Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near Inglewood California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Inglewood CA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more educational options are being offered in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right program with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you need to take into consideration. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing 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 reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic choices 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 responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Inglewood CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their regular activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and keep 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. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions 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 ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Inglewood CA is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded 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 advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for students living in Inglewood CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Inglewood CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out 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 the majority of prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant issues to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Inglewood CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several Inglewood CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Inglewood CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary among states, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school located in California or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Inglewood CA area.
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 cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Inglewood CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Inglewood CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Inglewood
Enroll in the Right Inglewood Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal degree school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Inglewood home. Paralegal training programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Inglewood California.