Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Menlo Park California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Menlo Park CA and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic choices are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are prime considerations when picking a college, they are not the only factors you ought to consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school should be taken into consideration too. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Menlo Park CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and may be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Menlo Park CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Menlo Park CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when 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 driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial aspects to think about as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Menlo Park CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Menlo Park CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Menlo Park CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial 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 differ from one state to another, it might be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Menlo Park CA region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential earned and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Menlo Park CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Menlo Park CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you choose offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Menlo Park
Enroll in the Right Menlo Park Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Menlo Park home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Menlo Park California.
Menlo Park How To Become A Paralegal | Menlo Park Paralegal Certificate Online