Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Lompoc California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Lompoc CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to achieve success. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? A number of potential students start by trying to find schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later on in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are offered 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, just with different titles. However, 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 Lompoc CA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their day-to-day activities might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Lompoc CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Lompoc CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea 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 available at community and junior colleges in the Lompoc CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical issues to research also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Lompoc CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Lompoc CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Lompoc CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it might be beneficial to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those schools that are within the Lompoc CA area.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset part of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Lompoc CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Lompoc CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you choose provides that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Lompoc
Enroll in the Right Lompoc Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal certificate program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Lompoc residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Different types of private and public institutions offer 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 opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best 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 furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Lompoc California.