Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Right One Near Redwood City California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Redwood City CA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. More and more academic alternatives are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous options? A number of potential students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold comparable job positions and functions, 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 Redwood City CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. 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 firm might help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their day-to-day activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Redwood City CA is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for students living in Redwood City CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Redwood City CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must 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 as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial issues to think about also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick 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 learning. 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 as well. Many Redwood City CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Redwood City CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Redwood City CA legal field. Find out 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 provided? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ among states, it may be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you want to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially consider those schools that are within the Redwood City CA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Redwood City CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Redwood City CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Redwood City
Choose the Right Redwood City Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the best paralegal degree program is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Redwood City residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, 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 ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Redwood City California.
Redwood City Paralegal Certificate Online | Redwood City Paralegal Studies