Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Catalina Foothills Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Catalina Foothills AZ and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you locate the right program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students begin by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you need to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Catalina Foothills AZ lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day activities can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Catalina Foothills AZ is by earning a certificate, which can involve just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected 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 school (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and can be an excellent option for those living in Catalina Foothills AZ looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Catalina Foothills AZ area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other significant issues to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching 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 enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Catalina Foothills AZ law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Catalina Foothills AZ law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to start developing contacts within the Catalina Foothills AZ legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school located in Arizona or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be important to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many 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 Catalina Foothills AZ region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be available to help offset part of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Catalina Foothills AZ. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Catalina Foothills AZ, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select makes available that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Catalina Foothills
Choose the Right Catalina Foothills Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal studies training school is a crucial 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 participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Catalina Foothills home. Paralegal training programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to review each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Catalina Foothills Arizona.
Catalina Foothills Paralegal Training | Catalina Foothills How To Become A Paralegal