Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Susanville California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Susanville 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 comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective 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. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will address those topics and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Susanville CA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial 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 lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their regular activities might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Susanville CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve just six months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. 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 program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining 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 Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and can be a good alternative for students living in Susanville CA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Susanville CA area, in addition to trade and vocational 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 certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant aspects to consider as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs 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 pick should be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Susanville CA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Susanville CA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Susanville CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in California or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary 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 wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially consider those schools that are within the Susanville CA area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, 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 also. Financial aid may be accessible to help reduce part of the expense, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Susanville CA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Susanville CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you select offers that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Susanville
Enroll in the Best Susanville Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies certificate program is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed 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 Susanville residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Susanville California.
Susanville Paralegal Schools | Susanville Paralegal Training