Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Best One Near Douglas Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Douglas AZ and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational options are becoming available, both at school and online. But with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students begin by trying to find schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program ought to be considered too. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Douglas AZ attorneys with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. 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 might help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their routine tasks may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals 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 manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Douglas AZ is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee 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 prevalent and can be an excellent option for students living in Douglas AZ searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Douglas AZ area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial aspects to research also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get 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 receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Douglas AZ law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Douglas AZ law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Douglas AZ legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in Arizona or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first look at those schools that are within the Douglas AZ area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Douglas AZ. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Douglas AZ, make sure 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 makes available that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Douglas
Enroll in the Best Douglas Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies degree school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Douglas residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Douglas Arizona.