Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Best One Near West Puente Valley California
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near West Puente Valley CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need to achieve success. 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. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students start by trying to find schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you ought to consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school should be considered as well. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help West Puente Valley CA attorneys 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 relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their everyday tasks can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume 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 arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in West Puente Valley CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for those living in West Puente Valley CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater 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 program and school you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the West Puente Valley CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of 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 critical issues to consider also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive 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 West Puente Valley 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 offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several West Puente Valley CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the West Puente Valley CA legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large 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? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to enroll in 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 local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to first investigate those schools that are within the West Puente Valley CA area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help minimize some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in West Puente Valley CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near West Puente Valley CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in West Puente Valley
Choose the Right West Puente Valley Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your West Puente Valley home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several 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 choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the right education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in West Puente Valley California.
West Puente Valley Paralegal Schools | West Puente Valley Paralegal Training