Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Signal Hill California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Signal Hill CA, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right program with numerous options? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within commuting distance 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 just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will cover a list of questions that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, just 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 Signal Hill CA attorneys with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their regular tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and keep 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 complex and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel 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. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Signal Hill CA is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and may be a good alternative for students living in Signal Hill CA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Signal Hill CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to consider as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Signal Hill CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field 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 an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Signal Hill CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Signal Hill CA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to choose a paralegal school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially investigate those schools that are within the Signal Hill CA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential earned 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 might be available to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Signal Hill CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Signal Hill CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Signal Hill
Choose the Best Signal Hill Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding 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 privacy and comfort of your Signal Hill home. Paralegal training programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Signal Hill California.
Signal Hill Paralegal Certificate | Signal Hill Paralegal Degrees