Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Best One Near West Whittier Los Nietos California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near West Whittier Los Nietos CA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of academic options are being offered in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill comparable 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 separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help West Whittier Los Nietos CA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their everyday tasks may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually 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 fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in West Whittier Los Nietos CA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in California to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more prevalent and may be an excellent alternative for those living in West Whittier Los Nietos CA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the West Whittier Los Nietos CA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant factors to consider also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous West Whittier Los Nietos CA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you choose 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 West Whittier Los Nietos CA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also present a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the West Whittier Los Nietos CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in California or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to initially look at those schools that are within the West Whittier Los Nietos CA area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in West Whittier Los Nietos CA. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near West Whittier Los Nietos CA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you choose offers that option. Last, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in West Whittier Los Nietos
Choose the Best West Whittier Los Nietos Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal training school 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 at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your West Whittier Los Nietos home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and 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 career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in West Whittier Los Nietos California.
West Whittier Los Nietos Paralegal Degrees | West Whittier Los Nietos Paralegal Courses