Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Right One Near San Gabriel California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near San Gabriel CA and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will discuss 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 Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help San Gabriel CA lawyers with a diverse array of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare 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 complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. 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 Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in San Gabriel CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and can be a good option for individuals living in San Gabriel CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address 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 school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the San Gabriel CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to find out 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 the majority of potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial aspects to research also, 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 properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many San Gabriel CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several San Gabriel CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the San Gabriel CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the San Gabriel CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in San Gabriel CA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near San Gabriel CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose provides that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in San Gabriel
Enroll in the Best San Gabriel Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your San Gabriel residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the right education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in San Gabriel California.
San Gabriel Paralegal Courses | San Gabriel Paralegal Programs