Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Best One Near Alpine California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Alpine CA and start your journey that will result in a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s crucial that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably 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 on campus and online. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you should take into consideration. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school must be taken into consideration too. We will cover those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Alpine CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their regular tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys 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 involved and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly 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 manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Alpine CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages 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.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Alpine CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Alpine CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective 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 critical factors to research 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 schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded 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 targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Alpine CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you select 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 Alpine CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Alpine CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you want 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 may wish to initially look at those schools that are within the Alpine CA region.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Alpine CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Alpine CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Alpine
Choose the Best Alpine Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training school is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Alpine home. Paralegal education programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Alpine California.