Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Best One Near Greeley Colorado
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Greeley CO and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your selection. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Greeley CO lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs 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 requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Greeley CO is by earning a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for 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, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Colorado to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected 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 school (we will address 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 paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Classes
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more popular and may be a good option for individuals living in Greeley CO looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Greeley CO area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate 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 previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal 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 might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Greeley CO law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Greeley CO law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide a means for students to start developing contacts within the Greeley CO legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to select a paralegal school domiciled in Colorado or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to create relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may need to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Greeley CO region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be accessible to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Greeley CO. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Greeley CO, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you select offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Greeley
Choose the Right Greeley Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training 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 on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Greeley residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Greeley Colorado.