Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Oakland Park Florida
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Oakland Park FL, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. A growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with so many alternatives? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. There are many other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at 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 offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Oakland Park FL attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals 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 handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Oakland Park FL is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be an excellent option for students living in Oakland Park FL looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Oakland Park FL area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most potential 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 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 programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Oakland Park FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some Oakland Park FL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Oakland Park FL legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be advantageous to select a paralegal school located in Florida or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you wish 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 investigate those colleges that are within the Oakland Park FL area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, 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 accessible to help offset some of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Oakland Park FL. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Oakland Park FL, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Oakland Park
Choose the Right Oakland Park Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Oakland Park residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Oakland Park Florida.
Oakland Park Paralegal Degrees | Oakland Park Paralegal Courses