Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near Murrieta California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Murrieta CA and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic choices are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Many potential students begin by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school ought to be taken into account also. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Murrieta CA lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their regular tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Murrieta CA is by earning a certificate, which can require just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for students living in Murrieta CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may 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 education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Murrieta CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial issues to think about also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Murrieta CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs 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 make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Murrieta CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Murrieta CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you desire to work. 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 wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Murrieta CA region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Murrieta CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Murrieta CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Murrieta
Choose the Right Murrieta Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal training program is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed 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 Murrieta residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Murrieta California.