Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Pomona California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Pomona CA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right program with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will address those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Pomona CA lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their regular tasks may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and very challenging. 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 action. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Pomona CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, 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 may not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Pomona CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Pomona CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important factors to consider also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Pomona CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Pomona CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also present a means for students to start creating contacts within the Pomona CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. 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 look at those schools that are within the Pomona CA region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Pomona CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these added costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Pomona CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Pomona
Choose the Right Pomona Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies training school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Pomona home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many 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 vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Pomona California.
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