Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Best One Near Conway Arkansas
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Conway AR and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right program with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later in this article we will cover a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your decision. 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 Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Conway AR attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine tasks can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Conway AR is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Arkansas to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent option for those living in Conway AR searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Conway AR area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know 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 prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial aspects to consider also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Conway AR law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Conway AR law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Conway AR legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Arkansas legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in Arkansas or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to build relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of 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 an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Conway AR area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Conway AR. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Conway AR, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select offers that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Conway
Choose the Right Conway Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies degree program is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Conway home. Paralegal training programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection 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 greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final decision. And with the right education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Conway Arkansas.