Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Right One Near Ferry Pass Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Ferry Pass FL and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to succeed. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational choices are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with so many options? A number of potential students start by looking for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you should take into consideration. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will cover 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 take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold the same job roles and functions, 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 paralegals and legal assistants assist Ferry Pass FL lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their routine activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Ferry Pass FL is by earning a certificate, which may take just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more prevalent and may be an excellent option for individuals living in Ferry Pass FL looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Schools
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Ferry Pass FL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial factors to consider as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Ferry Pass FL law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Ferry Pass FL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Ferry Pass FL legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ from state to state, it may be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in Florida or the state where you want to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Ferry Pass FL region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Ferry Pass FL. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Ferry Pass FL, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose makes available that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Ferry Pass
Choose the Right Ferry Pass Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Ferry Pass home. Paralegal training programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions provide 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 career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Ferry Pass Florida.