Paralegal Studies Course
How to Pick the Best One Near Goleta California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Goleta CA and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more academic choices are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they look 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. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school need to be considered too. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Goleta CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their regular tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role 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 action. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to handle 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 perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in Goleta CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more prevalent and may be a good option for those living in Goleta CA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Goleta CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial issues to think about as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get 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 standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Goleta CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select 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 call several Goleta CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Goleta CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ among states, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you choose to practice. 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 might wish to first consider those colleges that are within the Goleta CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Goleta CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Goleta CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you choose makes available that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Goleta
Choose the Right Goleta Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal studies training program is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Goleta home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Several kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Goleta California.
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