Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Eagle River Alaska
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Eagle River AK, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to be successful. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your selection. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job roles 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 Eagle River AK attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their daily tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Eagle River AK is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Alaska to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address 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 Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and can be an excellent option for students living in Eagle River AK searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Eagle River AK area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important factors to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded 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 distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Eagle River AK law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Eagle River AK law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Eagle River AK legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Alaska legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school located in Alaska or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to initially consider those colleges that are within the Eagle River AK area.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Eagle River AK. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Eagle River AK, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in offers that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Eagle River
Enroll in the Best Eagle River Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies certificate school is a vital 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 at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Eagle River residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Eagle River Alaska.
Eagle River Paralegal Studies | Eagle River Paralegal Schools