Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Best One Near Lafayette California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Lafayette CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are several other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will cover those topics and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps 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 begin your career as a legal assistant in Lafayette CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Lafayette CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, 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 obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Lafayette CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical aspects to think about also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Lafayette CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Lafayette CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Lafayette CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. 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 an excellent indication 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? Since laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to initially look at those colleges that are within the Lafayette CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce part of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Lafayette CA. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Lafayette 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 select makes available that option. Finally, find out what the process is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Lafayette
Enroll in the Right Lafayette Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the right paralegal studies training program is an essential first step to guarantee 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 attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Lafayette residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as 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 broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Lafayette California.