Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Enroll in the Right One Near New Port Richey Florida
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near New Port Richey FL, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. More and more educational options are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students start by looking for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you need to consider. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold the same job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist New Port Richey FL lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their routine tasks can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, 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 opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in New Port Richey FL is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to work 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 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and may be an excellent alternative for individuals living in New Port Richey FL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can 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 education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the New Port Richey FL area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other important aspects to research as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many New Port Richey FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick 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 several New Port Richey FL law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the New Port Richey FL legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. 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 sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it might be a good idea to select a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those colleges that are within the New Port Richey FL area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help offset part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in New Port Richey FL. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near New Port Richey FL, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you select offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in New Port Richey
Choose the Best New Port Richey Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the ideal paralegal degree program 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 New Port Richey home. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to evaluate each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in New Port Richey Florida.
New Port Richey Paralegal Programs | New Port Richey Paralegal Certificate Programs