Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Fruit Cove Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Fruit Cove FL and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's important that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to be successful. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational options are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many alternatives? A number of prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Fruit Cove FL lawyers with a wide range of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but some of their daily activities can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- 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 role of a paralegal can be complicated and very demanding. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Fruit Cove FL is by earning a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure 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 common and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Fruit Cove FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater 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 looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Fruit Cove FL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial issues to consider as well, including the reputation and accreditation 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 properly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Fruit Cove FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Fruit Cove FL law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Fruit Cove FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success 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 highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school located in Florida or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially consider those colleges that are within the Fruit Cove FL region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Fruit Cove FL. Naturally if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Fruit Cove FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in provides that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making-up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Fruit Cove
Choose the Right Fruit Cove Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal training school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Fruit Cove home. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Fruit Cove Florida.
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