Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Best One Near Southglenn Colorado
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Southglenn CO and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by trying to find schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only factors you should take into consideration. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you need to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your choice. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Southglenn CO lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, 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 could help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their day-to-day activities may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Southglenn CO is by obtaining a certificate, which may require just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Colorado to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and can be an excellent option for individuals living in Southglenn CO looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Southglenn CO area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate 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 covered, there are other significant aspects to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Southglenn CO law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Southglenn CO law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Southglenn CO legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Colorado legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school located in Colorado or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Southglenn CO region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ 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. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Southglenn CO. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Southglenn CO, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select provides that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Southglenn
Choose the Best Southglenn Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies training program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Southglenn home. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Southglenn Colorado.
Southglenn Paralegal Certificate | Southglenn Paralegal Degrees