Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Brawley California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Brawley CA and start your journey that will result in a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you locate the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you should take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered also. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold 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 different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Brawley CA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and very demanding. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Brawley CA is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded 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 program (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more prevalent and can be a good option for individuals living in Brawley CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Brawley CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical factors to think about as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Brawley CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several Brawley CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Brawley CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it may be advantageous to select a paralegal school located in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially consider those colleges that are within the Brawley CA area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help offset part of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Brawley CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Brawley CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you select makes available that option. Last, inquire what the process is for making up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Brawley
Enroll in the Best Brawley Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal training school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Brawley residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Brawley California.