Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Altadena California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Altadena CA and begin your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your decision. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Altadena CA lawyers with a diverse array of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, 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 firm may assist with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and very challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Altadena CA is by earning a certificate, which can require just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded 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 school (we will discuss the advantages 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.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more available and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Altadena CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive 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 ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Altadena CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important issues to consider as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation 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 effectively vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program 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 might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training 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 Altadena CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Altadena CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when 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 give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide a means for students to begin creating contacts within the Altadena CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance 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 California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Altadena CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help offset part of the expense, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Altadena CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Altadena CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose provides that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Altadena
Enroll in the Right Altadena Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies training school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying 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 Altadena residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced 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 best possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of 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 review each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Altadena California.
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