Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Best One Near Ellington Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Ellington CT and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will receive 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 choices are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with so many options? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, 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 comparing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will cover a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your decision. But first, let's take a look at the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Ellington CT is by earning a certificate, which can require as little as 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Ellington CT searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Ellington CT area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical issues to think about also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Ellington CT law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Ellington CT law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to start developing contacts within the Ellington CT legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to select a paralegal school located in Connecticut or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be important to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain your education in the area where you want to practice. 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 consider those schools that are within the Ellington CT region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help offset part of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Ellington CT. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Ellington CT, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Ellington
Enroll in the Best Ellington Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal degree program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Ellington residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Different kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Ellington Connecticut.