Paralegal Studies Program
How to Find the Right One Near Redlands California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Redlands CA, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of educational alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many alternatives? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will discuss those issues and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job roles and responsibilities, only 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 legal assistants and paralegals assist Redlands CA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite 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 clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Redlands CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies in the field 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 earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and may be a good option for those living in Redlands CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet 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 caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Redlands CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Redlands 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 programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Redlands CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the Redlands CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you want 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 may want to first look at those schools that are within the Redlands CA region.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Redlands CA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Redlands CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Last, inquire what the process 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 Redlands
Choose the Right Redlands Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal training school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Redlands home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Redlands California.