Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Best One Near Salinas California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Salinas CA and begin your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic choices are being offered, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students begin by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part 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 classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Salinas CA lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. 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 practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more suited 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 preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Salinas CA is by earning a certificate, which can take just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and may be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Salinas CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Salinas CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant issues to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a recognized 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 targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Salinas CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Salinas CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Salinas CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those schools that are within the Salinas CA area.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize part of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Salinas CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Salinas CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select offers that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Salinas
Enroll in the Right Salinas Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Salinas residence. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Salinas California.
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