Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Right One Near San Pablo California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near San Pablo CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will cover those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold the same job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist San Pablo CA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. 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 might assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their day-to-day activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in San Pablo CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Degrees
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more available and may be an excellent option for those living in San Pablo CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the San Pablo 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 degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical issues to consider as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many San Pablo CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some San Pablo CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to start creating contacts within the San Pablo CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing 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 sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those colleges that are within the San Pablo CA region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be available to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in San Pablo CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of 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 Pablo CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select provides that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in San Pablo
Enroll in the Best San Pablo Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal degree school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed 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 Pablo home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each school and make your final decision. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in San Pablo California.
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