Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Best One Near Coral Gables Florida
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Coral Gables FL, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you find the best program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic choices are becoming available, both at school and online. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will cover those issues and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Coral Gables FL 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 are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their daily tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more applicable 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 ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of clients or cases 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. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Coral Gables FL is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more common and may be an excellent alternative for students living in Coral Gables FL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee 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 highly regarded agency, 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 right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Coral Gables FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective 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 crucial factors to research also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable 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 online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Coral Gables FL law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Coral Gables FL law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present a means for students to begin establishing contacts within the Coral Gables FL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be difficult 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 an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you want to work. 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 want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Coral Gables FL area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help reduce part of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Coral Gables FL. Naturally 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? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Coral Gables FL, verify 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, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Coral Gables
Choose the Right Coral Gables Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Coral Gables home. Paralegal education programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Different kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each program and make your final decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Coral Gables Florida.
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