Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Right One Near Watsonville California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Watsonville CA, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational options are being offered, both on campus and online. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. Later in this post we will cover a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, 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 Watsonville CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their routine activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number 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 possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Watsonville CA is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded 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 school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and can be an excellent alternative for those living in Watsonville CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Watsonville CA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to 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 prospective 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 significant issues to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a respected accrediting agency 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 distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Watsonville CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Watsonville 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 though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the Watsonville CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ among states, it may be beneficial to choose a paralegal school located in California or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may need to first consider those schools that are within the Watsonville CA area.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. 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 as well. Financial aid might be available to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Watsonville CA. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Watsonville CA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Watsonville
Choose the Best Watsonville Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies training program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Watsonville residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to assess each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the right education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Watsonville California.
Watsonville Paralegal Certificate | Watsonville Paralegal Degrees