Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Best One Near New Britain Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near New Britain 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 get the comprehensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? A number of prospective students begin by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job positions and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help New Britain CT lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their regular activities may involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more apropos 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 ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, 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 way to begin your career as a legal assistant in New Britain CT is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential 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 prevalent and can be a good option for those living in New Britain CT searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the New Britain CT area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of 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 important aspects to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of New Britain CT law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose 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 call several New Britain CT law practices that you may have an interest 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 Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the New Britain CT legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary among states, it might be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school located in Connecticut or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire 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 might wish to initially investigate those schools that are within the New Britain CT area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in New Britain CT. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near New Britain CT, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select offers that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in New Britain
Enroll in the Best New Britain Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal certificate school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed 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 New Britain residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in New Britain Connecticut.
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