Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Best One Near Mountain View California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Mountain View CA, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the right program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. More and more academic choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? A number of prospective students start by trying to find schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 examine and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Mountain View CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Mountain View CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Mountain View CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical factors to research as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to 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 targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of 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 usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Mountain View CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the Mountain View CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first investigate those schools that are within the Mountain View CA region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Mountain View CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Mountain View CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in provides that option. Last, find out what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Mountain View
Enroll in the Best Mountain View Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Mountain View residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Mountain View California.
Mountain View Paralegal Degrees | Mountain View Paralegal Courses