Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Best One Near San Clemente California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near San Clemente CA, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? Many prospective students begin by looking for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, 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 legal assistants and paralegals help San Clemente CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their everyday tasks might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and very challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in San Clemente CA is by earning a certificate, which may require just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more popular and may be a good alternative for those living in San Clemente CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example 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 might be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the San Clemente CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree 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 already discussed, there are other crucial factors to research also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a respected 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 targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of San Clemente CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several San Clemente CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to start establishing contacts within the San Clemente CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing offer 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 graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you want 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 may want to first look at those schools that are within the San Clemente CA area.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in San Clemente CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near San Clemente CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in San Clemente
Choose the Right San Clemente Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree program is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your San Clemente home. Paralegal training programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in San Clemente California.
San Clemente Paralegal Studies | San Clemente Paralegal Schools