Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Lake Mary Florida
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Lake Mary FL, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when picking a school, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school should be considered too. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Lake Mary FL lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their daily tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Lake Mary FL is by earning a certificate, which can involve just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be a good alternative for students living in Lake Mary FL searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Lake Mary FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial aspects to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 focuses on online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Lake Mary FL law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research 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 previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Lake Mary FL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to start developing contacts within the Lake Mary FL legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering 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? Because laws differ from one state to another, it might be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you want to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within the Lake Mary FL region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential earned and the amount 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 assistance may be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Lake Mary FL. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Lake Mary FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Lake Mary
Enroll in the Best Lake Mary Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies training program is an important 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 on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Lake Mary residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Lake Mary Florida.