Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Right One Near Brighton Colorado
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Brighton CO and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. More and more educational choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one before making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Brighton CO attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically 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 abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their routine activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Brighton CO is by earning a certificate, which can require just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Colorado to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and may be an excellent option for individuals living in Brighton CO searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address 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 looking into are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Brighton CO area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most potential 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 important aspects to consider as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
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 may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Brighton CO law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Brighton CO law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present a means for students to begin developing contacts within the Brighton CO legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it may be advantageous to select a paralegal school domiciled in Colorado or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Brighton CO area.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce part of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Brighton CO. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Brighton CO, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you select makes available that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Brighton
Enroll in the Right Brighton Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies training school is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Brighton home. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Brighton Colorado.
Brighton Paralegal Certificate Online | Brighton Paralegal Studies