Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Cocoa Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Cocoa FL and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you find the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more academic options are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you need to take into consideration. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school ought to be taken into consideration too. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Cocoa FL attorneys with a wide range of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer 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, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to start your career as a paralegal in Cocoa FL is by earning a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer 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 an option also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies in the profession 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 discuss 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.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for students living in Cocoa FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Cocoa FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important factors to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Cocoa FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Cocoa FL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Cocoa FL legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you want to practice. 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 need to first look at those schools that are within the Cocoa FL area.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Cocoa FL. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Cocoa FL, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Cocoa
Choose the Right Cocoa Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the ideal paralegal certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Cocoa home. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to review each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Cocoa Florida.
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