Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near Avenal California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Avenal CA and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many options? Many potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school must be taken into account too. Later in this post we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one prior to making your selection. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Avenal CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their routine tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. 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 action. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume 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 arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Avenal CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for students living in Avenal CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools 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 looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Avenal CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to 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 the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant factors to research also, such as 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 researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency 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 education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Avenal CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several Avenal CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the Avenal CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within the Avenal CA region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help minimize some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Avenal CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Avenal CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in provides that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up classes missed due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Avenal
Choose the Right Avenal Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal degree program is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed 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 Avenal residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational 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 broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Avenal California.