Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Right One Near North Auburn California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near North Auburn CA, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic choices are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right program with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are prime considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you must consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school should be taken into consideration too. We will cover those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist North Auburn CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly 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 noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their day-to-day activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in North Auburn CA is by earning a certificate, which can take just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might 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 maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and may be an excellent alternative for those living in North Auburn CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the North Auburn CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial factors to research as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous North Auburn CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several North Auburn CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the North Auburn CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary among states, it might be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the North Auburn CA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize some of the cost, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in North Auburn CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near North Auburn CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in North Auburn
Enroll in the Best North Auburn Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies certificate school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your North Auburn residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Various types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your final selection. And with the right training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in North Auburn California.
North Auburn Paralegal Studies | North Auburn Paralegal Schools