Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Scotts Valley California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Scotts Valley CA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the right program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill the same job positions and functions, 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 help Scotts Valley CA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability 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 perhaps 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 begin your career as a paralegal in Scotts Valley CA is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Scotts Valley CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Scotts Valley CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important aspects to think about also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Scotts Valley CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Scotts Valley CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Scotts Valley CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary among states, it may be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to build relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to first look at those colleges that are within the Scotts Valley CA region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset part of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Scotts Valley CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Scotts Valley CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose 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 Becoming a Legal Assistant in Scotts Valley
Enroll in the Right Scotts Valley Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal studies certificate program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Scotts Valley home. Paralegal training programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Different kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Scotts Valley California.
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