Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Best One Near Mountain View California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Mountain View 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 receive the comprehensive training that you need 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 choices are being offered, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you ought to consider. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your choice. But first, let's take a look at the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably 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 start your career as a legal assistant in Mountain View CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some 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 program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more prevalent and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Mountain View CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Mountain View CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to research as well, such as 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 considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Mountain View CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Mountain View CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Mountain View CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those colleges that are within the Mountain View CA area.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, 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 also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Mountain View CA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Mountain View CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Last, inquire 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 Mountain View
Choose the Right Mountain View Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training program is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Mountain View residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you decide to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Mountain View California.
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