Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Calabasas California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Calabasas CA and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? Many prospective students start by looking for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you need to consider. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school ought to be taken into consideration as well. Later in this post we will review a list of questions that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your choice. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Calabasas CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their regular activities can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical duties more apropos 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, attorneys are able to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Calabasas CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages 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 Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and may be a good option for individuals living in Calabasas CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Calabasas CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most 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 important factors to research as well, for instance 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 researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online 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 as well. Numerous Calabasas CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Program'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 need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Calabasas CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Calabasas CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools 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 Assistance provided? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the Calabasas CA area.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Calabasas CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Calabasas CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Calabasas
Choose the Right Calabasas Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies certificate program is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Calabasas home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the right training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Calabasas California.
Calabasas Paralegal Certificate Programs | Calabasas Paralegal Certificate