Paralegal Studies Program
How to Find the Best One Near El Dorado Hills California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near El Dorado Hills CA and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find 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 more and more academic options are being offered, both at school and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. Later in this article we will cover a list of questions that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job positions and functions, only 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 Dorado Hills CA lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but some of their everyday activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting 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 complex and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a paralegal in El Dorado Hills CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job 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 earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more common and can be an excellent option for students living in El Dorado Hills CA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the El Dorado Hills CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical factors to think about as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized 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 targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many El Dorado Hills CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some El Dorado Hills CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the El Dorado Hills CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary from state to state, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to build relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of 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, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first investigate those schools that are within the El Dorado Hills CA area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in El Dorado Hills CA. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near El Dorado Hills CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in El Dorado Hills
Enroll in the Right El Dorado Hills Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your El Dorado Hills residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in many lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to examine each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in El Dorado Hills California.
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