Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Best One Near Glendale Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Glendale AZ and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. However with so many options to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students start by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you must consider. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those topics and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch 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 furnish a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning 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 Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and may be a good option for individuals living in Glendale AZ searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Glendale AZ area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial factors to research also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Glendale AZ law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Glendale AZ law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Glendale AZ legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement 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 corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in Arizona or the state where you want to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those schools that are within the Glendale AZ area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help minimize some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Glendale AZ. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Glendale AZ, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, 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 procedure is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Glendale
Choose the Right Glendale Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Glendale residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Glendale Arizona.