Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Dover Delaware
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Dover DE and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. However, it's important that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to achieve success. More and more educational choices are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right school with so many alternatives? Many prospective students start by searching for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program need to be taken into account as well. 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 first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job roles and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Dover DE lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine activities might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Dover DE is by earning a certificate, which can require just 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Delaware to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for students living in Dover DE searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Dover DE area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important factors to consider as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose should 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 targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Dover DE law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Dover DE law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also provide a means for students to start developing contacts within the Dover DE legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Delaware legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in Delaware or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be important to develop relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Dover DE area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. 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 as well. Financial aid may be available to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Dover DE. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Dover DE, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Dover
Enroll in the Right Dover Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal degree school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Dover residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to examine each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Dover Delaware.