Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Tempe AZ, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you locate the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of educational alternatives 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 with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are prime considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program should be considered also. Later in this post we will cover a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Tempe AZ is by earning a certificate, which can take just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arizona to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more prevalent and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Tempe AZ searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Tempe AZ area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other significant factors to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Tempe AZ law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Tempe AZ law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Tempe AZ legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Arizona legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary among states, it may be advantageous to select a paralegal school domiciled in Arizona or the state where you wish to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Tempe AZ region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Tempe AZ. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Tempe AZ, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you choose offers that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making-up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Tempe
Enroll in the Best Tempe Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Tempe home. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Several kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the right training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Tempe Arizona.