Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Best One Near Englewood Colorado
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Englewood CO, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. However, it's important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic options are being offered, both at school and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you need to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Englewood CO attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their daily activities might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in Englewood CO is by earning a certificate, which can take just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Colorado to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and may be an excellent option for individuals living in Englewood CO looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more 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 considering are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Englewood CO area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important issues to think about also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Englewood CO law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Englewood CO law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also present a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Englewood CO legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering 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 good relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in Colorado or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Englewood CO area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce part of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Englewood CO. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased 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 weekend or evening classes near Englewood CO, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Englewood
Enroll in the Right Englewood Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the best paralegal studies certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Englewood home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Englewood Colorado.
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