Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near Santa Monica California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Santa Monica CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you locate the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic options are being offered, both on campus and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school ought to be taken into consideration also. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one prior to making your choice. But first, let's have a look at the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Santa Monica CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few 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 program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more popular and may be a good option for those living in Santa Monica CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can often be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Santa Monica CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to research also, 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 properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Santa Monica CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Santa Monica CA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Santa Monica CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Santa Monica CA area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible 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 Santa Monica 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 paralegal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Santa Monica CA, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Santa Monica
Choose the Right Santa Monica Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies certificate school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Santa Monica residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Santa Monica California.
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