Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Right One Near Glendale California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Glendale CA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more educational options are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous alternatives? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one before making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Glendale CA is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will address 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
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more common and can be a good alternative for students living in Glendale CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Glendale CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many 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 crucial aspects to research as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Glendale CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose 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 Glendale CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Glendale CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those schools that are within the Glendale CA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length 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 aid may be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Glendale CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Glendale CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you choose makes available that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Glendale
Choose the Best Glendale Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal studies degree school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Glendale residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Glendale California.
Glendale Paralegal Certificate Online | Glendale Paralegal Studies