Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Select the Right One Near Waterbury Connecticut
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Waterbury CT and start your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many options? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered too. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your selection. But before we do, let's take a look at the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Waterbury CT is by earning a certificate, which can take just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Connecticut to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and can be an excellent option for those living in Waterbury CT looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online classes can in some cases 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 internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Waterbury CT area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical issues to think about as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Waterbury CT law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Waterbury CT law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor 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 start creating contacts within the Waterbury CT legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Connecticut legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school located in Connecticut or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those schools that are within the Waterbury CT region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential received and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be available to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Waterbury CT. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Waterbury CT, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Waterbury
Choose the Best Waterbury Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the ideal paralegal training school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Waterbury residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Different kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Waterbury Connecticut.