Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near El Cajon California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near El Cajon CA and begin your journey that will result in a fulfilling profession 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 achieve success. A growing number of educational options are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with so many options? Some potential students start by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school must be considered too. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist El Cajon CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their daily activities may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in El Cajon CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning 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 Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and may be a good option for students living in El Cajon CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can 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 training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the El Cajon CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant issues to consider as well, including 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 researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous El Cajon CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to 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 school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several El Cajon CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the El Cajon CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that 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. In addition, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first look at those schools that are within the El Cajon CA area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable 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 El Cajon CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near El Cajon CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you choose makes available that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in El Cajon
Enroll in the Best El Cajon Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies degree program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your El Cajon home. Paralegal training programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in El Cajon California.
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