Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Best One Near Paramount California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Paramount CA and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will cover those issues and other important questions that you should be asking 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 instructional alternatives that are available 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 separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Paramount CA lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their routine activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because 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 Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Paramount CA is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate 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 school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and may be a good alternative for students living in Paramount CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Paramount CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a recognized 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 get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Paramount CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Paramount CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Paramount CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing 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 great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ among states, it might be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Paramount CA region.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Paramount CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Paramount CA, verify 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 makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making-up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Paramount
Enroll in the Best Paramount Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Paramount residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Several kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Paramount California.
Paramount Paralegal Programs | Paramount Paralegal Certificate Programs