Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near San Rafael California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near San Rafael CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive 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 options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous options? Many potential students begin by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. However, 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 factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
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 opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in San Rafael CA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained 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 also. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected 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 obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and may be a good alternative for students living in San Rafael CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee 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 reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the San Rafael CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important factors to research also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous San Rafael CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some San Rafael CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the San Rafael CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first investigate those schools that are within the San Rafael CA area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price depending on the credential received and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in San Rafael CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near San Rafael CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in offers that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in San Rafael
Choose the Right San Rafael Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal training program is an essential 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 attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your San Rafael home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Several kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in San Rafael California.
San Rafael Paralegal Schools | San Rafael Paralegal Training