Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Fountain Valley California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Fountain Valley CA and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. However, it's important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you require to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are becoming available, both on campus and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. We will cover those topics and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same 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 help Fountain Valley CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their everyday tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Fountain Valley CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Fountain Valley CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education 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 respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Fountain Valley CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant aspects to think about also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Fountain Valley CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, 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. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Fountain Valley CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Fountain Valley CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. 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 good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary among states, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to create relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you want to work. 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 need to initially look at those colleges that are within the Fountain Valley CA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential earned and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Fountain Valley CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Fountain Valley CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select offers that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Fountain Valley
Choose the Best Fountain Valley Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal training school is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Fountain Valley home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to assess each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Fountain Valley California.
Fountain Valley Paralegal Certificate | Fountain Valley Paralegal Degrees