Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Best One Near Little Rock Arkansas
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Little Rock AR and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the program need to be taken into consideration also. We will discuss those topics and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Little Rock AR lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, including 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 may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow 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 routine tasks may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and very demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined 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, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, 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 way to start your career as a paralegal in Little Rock AR is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive 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 available as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Arkansas to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for those living in Little Rock AR searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Little Rock AR 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 include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant factors to think about as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain 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 get will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Little Rock AR law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose 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 a few Little Rock AR law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear 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 School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Little Rock AR legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Arkansas legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Arkansas or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain your education in the area where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those colleges that are within the Little Rock AR region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to contact 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 program, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Little Rock AR, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in provides that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Little Rock
Choose the Right Little Rock Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies degree school is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Little Rock residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Little Rock Arkansas.
Little Rock Paralegal Certificate Online | Little Rock Paralegal Studies