Turek DeVore, PC 1201 Lake Woodlands Dr Ste 4026 The Woodlands, TX 77380-5015 January 15, 2014 Dear Mr. Turek: I am writing in regards to the Associate Attorney position (Job Posting 8257744) which you recently posted on Work in Texas. I received my law degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and have been a licensed attorney in Texas for just over a year. Previously I obtained my bachelor s degree from New York University, where I achieved a double major in Political Science and East Asian Studies while working at a personal injury law office, and additionally participated in a highly selective exchange program at one of Japan s top universities (Nagoya University). During law school, I completed two semesters as a visiting student at another tier-one university, the University of Houston Law Center, in order to take advantage of their extensive class offerings in the field of health law. Since graduating, I have completed postgraduate fellowships with the s Office and the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, and I am currently acting as a pro bono attorney for Lone Star Legal Aid. Despite my postgraduate work in the public sector, health law has always been my passion. Combined with my experience in this field and in litigation in general, I believe that this makes me an ideal candidate for Turek Devore. Since my first-year Torts class at UT (in which I was one of only three students to receive an A), I have pursued my interest in health law by taking general and specialized classes on the subject, including a practical seminar on Texas Medical Liability in which we participated in a simulation of a malpractice suit from beginning to end, drafting our own court documents and deposing witnesses. In addition to the trial aspect, we discussed issues of compliance, ethics, and policy. I also have experience working at a personal injury firm, preparing responses to discovery requests, obtaining medical records and interfacing with clients. As you can see, I have a consistent record of diligence, dedication, and academic and professional excellence. I have attached my résumé, several references and two letters of recommendation. I would appreciate the opportunity to interview with you to discuss my qualifications and your needs at your earliest convenience. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your consideration. Cordially, Kyla F. Durkin
ADMISSIONS Admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 2012. EDUCATION The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX Juris Doctor received May 2012 New York University, New York, NY Bachelor of Arts received May 2006, Political Science & East Asian Studies LEGAL EXPERIENCE Lone Star Legal Aid, Conroe, TX Pro Bono Attorney, June 2013 Current! Provide legal counsel, potentially including limited or full representation, to indigent individuals regarding divorce, protective orders, child support and custody, landlord/tenant disputes and evictions, wills and guardianships, disability benefits, etc.! Assist clients with appeals and other dealings with regulatory and government agencies. Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Houston, TX Postgraduate Fellow, Child Support Division, February April 2013! Conferenced and negotiated with parties; assembled child support orders and motions; assisted with docket call and various hearings (enforcement actions, modifications, etc).! Researched case law and agency policy; assessed pleadings and drafted answers; reviewed and approved legal documents prepared by Child Support Officers., Conroe, TX Postgraduate Fellow, Crimes Against Children Division, August December 2012! Conducted all trial prep and first-chaired a misdemeanor DWI (obtaining a favorable verdict).! Assisted in witness preparation and second-chaired a misdemeanor Assault Family Violence trial; negotiated and finalized pleas in County and JP courts.! Assisted Chief Prosecutor with felony child sexual abuse cases before and during trial, including drafting and filing motions and subpoenas, researching expert witnesses, conducting discovery, attending hearings, and meeting with witnesses and victims.! Researched various legal issues, reviewed and made recommendations on U Visa applications, and helped develop presentations for a multidisciplinary conference. Richard J. Katz, LLP, New York, NY Legal Assistant, Personal Injury Firm, 2004 2006! Managed client inquiries, collected HIPAA authorizations, and obtained information and medical records from patients, hospitals, and opposing counsel.! Drafted discovery requests and responses; investigated cases and reviewed trial and deposition transcripts; and filed and recovered court documents. Prepared on January 15, 2014
REFERENCES Nancy Hebert, Chief Prosecutor Crimes Against Children Division Work: 936.756.4644, ext. 275 E-mail: nancy.hebert@mctx.org Phil Grant, First Assistant District Attorney Work: 936.539.7910 E-mail: phil.grant@mctx.org Yolanda Martin Randolph, Managing Attorney Child Support Division, Office 608 Work: 281.820.1200 E-mail: yolanda.randolph@texasattorneygeneral.gov Sonia Lopez, Managing Attorney Lone Star Legal Aid, Conroe Office Work: 936.539.2130, ext. 2626 E-mail: SLopez@lonestarlegal.org
Nancy Hebert Chief Prosecutor, CAC Brett W. Ligon District Attorney 9 th Judicial District Ofc: (936) 756-4644 207 W. Phillips, 2 nd Floor Fax: (936) 760-6957 Conroe, TX 77301 February 5, 2013 Re: Letter of Recommendation To Whom it May Concern: This letter is to recommend Kyla Durkin for your consideration for employment. While Kyla only worked with me for one semester as an intern, I found her work and her work ethic highly commendable. Kyla assisted me in a wide variety of areas, including: legal research, writing trial memos, trial preparation, meeting with victims, and helping to create power point charts and presentations for training programs. Kyla was always a pleasant and positive person with whom to bounce ideas and she was not timid about offering suggestions. Kyla was extremely organized, self-driven, focused, and a problem solver. In one instance when preparing for trial, I gave Kyla a project to review the opposing party s expert s past C.V. s and verify his representations. The next week, following Kyla s investigation into his C.V., the expert notified opposing counsel, that on advice of his attorney he would not be available to testify in the trial after all. I credit Kyla s thoroughness in her investigation for discrediting this expert from being able to testify based on an exaggerated C.V. Kyla was a true team player and I considered Kyla a valuable team member in our division and felt the loss when the semester ended. It is without hesitation that I recommend Kyla for employment with your organization. Feel free to contact me. Very truly yours, NJH/nb Nancy Johnson Hebert Chief Prosecutor, Crimes Against Children
Brett W. Ligon District Attorney Phil Grant 9 th Judicial District Ofc: (936) 539-7800 First Assistant District Attorney 207 W. Phillips, 2 nd Floor Fax: (936) 760-6957 Conroe, TX 77301 January 29, 2013 To Whom It May Concern: Kyla Durkin completed an internship with our office through the University Of Texas School Of Law. From August to December of 2012, Kyla was assigned to a special prosecution division with Children s Safe Harbor which focuses on the prosecution of cases involving sexual assault of children. She participated fully throughout her internship and assisted with every aspect of case preparation including victim contact, legal research and trial preparation. In addition to her work at Children s Safe Harbor, she assisted prosecutors in the Misdemeanor Division of the trial bureau. In this role she not only interacted with victims and performed legal research but also analyzed evidence and evaluated cases. At the conclusion of her internship she was given the opportunity to sit first chair in a Driving While Intoxicated jury trial. She worked diligently on all aspects of the case and received a favorable verdict. Throughout the duration of her internship there was one quality that stood out the most in Kyla: her natural ability to exercise discretion and her level of maturity. Whether she was dealing with misdemeanor or felony cases, she was always able to appreciate the importance of the work she was doing and was committed to a quality work product. She was always willing to assist and had a desire to learn and experience as much as she could during her internship. Kyla was a pleasure to work with and the qualities she demonstrated while in our office will serve her well as a new attorney. Sincerely, Phil Grant First Assistant District Attorney Montgomery County, Texas