Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Best One Near Golden Colorado
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Golden CO, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? Some potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable 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 qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Golden CO attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily activities may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Golden CO is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Colorado to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Golden CO searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Golden CO area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical factors to research also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency 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 receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Golden CO law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Golden CO law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the Golden CO legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide 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 graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign 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 School's Location? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be beneficial to select a legal assistant school located in Colorado or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially look at those schools that are within the Golden CO area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Golden CO. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, some of these added costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Golden CO, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, find out what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Golden
Enroll in the Best Golden Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the right paralegal certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Golden residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Several kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education 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 ideal training you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Golden Colorado.
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