Paralegal Studies Program
How to Find the Right One Near View Park Windsor Hills California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near View Park Windsor Hills CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you locate 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 increasingly more academic alternatives are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach finding the right program with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on 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. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist View Park Windsor Hills CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their everyday tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, 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 paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in View Park Windsor Hills CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial 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 schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for those living in View Park Windsor Hills CA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address 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 sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the View Park Windsor Hills CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important aspects to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many View Park Windsor Hills CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some View Park Windsor Hills CA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which 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 outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the View Park Windsor Hills CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it might be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to build relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may need to initially investigate those schools that are within the View Park Windsor Hills CA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in View Park Windsor Hills CA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near View Park Windsor Hills CA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose offers that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in View Park Windsor Hills
Enroll in the Right View Park Windsor Hills Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the ideal paralegal studies training program is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your View Park Windsor Hills residence. Paralegal education programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in View Park Windsor Hills California.
View Park Windsor Hills Paralegal Programs | View Park Windsor Hills Paralegal Certificate Programs