Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Best One Near Anthem Arizona
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Anthem AZ, it's time to start the process of picking a school. However, it's crucial that you find the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? A number of prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, 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 should be taken into consideration as well. We will cover those issues and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both fill comparable job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Anthem AZ attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific 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 transferring files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their daily activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Drafting 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 managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really 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 clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually 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 quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Anthem AZ is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Anthem AZ searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education 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 respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Anthem AZ area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective 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 crucial issues to consider as well, such as the reputation and accreditation 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 properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a reputable organization 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 targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Anthem AZ law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Anthem AZ law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Anthem AZ legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement 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 Arizona legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary among states, it may be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Arizona or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain 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 may wish to first look at those colleges that are within the Anthem AZ area.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Anthem AZ. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Anthem AZ, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the program you choose offers that option. Last, find out what the process is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Anthem
Enroll in the Right Anthem Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training program is a crucial 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 on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Anthem residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the right training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Anthem Arizona.