Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Best One Near La Canada Flintridge California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near La Canada Flintridge CA and start your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. However with so many options to choose from, where does one start? Many potential students start by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. We will cover those issues and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered 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, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist La Canada Flintridge CA attorneys with a wide range of job duties, 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. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their regular tasks can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in La Canada Flintridge CA is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and can be a good option for those living in La Canada Flintridge CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss 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 program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the La Canada Flintridge 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 if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important factors to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of La Canada Flintridge CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few La Canada Flintridge CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also provide a means for students to begin creating contacts within the La Canada Flintridge CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance 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 support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you desire 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 may want to initially consider those colleges that are within the La Canada Flintridge CA area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in La Canada Flintridge CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near La Canada Flintridge CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select makes available that option. Last, find out what the process is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in La Canada Flintridge
Enroll in the Right La Canada Flintridge Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the right paralegal degree school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your La Canada Flintridge home. Paralegal education programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in La Canada Flintridge California.
La Canada Flintridge Paralegal Schools | La Canada Flintridge Paralegal Training