Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Best One Near El Centro California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near El Centro CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students start by trying to find schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program should be taken into consideration too. Later on in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist El Centro CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their day-to-day tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. 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 action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in El Centro CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and may be a good option for those living in El Centro CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the El Centro CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical issues to think about also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of El Centro CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some El Centro CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the El Centro CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large 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? Because laws vary among states, it might be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those schools that are within the El Centro CA region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help minimize some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in El Centro CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near El Centro CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in El Centro
Enroll in the Best El Centro Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal certificate program is a vital first step toward 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 attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your El Centro home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Several kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your education 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 El Centro California.