Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Cathedral City California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Cathedral City CA and start your journey that will result in a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more academic choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a school, they are not the only factors you must consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school must be considered as well. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job roles and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Cathedral City CA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine tasks can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare 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 complex and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients 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 educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Cathedral City CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Cathedral City CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Cathedral City CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add 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 driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important issues to consider as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a respected 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 targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Cathedral City CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? 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 previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program 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 several Cathedral City CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Cathedral City CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary among states, it might be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within the Cathedral City CA region.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help reduce part of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Cathedral City CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Cathedral City 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 choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Cathedral City
Enroll in the Right Cathedral City Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal degree school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding 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 Cathedral City residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Several kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Cathedral City California.
Cathedral City Paralegal Certificate Programs | Cathedral City Paralegal Certificate