Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Right One Near San Marcos California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near San Marcos CA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the right program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right program with numerous options? A number of prospective students begin by searching for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be taken into consideration too. We will cover those topics and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help San Marcos CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, 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 may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in San Marcos CA is by earning a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for those living in San Marcos CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain 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 study in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the San Marcos CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant aspects to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous San Marcos CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program 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 San Marcos CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the San Marcos CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer 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 secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement 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 in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it might be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the San Marcos CA area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce part of the cost, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in San Marcos CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near San Marcos CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in San Marcos
Enroll in the Best San Marcos Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal training program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your San Marcos residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Different kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in San Marcos California.