Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Best One Near Cutler Bay Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Cutler Bay FL and start your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you locate the right program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, 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. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same 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 assist Cutler Bay FL attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or transporting documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their daily activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main 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 clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Cutler Bay FL is by earning a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and can be an excellent option for those living in Cutler Bay FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Cutler Bay FL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree 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 critical factors to think about as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a respected 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 help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Cutler Bay FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Cutler Bay FL law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Cutler Bay FL legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing 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 wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ from state to state, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain 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 want to initially consider those schools that are within the Cutler Bay FL area.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be available to help minimize some of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Cutler Bay FL. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Cutler Bay FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you choose offers that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Cutler Bay
Choose the Right Cutler Bay Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal training school is an important first step toward 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 Cutler Bay home. Paralegal education programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Cutler Bay Florida.