Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Bonita California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Bonita CA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program need to be taken into account as well. We will address those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Bonita CA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really 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 manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
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. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Bonita CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require as little as six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more common and may be an excellent option for students living in Bonita CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure 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 study in a less structured and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Bonita CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant issues to think about also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Bonita CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Bonita CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Bonita CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Bonita CA area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Bonita CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Bonita CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you choose offers that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Bonita
Enroll in the Right Bonita Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Bonita residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed 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 provided you will be able to examine each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Bonita California.
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