Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Lomita California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Lomita CA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Many prospective students start by trying to find schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. 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 before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Lomita CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their daily activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, 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 quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Lomita CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and earn a certification. Even though 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 also. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent option for those living in Lomita CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address 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 school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Lomita CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial factors to research as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Lomita CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Lomita CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Lomita CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be beneficial to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to initially investigate those schools that are within the Lomita CA region.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Lomita CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Lomita CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Lomita
Choose the Best Lomita Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal training program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Lomita residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program 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 carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain 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 selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Lomita California.