Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Meriden Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Meriden CT and start your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s essential that you find the right program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right school with numerous options? Some potential students begin by looking for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only factors you need to consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school must be considered too. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill the same job roles and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Meriden CT attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically 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 comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine tasks can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- 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 job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Meriden CT is by earning a certificate, which may take just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive 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. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more common and can be a good alternative for individuals living in Meriden CT searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least 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 attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Meriden CT area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most 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 important factors to think about as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching 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 pick should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Meriden CT law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? 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 entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select 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 Meriden CT law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Meriden CT legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Connecticut or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to first investigate those colleges that are within the Meriden CT area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. 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 might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Meriden CT. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Meriden CT, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Meriden
Enroll in the Right Meriden Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal training school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Meriden home. Paralegal training programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating 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 evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Meriden Connecticut.
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