Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Right One Near Prescott Valley Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Prescott Valley AZ and begin your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be considered also. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Prescott Valley AZ lawyers 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 relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their day-to-day activities may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Prescott Valley AZ is by earning a certificate, which may require just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Arizona to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more available and can be a good option for those living in Prescott Valley AZ looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Prescott Valley AZ area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial factors to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded 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 distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Prescott Valley AZ law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Prescott Valley AZ law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also present a means for students to start developing contacts within the Prescott Valley AZ legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid 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 graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in Arizona or the state where you want to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Prescott Valley AZ area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Prescott Valley AZ. Of course if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Prescott Valley AZ, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Prescott Valley
Choose the Right Prescott Valley Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal certificate program is an important first step toward 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 participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Prescott Valley home. Paralegal training programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school 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, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Prescott Valley Arizona.
Prescott Valley Paralegal Training | Prescott Valley How To Become A Paralegal