Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Right One Near Rosedale California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Rosedale CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's essential that you locate the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to succeed. As you most likely know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students begin by trying to find schools within traveling 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 option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Rosedale CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their regular activities can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated 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 proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Rosedale CA is by earning a certificate, which can take 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 acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more available and may be a good alternative for students living in Rosedale CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, for example 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 ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Rosedale CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of 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 critical aspects to research also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee 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. A number of Rosedale CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Rosedale CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Rosedale CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it may be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you choose 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 wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Rosedale CA area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Rosedale CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced 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 Rosedale CA, make certain classes are available 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. Last, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Rosedale
Choose the Right Rosedale Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies training school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Rosedale home. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Different kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Rosedale California.
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