Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Right One Near Echo Park California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Echo Park CA and begin your journey that will lead to a rewarding career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to succeed. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous alternatives? Some potential students start by looking for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just 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 legal assistants and paralegals assist Echo Park CA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their routine activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed 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 functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. 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 on their own.
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. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Echo Park CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and can be an excellent option for students living in Echo Park CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Echo Park CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial factors to think about as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Echo Park CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Echo Park CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Echo Park CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign 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 School Located? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those colleges that are within the Echo Park CA area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Echo Park CA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Echo Park CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose provides that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Echo Park
Enroll in the Best Echo Park Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal training school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Echo Park residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Echo Park California.
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