Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Beverly Hills California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Beverly Hills CA and start your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? Some prospective students start by looking for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's have 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 for the most part both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, only 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 help Beverly Hills 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 based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their routine tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather 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 proceeding. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand 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 cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education 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 academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Beverly Hills CA is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more prevalent and can be a good option for students living in Beverly Hills CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Beverly Hills CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. 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 previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to consider as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Beverly Hills CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Beverly Hills CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Beverly Hills CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing 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 good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to first look at those schools that are within the Beverly Hills CA region.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Beverly Hills CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Beverly Hills CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Beverly Hills
Choose the Best Beverly Hills Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Beverly Hills home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your final selection. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Beverly Hills California.
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