Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Plainfield Connecticut
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Plainfield CT, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's crucial that you find the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many options? Some potential students begin by trying to find schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Plainfield CT lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their daily tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, 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 opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Plainfield CT is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be a good option for students living in Plainfield CT searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Plainfield CT area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant factors to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Plainfield CT law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Plainfield CT law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present a means for students to begin creating contacts within the Plainfield CT legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws differ among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in Connecticut or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially consider those schools that are within the Plainfield CT region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs 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 education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable to help minimize some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Plainfield CT. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Plainfield CT, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose makes available that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Plainfield
Choose the Best Plainfield Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal training school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Plainfield residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Various types of private and public institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Plainfield Connecticut.
Plainfield Paralegal Training | Plainfield How To Become A Paralegal