Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near National City California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near National City CA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. More and more academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will address those topics and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold the same job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist National City CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their regular activities might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in National City CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address 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.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and may be a good option for individuals living in National City CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the National City CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential 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 also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many National City CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some National City CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the National City CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly 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 field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high 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 Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you choose to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to first look at those colleges that are within the National City CA region.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending 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 add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in National City CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near National City CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in National City
Choose the Right National City Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies certificate school is a crucial 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 attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your National City home. Paralegal education programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Several kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in National City California.
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