Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near El Dorado Hills California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near El Dorado Hills CA and start your journey that will result in a fulfilling profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school must be considered too. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, 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. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist El Dorado Hills CA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including 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 work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their routine tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in El Dorado Hills CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Schools
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more prevalent and can be a good option for those living in El Dorado Hills CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the El Dorado Hills CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial aspects to consider also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of El Dorado Hills CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some El Dorado Hills CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, 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 office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the El Dorado Hills CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to first consider those colleges that are within the El Dorado Hills CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in El Dorado Hills CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near El Dorado Hills CA, make sure 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 provides that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in El Dorado Hills
Choose the Best El Dorado Hills Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal certificate program is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your El Dorado Hills residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Various types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in El Dorado Hills California.
El Dorado Hills How To Become A Paralegal | El Dorado Hills Paralegal Certificate Online