Paralegal Studies School
How to Choose the Best One Near Madison Alabama
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Madison AL and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding profession in legal services. However, it's essential that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to succeed. A growing number of educational options are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school ought to be taken into consideration too. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns 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 what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and functions, 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 assist Madison AL lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. 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 may help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their routine tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in Madison AL is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Alabama to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more available and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Madison AL looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Madison AL area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical issues to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Madison AL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Madison AL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Madison AL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Alabama legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school located in Alabama or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be important to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to initially look at those schools that are within the Madison AL region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Madison AL. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Madison AL, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose offers that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Madison
Choose the Right Madison 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 addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Madison home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational 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, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you elect to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the right training you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Madison Alabama.