Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Best One Near Glendale Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Glendale AZ and begin your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you locate the right program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with numerous alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold the same job positions and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Glendale AZ lawyers with a diverse array of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their routine tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Glendale AZ is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits 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.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more available and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Glendale AZ searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Glendale AZ area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant issues to research as well, including 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 effectively vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded 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 focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Glendale 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 accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Glendale AZ law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Glendale AZ legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Arizona or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first look at those colleges that are within the Glendale AZ region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Glendale AZ. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Glendale AZ, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Glendale
Enroll in the Best Glendale Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal studies certificate program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Glendale residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Glendale Arizona.