Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Best One Near San Marino California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near San Marino CA and begin your journey that will result in a fulfilling profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students start by trying to find schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your selection. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill comparable job roles 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 assist San Marino CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and very challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in San Marino CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Training
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in San Marino CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about 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 conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the San Marino CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate 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 previously covered, there are other crucial aspects to research as well, 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 programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, 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 obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of San Marino CA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several San Marino CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the San Marino CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those colleges that are within the San Marino CA region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential received and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize some of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in San Marino CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near San Marino CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you select makes available that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in San Marino
Choose the Right San Marino Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies degree school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your San Marino home. Paralegal training programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in San Marino California.
San Marino Paralegal Courses | San Marino Paralegal Programs