Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Right One Near Lemon Hill California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Lemon Hill CA and begin your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? Many prospective students begin by trying to find schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school ought to be considered also. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Lemon Hill CA attorneys with a wide variety 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 legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their routine tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably 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 start your career as a legal assistant in Lemon Hill CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for those living in Lemon Hill CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address 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 sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Lemon Hill CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant factors to consider as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a recognized 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 online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Lemon Hill CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special 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 education exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Lemon Hill CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Lemon Hill CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement 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 substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the Lemon Hill CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce part of the expense, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Lemon Hill CA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Lemon Hill CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Last, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Lemon Hill
Enroll in the Best Lemon Hill Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal training program is a crucial 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 on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Lemon Hill residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Several types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Lemon Hill California.
Lemon Hill Paralegal Schools | Lemon Hill Paralegal Training