Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Right One Near Greenwood Village Colorado
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Greenwood Village CO, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school should be taken into consideration as well. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Greenwood Village CO lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their routine activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. 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 confined to clerical or administrative duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps 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 begin your career as a paralegal in Greenwood Village CO is by earning a certificate, which can require just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Colorado to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected certifying agencies in the field 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 cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Greenwood Village CO looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into 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 setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Greenwood Village CO area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important aspects to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation 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 ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a highly regarded 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 education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Greenwood Village CO law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you pick 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 contact a few Greenwood Village CO law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Greenwood Village CO legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be beneficial to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in Colorado or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those schools that are within the Greenwood Village CO region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Greenwood Village CO. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Greenwood Village CO, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Greenwood Village
Choose the Best Greenwood Village Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal certificate school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Greenwood Village home. Paralegal training programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Different types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects 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 chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Greenwood Village Colorado.
Greenwood Village Paralegal Programs | Greenwood Village Paralegal Certificate Programs