Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Best One Near East Haven Connecticut
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near East Haven CT, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. However, it's crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to succeed. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should consider. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will address those issues and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available 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 roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help East Haven CT lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their day-to-day activities may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
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. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in East Haven CT is by earning a certificate, which may require just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and may be an excellent option for those living in East Haven CT searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in greater 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 school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the East Haven CT area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical factors to think about as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many East Haven CT law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some East Haven CT law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the East Haven CT legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ among states, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Connecticut or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the East Haven CT region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in East Haven CT. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near East Haven CT, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select makes available that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in East Haven
Enroll in the Right East Haven Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal degree program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your East Haven home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in East Haven Connecticut.
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