Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Right One Near El Monte California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near El Monte CA and begin 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 best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when picking a school, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help El Monte CA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their everyday activities may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in El Monte CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover 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 Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more prevalent and can be a good option for students living in El Monte CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the El Monte CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must 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 also. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant factors to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many El Monte CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some El Monte CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the El Monte CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating 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 graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ among states, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you wish to work. 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 may need to initially investigate those schools that are within the El Monte CA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in El Monte CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near El Monte CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you choose makes available that option. Last, find out what the process is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in El Monte
Choose the Best El Monte Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal studies training program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your El Monte residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence 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 greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating 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 have the ability to review each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in El Monte California.