Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Best One Near East Hemet California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near East Hemet CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's important that you locate the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need to achieve success. A growing number of educational options 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 start? Many prospective students start by trying to find schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program must be taken into account too. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold comparable job positions and functions, just 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 help East Hemet CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as 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 practice may assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their routine activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in East Hemet CA is by earning a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more prevalent and may be a good option for individuals living in East Hemet CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the East Hemet CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can compare 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 potential students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important issues to think about also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of East Hemet CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some East Hemet CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the East Hemet CA legal community. 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 offered? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the East Hemet CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in East Hemet CA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near East Hemet CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in East Hemet
Choose the Best East Hemet Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the best paralegal training school is an essential first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your East Hemet home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Various types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in East Hemet California.
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