Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Santee California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Santee CA, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to be successful. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one prior to making your choice. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job roles and functions, only 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 Santee CA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Santee CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve as little as six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and may be an excellent option for students living in Santee CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Santee 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 particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial aspects to research also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Santee CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Santee CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Santee CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it might be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to first consider those colleges that are within the Santee CA region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help minimize part of the cost, so make sure to check with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Santee CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Santee CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Santee
Choose the Best Santee Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Santee home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to examine each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Santee California.