Paralegal Studies Course
How to Pick the Best One Near Yucaipa California
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Yucaipa CA and begin your journey that will result in a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered also. We will address those issues and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Yucaipa CA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly 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 code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily tasks may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly 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 Yucaipa CA is by earning a certificate, which may take just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want 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 boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for those living in Yucaipa CA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Yucaipa CA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to research also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Yucaipa CA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you select 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 contact some Yucaipa CA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may 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 operation while attending school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Yucaipa CA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest 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 difficult without help. 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 sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with California legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in California or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially look at those colleges that are within the Yucaipa CA region.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Yucaipa CA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Yucaipa CA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you choose offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Yucaipa
Choose the Right Yucaipa Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Yucaipa residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Various types of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each school and make your final selection. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Yucaipa California.
Yucaipa Paralegal Certificate Programs | Yucaipa Paralegal Certificate