Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Port Hueneme California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Port Hueneme CA and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic choices are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many options? Many potential students start by trying to find schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Port Hueneme CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
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. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Port Hueneme CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 school (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Training
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Port Hueneme CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary 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 education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Port Hueneme CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical factors to think about also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Port Hueneme CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Port Hueneme CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also present a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the Port Hueneme CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you wish to practice. 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 want to first look at those colleges that are within the Port Hueneme CA region.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help reduce some of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Port Hueneme CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Port Hueneme CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in offers that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Port Hueneme
Enroll in the Best Port Hueneme Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Port Hueneme residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Port Hueneme California.
Port Hueneme Paralegal Programs | Port Hueneme Paralegal Certificate Programs