Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near East Palo Alto California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near East Palo Alto CA and begin your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. However, it's crucial that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to achieve success. A growing number of educational options are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students start by searching for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school need to be considered too. We will discuss those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in East Palo Alto CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 school (we will cover 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 legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more available and can be an excellent alternative for students living in East Palo Alto CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the East Palo Alto CA area, as well as 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 add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. 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 previously discussed, there are other crucial issues to consider as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many East Palo Alto CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several East Palo Alto CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the East Palo Alto CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially investigate those schools that are within the East Palo Alto CA area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in East Palo Alto CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near East Palo Alto 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 offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in East Palo Alto
Enroll in the Right East Palo Alto Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal training school is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your East Palo Alto home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Various types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each school and make your final decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in East Palo Alto California.
East Palo Alto Paralegal Certificate | East Palo Alto Paralegal Degrees