Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Right One Near Huntington Park California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Huntington Park CA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right program with numerous alternatives? Many potential students start by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right 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 need to be taken into account as well. Later in this post we will cover a list of questions that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Huntington Park CA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their day-to-day tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Huntington Park CA is by earning a certificate, which may take just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for students living in Huntington Park CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Huntington Park CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of 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 critical aspects to think about as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose should be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Huntington Park CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Huntington Park CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Huntington Park CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it might be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within the Huntington Park CA area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help reduce part of the expense, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Huntington Park CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Huntington Park CA, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Huntington Park
Choose the Best Huntington Park Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal training school is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Huntington Park residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the right education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Huntington Park California.
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