Paralegal Studies School
How to Choose the Best One Near Kendall West Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Kendall West FL and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational options are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous alternatives? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, 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 several other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one prior to making your selection. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly 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 fill the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Kendall West FL attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their regular activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. 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 clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
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 educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Kendall West FL is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. After 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 may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be an excellent alternative for students living in Kendall West FL looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Kendall West FL area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of 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 important factors to consider also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Kendall West FL law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Kendall West FL law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present a means for students to start establishing contacts within the Kendall West FL legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial 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 one state to another, it might be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Florida or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain your education in the community where you wish 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 might wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Kendall West FL region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Kendall West FL. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Kendall West FL, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the program you select makes available that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Kendall West
Choose the Right Kendall West Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies certificate program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Kendall West residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Kendall West Florida.
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