Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Right One Near Fort Lauderdale Florida
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Fort Lauderdale FL, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational alternatives are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many options? Many prospective students begin by searching for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the best option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold the same job roles 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 Fort Lauderdale FL attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including 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 help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their daily activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Fort Lauderdale FL is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and obtain a certification. Even though 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages 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.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for those living in Fort Lauderdale FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who keep working while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure 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 disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Fort Lauderdale FL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant aspects to consider as well, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Fort Lauderdale 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? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Fort Lauderdale FL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Fort Lauderdale FL legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely 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 programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Fort Lauderdale FL region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure 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 accessible to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Fort Lauderdale FL. Of course if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Fort Lauderdale FL, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in provides that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Fort Lauderdale
Choose the Right Fort Lauderdale Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal studies certificate program is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Fort Lauderdale home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each school and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Fort Lauderdale Florida.
Fort Lauderdale Paralegal Schools | Fort Lauderdale Paralegal Training