Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Poway California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Poway CA and start your journey that will result in a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of educational alternatives are being offered in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right school with numerous options? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when picking a school, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school need to be taken into account also. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part 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 belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Poway CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay 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 involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to manage 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 opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Poway CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent alternative for students living in Poway CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Poway CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to consider as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a reputable organization 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 distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Poway CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Poway CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Poway CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially look at those schools that are within the Poway CA region.
What is the Total 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 expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Poway CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Poway CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Poway
Choose the Right Poway Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies degree program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding 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 comfort and privacy of your Poway residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Poway California.