Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Lake Wales Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Lake Wales FL and start your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's essential that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to achieve success. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational alternatives are becoming available, both at school and online. But with so many options to choose from, where does one start? Many prospective students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program should be taken into account too. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's take a look at the educational options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
Paralegals are basically 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 quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Lake Wales FL is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying organizations 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more available and can be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Lake Wales FL searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online 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 caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering 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 conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Lake Wales FL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to 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 start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important issues to think about as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Lake Wales FL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Lake Wales FL law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Lake Wales FL legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in Florida or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to develop relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might need to initially consider those schools that are within the Lake Wales FL region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Lake Wales FL. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Lake Wales FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Lake Wales
Choose the Best Lake Wales Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal training program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Lake Wales residence. Paralegal training programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Various types 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 school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to review each program and make your final decision. And with the right education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Lake Wales Florida.
Lake Wales Paralegal Schools | Lake Wales Paralegal Training