Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Right One Near Lawndale California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Lawndale CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational options are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Lawndale CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their regular activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Lawndale CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Lawndale CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Lawndale CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical aspects to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several 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 Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Lawndale CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Lawndale CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the Lawndale CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you desire to practice. 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 wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the Lawndale CA region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Lawndale CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Lawndale 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 enroll in provides that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Lawndale
Enroll in the Best Lawndale Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies certificate program is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Lawndale residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade 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 broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful 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 furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Lawndale California.
Lawndale Paralegal Certificate Online | Lawndale Paralegal Studies