Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Best One Near Homewood Alabama
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Homewood AL, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic options are being offered in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Homewood AL attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their everyday tasks may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Homewood AL is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Alabama to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and may be an excellent alternative for students living in Homewood AL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Homewood AL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial issues to consider as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Homewood AL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Homewood AL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Homewood AL legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? 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 considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Alabama legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from one state to another, it may be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school located in Alabama or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within the Homewood AL area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Homewood AL. Of course if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Homewood AL, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Homewood
Choose the Right Homewood Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal studies training program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Homewood home. Paralegal training programs are offered in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Homewood Alabama.
Homewood How To Become A Paralegal | Homewood Paralegal Certificate Online