Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Right One Near New Britain Connecticut
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near New Britain CT, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the ideal program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational options are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students start by trying to find schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school should be taken into consideration also. Later on in this article we will cover a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one prior to making your selection. But first, let's have a look at the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in New Britain CT is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue 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 employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and can be a good option for students living in New Britain CT searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized 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 guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the New Britain CT area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important issues to think about as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous New Britain CT law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few New Britain CT law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also offer a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the New Britain CT legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Connecticut or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first investigate those schools that are within the New Britain CT region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in New Britain CT. Naturally if you choose to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near New Britain CT, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose makes available that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in New Britain
Choose the Best New Britain Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal training school 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 choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your New Britain residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you elect to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in New Britain Connecticut.
New Britain Paralegal Training | New Britain How To Become A Paralegal