Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near East Los Angeles California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near East Los Angeles CA and start your journey that will result in a satisfying profession in legal services. However, it's important that you locate the right school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic options are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school should be considered too. Later on in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your decision. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same 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 classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help East Los Angeles CA attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their regular tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants 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 clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in East Los Angeles CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve just six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for students living in East Los Angeles CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online schools can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the East Los Angeles CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of potential 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 significant issues to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded 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 focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee 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 also. A number of East Los Angeles CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some East Los Angeles CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present a means for students to start establishing contacts within the East Los Angeles CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially look at those colleges that are within the East Los Angeles CA area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help reduce part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in East Los Angeles CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near East Los Angeles CA, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making-up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in East Los Angeles
Choose the Right East Los Angeles Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your East Los Angeles home. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in East Los Angeles California.
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