Paralegal Studies Course
How to Pick the Right One Near South Lake Tahoe California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near South Lake Tahoe CA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be taken into consideration as well. Later on in this post we will cover a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help South Lake Tahoe CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their regular activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. 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 action. But paralegals are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in South Lake Tahoe CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve just six 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 obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent option for individuals living in South Lake Tahoe CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the South Lake Tahoe CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important factors to consider as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should 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 education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many South Lake Tahoe CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few South Lake Tahoe CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the South Lake Tahoe CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those colleges that are within the South Lake Tahoe CA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help minimize part of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in South Lake Tahoe CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near South Lake Tahoe CA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in provides that option. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in South Lake Tahoe
Choose the Best South Lake Tahoe Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the right paralegal studies degree school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed 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 South Lake Tahoe home. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in South Lake Tahoe California.
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