Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Best One Near Larkspur California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Larkspur CA, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you require to succeed. A growing number of academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus 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 school with so many alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you should consider. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Larkspur CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 discuss 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.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and can be a good alternative for those living in Larkspur CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Larkspur CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include 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 discussed, there are other significant factors to consider also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Larkspur CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Larkspur CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to start creating contacts within the Larkspur CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Larkspur CA area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Larkspur CA. Of course if you decide to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Larkspur CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you enroll in provides that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Larkspur
Enroll in the Right Larkspur Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Larkspur home. Paralegal training programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your final decision. And with the right education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Larkspur California.