Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Right One Near Prescott Arizona
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Prescott AZ, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many alternatives? When looking for paralegal studies programs, 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 option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school ought to be taken into consideration as well. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional 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 fill the same job positions and responsibilities, 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 help Prescott AZ lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their routine tasks can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Prescott AZ is by earning a certificate, which can involve 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 numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 school (we will cover 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 Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and can be an excellent option for individuals living in Prescott AZ searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Prescott AZ area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. 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 critical factors to think about also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training 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 Prescott AZ law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering 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 select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Prescott AZ law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Prescott AZ legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? 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 assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school located in Arizona or the state where you want to work after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially consider those colleges that are within the Prescott AZ area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Prescott AZ. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Prescott AZ, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select makes available that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Prescott
Choose the Right Prescott Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Prescott residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Prescott Arizona.