Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Right One Near Payson Arizona
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Payson AZ, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational choices are being offered 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? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. Later in this article we will cover 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 decision. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Payson AZ attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine tasks can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. 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 cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Payson AZ is by earning a certificate, which may involve just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain 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 also. Some of the highly regarded 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more common and may be an excellent option for those living in Payson AZ looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Payson AZ area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical issues to research also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Payson AZ law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Payson AZ law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Payson AZ legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. 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 sizable networks and good relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in Arizona or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Payson AZ region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be available to help minimize some of the expense, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Payson AZ. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Payson AZ, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select offers that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Payson
Enroll in the Right Payson Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Payson residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Payson Arizona.
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