Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Right One Near Rancho Cordova California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Rancho Cordova CA and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many options? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program should be taken into account as well. Later on in this post we will cover a list of questions that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one prior to making your decision. 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
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Rancho Cordova CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their daily activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants 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 take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Rancho Cordova CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just six months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your employment 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and can be a good option for individuals living in Rancho Cordova CA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum 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 reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Rancho Cordova CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate 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 begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial issues to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Rancho Cordova CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Rancho Cordova CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the Rancho Cordova CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may need to first consider those schools that are within the Rancho Cordova CA area.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include 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 make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Rancho Cordova CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Rancho Cordova CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose provides that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Rancho Cordova
Enroll in the Best Rancho Cordova Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal training school is an essential first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Rancho Cordova home. Paralegal training programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Rancho Cordova California.
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