Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Right One Near Birmingham Alabama
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Birmingham AL and begin your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic options are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you go about finding the right program with so many options? Some prospective students begin by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Birmingham AL attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their regular tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Birmingham AL is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Alabama to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies in the profession are:
- National Federation of Paralegal Associations
- American Alliance of Paralegals
- National Association of Legal Assistants
- National Association for Legal Professionals
By graduating with a paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for those living in Birmingham AL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Birmingham AL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important factors to consider as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Birmingham AL law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Birmingham AL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Birmingham AL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Alabama legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it might be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in Alabama or the state where you want to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you choose to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the Birmingham AL region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be available to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Birmingham AL. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Birmingham AL, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Birmingham
Choose the Best Birmingham Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the ideal paralegal studies certificate school is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Birmingham home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Birmingham Alabama.
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