Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Right One Near Pasadena California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Pasadena CA and begin your journey that will lead to a rewarding profession in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous alternatives? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option 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 analyzing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your decision. But first, 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 Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold 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 are part of a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Pasadena CA attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, 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 are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger number 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 arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Pasadena CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require 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 numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few 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 benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and may be an excellent option for those living in Pasadena CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Pasadena CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to 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 most potential students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial issues to consider as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Pasadena CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Pasadena CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Pasadena CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it might be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Pasadena CA region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Pasadena CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Pasadena CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Pasadena
Enroll in the Best Pasadena Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal training school is an essential 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 on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Pasadena home. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the right education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Pasadena California.
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