Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Right One Near Smyrna Delaware
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Smyrna DE, it's time to start the process of picking a school. However, it's essential that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to be successful. More and more educational alternatives are being offered in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When checking out paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the program should be taken into account too. Later in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Smyrna DE attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but some of their regular activities may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more suited 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, lawyers are able to manage a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
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 requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Smyrna DE is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Delaware to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be a good option for individuals living in Smyrna DE looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Smyrna DE area, as well as trade and vocational 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 the majority of potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important factors to research 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 considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Smyrna DE law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose 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 call a few Smyrna DE law practices 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 excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Smyrna DE legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement 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 Delaware legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Delaware or the state where you want to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first investigate those schools that are within the Smyrna DE region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget 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 don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Smyrna DE. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Smyrna DE, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you select makes available that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Smyrna
Enroll in the Best Smyrna Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the ideal paralegal degree program is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Smyrna home. Paralegal education programs are provided in various 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 vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Smyrna Delaware.
Smyrna Paralegal Training | Smyrna How To Become A Paralegal