Paralegal Studies Course
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Middletown Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Middletown CT and start your journey that will result in a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you find the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? A number of prospective students begin by trying to find schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be considered too. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Middletown CT attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their day-to-day activities may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Middletown CT is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations in the profession 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 cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more popular and can be a good alternative for students living in Middletown CT searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Middletown CT area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important issues to consider also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Middletown CT law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Middletown CT law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the Middletown CT legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Connecticut or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire to work. 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 first investigate those schools that are within the Middletown CT area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Middletown CT. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Middletown CT, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Middletown
Enroll in the Right Middletown Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Middletown home. Paralegal training programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Several types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Middletown Connecticut.
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