Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Watertown Connecticut
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Watertown CT, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you locate the right school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic options are becoming available, both on campus and online. However with so many options to choose from, where does one start? Some potential students start by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you need to take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school must be considered as well. We will address those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold 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 category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Watertown CT lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their regular tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
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. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Watertown CT is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and can be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Connecticut to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Training
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be a good option for those living in Watertown CT looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Watertown CT area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to 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 the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical factors to consider as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Watertown CT law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal 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 need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Watertown CT law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide a means for students to start creating contacts within the Watertown CT legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid 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 highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be beneficial to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Connecticut or the state where you want to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the area legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to first consider those schools that are within the Watertown CT area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Watertown CT. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Watertown CT, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers that option. Last, inquire what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Watertown
Enroll in the Right Watertown Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies training program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed 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 Watertown residence. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Watertown Connecticut.