Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Best One Near Commerce City Colorado
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Commerce City CO, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right school with numerous alternatives? A number of potential students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program ought to be taken into account too. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's have 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
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill comparable job positions 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 category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Commerce City CO lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their day-to-day tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex 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 proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Commerce City CO is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Colorado to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Commerce City CO looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Commerce City CO area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical aspects to consider also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Commerce City CO law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Commerce City CO law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Commerce City CO legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Colorado or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within the Commerce City CO region.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Commerce City CO. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Commerce City CO, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Commerce City
Enroll in the Right Commerce City Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies degree school is a vital first step toward 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 comfort and privacy of your Commerce City residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Commerce City Colorado.
Commerce City Paralegal Programs | Commerce City Paralegal Certificate Programs