Paralegal Studies Program
How to Find the Right One Near Reedley California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Reedley CA and start your journey that will result in a fulfilling profession in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous alternatives? Many prospective students start by looking for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school must be considered as well. Later in this article we will cover a list of questions that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Reedley CA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay 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 quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Reedley CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more popular and can be an excellent option for those living in Reedley CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Reedley CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant issues to research also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also get 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 potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Reedley CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Reedley CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present a means for students to begin developing contacts within the Reedley CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Reedley CA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Reedley CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Reedley CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Reedley
Enroll in the Right Reedley Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal certificate program is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Reedley home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Different kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Reedley California.