Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Right One Near Pleasant Hill California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Pleasant Hill CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? 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. Although location and cost are prime considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only factors you must consider. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill comparable job roles 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 separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Pleasant Hill CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day activities may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Pleasant Hill CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more common and can be a good alternative for those living in Pleasant Hill CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Pleasant Hill CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many 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 significant factors to research also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Pleasant Hill CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Pleasant Hill CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Pleasant Hill CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you choose 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 want to initially look at those colleges that are within the Pleasant Hill CA region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Pleasant Hill CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Pleasant Hill CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you select offers that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Pleasant Hill
Choose the Right Pleasant Hill Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree program 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 participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Pleasant Hill residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Pleasant Hill California.
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