Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Mesa Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Mesa AZ and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's essential that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to achieve success. A growing number of academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other crucial 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 academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold the same job roles and functions, 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 paralegals and legal assistants help Mesa AZ attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their day-to-day activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- 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 role of a paralegal can be complex and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Mesa AZ is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Mesa AZ looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Mesa AZ area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective 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 factors to think about also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets 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 demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Mesa AZ law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Mesa AZ law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among 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 practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to begin developing contacts within the Mesa AZ legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be a good idea to select a paralegal school located in Arizona or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you choose 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 may wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Mesa AZ region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Mesa AZ. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Mesa AZ, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose offers that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Mesa
Choose the Best Mesa Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies training program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Mesa home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Different kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each program and make your final decision. And with the right training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Mesa Arizona.
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