible for determining proper defenses and composing all motions for over 300+ foreclosure defense cases including, but not
limited to, Motions to Dismiss, Requests for Production, Requests for Admission, Motions to Set Aside Default Judgments,
Interrogatories, and Answers and Affirmative Defenses. Also composed motions in criminal cases including Expungements.
Mediation Project of The Better Business Bureau Education Alliance, ​Winston­Salem, NC
Board Member (Part­Time Volunteer Position),​ May 2009­October 2009
Served as a board member of a new mediation project being formed by the Better Business Bureau and other local attorneys.
Responsible for bringing ideas, creating forms to be used by the project, logging meeting minutes, and presenting the project to
local chapters of trade associations, Chambers of Commerce, and other associations.
Office of the Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Florida, ​Clearwater, FL
Certified Legal Intern​, Spring, 2008
Responsible for creating, organizing and maintaining legal case files for trial preparation. Interviewed clients and witnesses.
Represented clients with cases in juvenile and misdemeanor court. Formulated case plans and defense strategies. Conducted legal
research, discovery, depositions, and voir dire. Drafted motions, briefs, and memoranda. Argued cases and motions before State
Court judges and juries while representing clients in criminal trials.
The Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida​, Tampa, FL
Summer Law Clerk​, Summer, 2006
Conducted legal research and composed orders on motions for various kinds of federal criminal and civil cases. Observed court
proceedings in federal civil and criminal cases including a very high profile international criminal drug trafficking case involving
the FBI’s #1 Wanted Person in the Cali and Bogota, Columbia cartel.

2. Cardozo Advocates for Battered Women Domestic Violence Courtroom Advocate Project, ​New York, NY
Advocate​, Spring, 2006
Trained in assisting and educating domestic violence victims of their legal rights and how to proceed in Family Court in order to
gain orders of protection against abusive spouses. Observed courtroom proceedings in Family Court cases.
Sitel Corporation, ​Tampa, FL
Customer Relationship Manager of Alternative Dispute Resolution​, May 2002­October 2004
Investigated and evaluated Lemon Law Claims filed with the Better Business Bureau against an automotive industry leader.
Mediated agreeable settlements with customers. Drafted Manufacturer Pleadings for Arbitration. Represented Manufacturer in
100­200 arbitration proceedings in a number of states under the respective state Lemon Laws with a 95% success rate. Saved
company loss by an average of $15 million per year.
Customer Relationship Manager of Customer Assistance​, March 2001­May 2002
Identified problems with a leading automobile manufacturer’s customers. Communicated solutions to dissatisfied customers to
rectify displeasing situations. Collected information pertaining to cases by interviewing Service Managers and Area Vehicle
Managers in the field. Handled an average of 30 cases daily.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
**During any gaps in work experience outlined above, I have attained other experience working as a bartender, server, and other
positions held within the hospitality industry that has provided me with exceptional sterling quality customer service skills. Feel free
to ask for company or responsibility details.**
​PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
● Katrina Rockel, Real Estate Agent 910­583­3817
● Camille Marshall, Real Estate Agent 980­241­8672
● Robert MacLeod, Real Estate Agent 704­996­1738
● Emily Clarke, Paralegal 704­900­9810