Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Oxford Alabama
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Oxford AL and begin your journey that will result in a rewarding profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic choices are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are prime considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. Later in this post we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Oxford AL attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training 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 requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Oxford AL is by obtaining a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Alabama to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and can be a good alternative for those living in Oxford AL looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address 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 certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Oxford AL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to 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 many potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial aspects to consider as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Oxford AL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Oxford AL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Oxford AL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Alabama legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be beneficial to select a legal assistant school domiciled in Alabama or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Oxford AL region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Oxford AL. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Oxford AL, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in provides that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Oxford
Enroll in the Best Oxford Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal studies certificate school is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Oxford home. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Oxford Alabama.
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