Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Right One Near Little Rock Arkansas
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Little Rock AR, it's time to start the process of picking a school. However, it's important that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to succeed. A growing number of educational alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school should be considered as well. We will cover those topics and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Little Rock AR attorneys with a diverse array 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. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code 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 may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite 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 action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical duties more suited 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 manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Little Rock AR is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Arkansas to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and may be a good option for students living in Little Rock AR searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools 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 school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Little Rock AR area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important factors to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Little Rock AR law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Little Rock AR law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Little Rock AR legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Arkansas legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Arkansas or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those schools that are within the Little Rock AR region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Little Rock AR. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Little Rock AR, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Little Rock
Choose the Best Little Rock Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Little Rock residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Little Rock Arkansas.
Little Rock Paralegal Training | Little Rock How To Become A Paralegal