Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Best One Near Maywood California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Maywood CA, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with numerous options? Many potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only factors you must consider. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Maywood CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Maywood CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Maywood CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Maywood CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other significant aspects to think about as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at 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 select need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Maywood CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Maywood CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Maywood CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ among states, it might be advantageous to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain 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 live outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those colleges that are within the Maywood CA area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, 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 as well. Financial aid might be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Maywood CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times 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 Maywood CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Maywood
Enroll in the Right Maywood Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal certificate program is a crucial first step toward 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 Maywood home. Paralegal education programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Maywood California.