Carmen Y. Contreras

Carmen Y. Contreras is a Senior Paralegal and Office Manager at Clouthier Law. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Carmen developed a passion for the field of law while she was obtaining her bachelor’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico. While in school, Carmen majored in Labor Relations and graduated with honors.

In 1998, Carmen attended Hunter College of the City University of New York. In 1999, Carmen accepted an internship at the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency which enforces the National Labor Relations Act, in San Juan Puerto Rico. During the internship, Carmen experienced the process of union collective bargaining, attended hearings, and assisted in case research.

Always motivated by helping others, Carmen worked primarily in personal injury firms in New York for over 20 years. Carmen began working at a law firm in the Bronx, New York. As someone who is bilingual, Carmen quickly realized that her bilingual abilities put her in an incredibly unique position to advocate for others.

In January of 2006, Carmen accepted a position with a firm that focused on serving non-English speaking members of the community. The firm provided representation in cases involving general negligence, no-fault law, labor law, medical malpractice, and product liability.

As the years passed, Carmen desired to acquire the skills to become either a certified paralegal or an attorney. It was during her time at the firm of Lever & Stolzenberg, LLP where she initiated the transition and obtained her ABA certified paralegal certificate in 2009 and graduated top ten of her class.

Carmen was an integral part of the firm’s intake department and continued managing a select caseload through the claim and litigation phases. Carmen was also involved in weekly meetings with the attorneys to review case matters; her reports and feedback were a valued part of the negotiation process.

In 2014, Carmen moved into a management role where she used her knowledge and experience to effectively oversee the administrative operations of the law firm while working arduously to bring about a successful resolution for clients. She played a highly active role in community outreach programs, networking with other law firms and businesses, and negotiated various settlements on behalf of the firm. As the firm grew, Carmen trained new team members and helped create a work culture where everyone’s strengths were best utilized for the overall benefit of the firm and their clients.

In each law firm where she has worked, Carmen developed lasting relationships with colleagues and clients alike. When a life changing event resulted in her family moving to the state of Texas in 2021, Carmen was pleased to join the appellate firm of Clouthier Law where she values her role in helping clients achieve the best possible legal outcome.

In her spare time, Carmen and John, her husband of 17 years and a retired NYPD Detective, and her three children practice martial arts. They genuinely enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors.