Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Find the Best One Near Jacksonville Beach Florida
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Jacksonville Beach FL, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be taken into consideration also. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Jacksonville Beach FL lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their daily tasks may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical 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, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Jacksonville Beach FL is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and can be an excellent option for individuals living in Jacksonville Beach FL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least 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 respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Jacksonville Beach FL area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical aspects to research also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Jacksonville Beach FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Jacksonville Beach FL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also present a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Jacksonville Beach FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal schools 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 great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to select a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within the Jacksonville Beach FL area.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Jacksonville Beach FL. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, some of these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Jacksonville Beach FL, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you enroll in offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Jacksonville Beach
Choose the Right Jacksonville Beach Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Jacksonville Beach residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, 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 realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Jacksonville Beach Florida.
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