Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Best One Near West Rancho Dominguez California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near West Rancho Dominguez CA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely know, 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. However with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students start by trying to find schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program must be taken into consideration too. Later on in this post we will cover a list of questions that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, 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 Rancho Dominguez CA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their routine tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training 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 requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in West Rancho Dominguez CA is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in California to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in West Rancho Dominguez CA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the West Rancho Dominguez CA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical issues to consider as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some 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 choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many West Rancho Dominguez CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
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 special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several West Rancho Dominguez CA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the West Rancho Dominguez CA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to choose a paralegal school located in California or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those colleges that are within the West Rancho Dominguez CA region.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in West Rancho Dominguez CA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near West Rancho Dominguez CA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in West Rancho Dominguez
Choose the Right West Rancho Dominguez Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal degree program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your West Rancho Dominguez residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in West Rancho Dominguez California.
West Rancho Dominguez Paralegal Training | West Rancho Dominguez How To Become A Paralegal