Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Right One Near Haines City Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Haines City FL and begin your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s crucial that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are being offered, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students start by trying to find schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program should be considered also. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job roles and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Haines City FL attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in Haines City FL is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for students living in Haines City FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Haines City FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to 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 start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical factors to think about as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Haines City FL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school 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 some Haines City FL law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also provide a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Haines City FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to select a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you wish to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to build relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to first investigate those colleges that are within the Haines City FL area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be accessible to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Haines City FL. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these added costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Haines City FL, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Haines City
Choose the Best Haines City Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal degree school is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Haines City residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Several types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Haines City Florida.
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