Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Right One Near Queen Creek Arizona
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Queen Creek AZ and begin your journey that will lead to a rewarding career in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to be successful. A growing number of academic choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right program with so many alternatives? Many potential students start by searching for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just 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 help Queen Creek AZ attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their daily tasks might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Queen Creek AZ is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and may be a good option for those living in Queen Creek AZ looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can often be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Queen Creek AZ area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial aspects to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Queen Creek AZ law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Queen Creek AZ law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Queen Creek AZ legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws differ among states, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Arizona or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to initially consider those schools that are within the Queen Creek AZ area.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Queen Creek AZ. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Queen Creek AZ, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select makes available that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Queen Creek
Enroll in the Right Queen Creek Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal certificate program is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Queen Creek home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence 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 best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Queen Creek Arizona.
Queen Creek Paralegal Studies | Queen Creek Paralegal Schools