Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Right One Near Fillmore California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Fillmore CA and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's important that you locate the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students begin by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable 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. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those topics and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. However, 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 Fillmore CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, 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 may assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their daily activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able 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 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 job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Fillmore CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have acquired 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 practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Training
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be a good alternative for students living in Fillmore CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Fillmore CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. 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 previously discussed, there are other critical factors to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School 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 program, it may 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 demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Fillmore CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Fillmore CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Fillmore CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school located in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Fillmore CA area.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. Having said that, 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 as well. Financial aid may be available to help minimize some of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Fillmore CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Fillmore CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select provides that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Fillmore
Choose the Right Fillmore Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies degree program is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Fillmore residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection 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 schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Fillmore California.
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