Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Right One Near Piedmont California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Piedmont CA and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. A growing number of educational alternatives are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many alternatives? A number of potential students start by looking for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. Later in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your decision. But before we do, let's take a look at the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Piedmont CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 school (we will address the benefits 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.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more prevalent and can be an excellent option for those living in Piedmont CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Piedmont CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial issues to think about also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might 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 obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Piedmont CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of 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 considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Piedmont CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation 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 outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the Piedmont CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. 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 sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those colleges that are within the Piedmont CA area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help minimize some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Piedmont CA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Piedmont CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Piedmont
Enroll in the Right Piedmont Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies certificate program is an important 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 Piedmont home. Paralegal education programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Several kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you elect to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Piedmont California.