Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Right One Near New Britain Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near New Britain CT and begin your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to succeed. As you most likely know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students begin by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option just 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 account as well. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs 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 prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in New Britain CT is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained 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 obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Although 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 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 school (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for students living in New Britain CT looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the New Britain CT area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant issues to research as well, for instance 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 considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many New Britain CT law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several New Britain CT law offices 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 the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the New Britain CT legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out 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 indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in Connecticut or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be important to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the New Britain CT area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in New Britain CT. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening 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 school you enroll in offers that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in New Britain
Choose the Right New Britain Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal certificate program is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your New Britain home. Paralegal training programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Several kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community 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. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in New Britain Connecticut.
New Britain Paralegal Certificate Online | New Britain Paralegal Studies