Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near Palmdale California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Palmdale CA and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of educational choices are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right school with numerous options? Many potential students start by searching 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 simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly 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 essentially both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, 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 help Palmdale CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. 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 trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their regular tasks can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Palmdale CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected 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 program (we will address the benefits 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.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and may be a good alternative for students living in Palmdale CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures 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 greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Palmdale CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to 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 the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important aspects to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program 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 receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Palmdale CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Palmdale CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Palmdale CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first look at those colleges that are within the Palmdale CA region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Palmdale CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Palmdale CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Palmdale
Choose the Right Palmdale Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies degree program is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Palmdale home. Paralegal education programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Palmdale California.
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