Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Orange California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Orange CA, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to guarantee 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 know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational options are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered also. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both fill comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Orange CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Orange CA is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more common and can be a good alternative for those living in Orange CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive 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 organization, for instance 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 right choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Orange CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant aspects to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. 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. Numerous Orange CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick 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 Orange CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also provide a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Orange CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Orange CA area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help offset part of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Orange CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Orange CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select offers that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Orange
Choose the Right Orange Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Orange home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Orange California.
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