Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Best One Near Antioch California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Antioch CA and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. However, it's essential that you find the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to achieve success. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students start by trying to find schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your decision. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job roles and functions, 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 classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Antioch CA lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily tasks may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Antioch CA is by earning a certificate, which can require as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for students living in Antioch CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Antioch CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know 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 as well. If you are like the majority of 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 critical factors to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a respected organization 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 focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Antioch CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Antioch CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Antioch CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from one state to another, it might be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Antioch CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help minimize some of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Antioch CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Antioch CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you choose provides that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Antioch
Choose the Best Antioch Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies degree program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Antioch home. Paralegal education programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice 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, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Antioch California.