Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near East Rancho Dominguez California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near East Rancho Dominguez CA and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program ought to be taken into consideration as well. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, 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 Rancho Dominguez CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their everyday tasks can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in East Rancho Dominguez CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and may be a good option for those living in East Rancho Dominguez CA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the East Rancho Dominguez CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial issues to research also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous East Rancho Dominguez CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick 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 Rancho Dominguez CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the East Rancho Dominguez CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ among states, it may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the East Rancho Dominguez CA region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in East Rancho Dominguez 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? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near East Rancho Dominguez CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in East Rancho Dominguez
Choose the Best East Rancho Dominguez Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal training program is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your East Rancho Dominguez residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in East Rancho Dominguez California.
East Rancho Dominguez Paralegal Certificate | East Rancho Dominguez Paralegal Degrees