Paralegal Studies Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Southbury Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Southbury CT and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational choices are becoming available, both at school and online. However with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program must be considered also. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants 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 different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Southbury CT attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their routine activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Southbury CT is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Connecticut to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more common and can be a good alternative for those living in Southbury CT looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training 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 reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Southbury CT area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly 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 searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial aspects to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several 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 School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive 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 obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Southbury CT law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Southbury CT law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Southbury CT legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in Connecticut or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most 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 Southbury CT area.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Southbury CT. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Southbury CT, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Southbury
Enroll in the Best Southbury Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the right paralegal studies degree school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Southbury residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Different kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Southbury Connecticut.
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