Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Chelsea Alabama
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Chelsea AL and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many options? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered too. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Chelsea AL attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine activities might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Chelsea AL is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be obtained at many 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. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Alabama to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying organizations in the field 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 program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more common and can be a good alternative for those living in Chelsea AL searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Chelsea AL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to research also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Chelsea AL law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Chelsea AL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Chelsea AL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Alabama legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in Alabama or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first look at those schools that are within the Chelsea AL region.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help offset part of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Chelsea AL. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Chelsea AL, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select provides that option. Last, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Chelsea
Enroll in the Best Chelsea Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree program is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Chelsea home. Paralegal education programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Chelsea Alabama.