Paralegal Studies Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Hawthorne California

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Hawthorne CA, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. However, it's important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to be successful. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program ought to be considered also. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Hawthorne CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their everyday activities might involve:

• Researching and fact checking cases
• Conducting research on related laws and cases
• Composing correspondence and legal papers
• Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
• Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
• Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records

With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.

Paralegal Training and Certification

As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Hawthorne CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal 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. A few of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 address the advantages 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 Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools

Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be a good option for individuals living in Hawthorne CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, 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 considering are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs

Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Hawthorne CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial aspects to consider as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.

Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Hawthorne CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.

What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school 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 call some Hawthorne CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional 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 present an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Hawthorne CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.

Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it may be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to first look at those schools that are within the Hawthorne CA region.

What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce part of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Hawthorne CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.

Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Hawthorne CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose provides that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Hawthorne

Enroll in the Right Hawthorne Paralegal Studies Program

Choosing the right paralegal studies certificate school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Hawthorne home. Paralegal education programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Hawthorne California.

 

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