Paralegal Studies School
How to Choose the Best One Near Poinciana Florida
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Poinciana FL, it's time to start the process of selecting a school. However, it's crucial that you find the best school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will address those topics and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at 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 comparable job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Poinciana FL lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their regular activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to start your career as a legal assistant in Poinciana FL is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more popular and can be an excellent option for those living in Poinciana FL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can often be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Poinciana FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. 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 already discussed, there are other important issues to consider also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Poinciana FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically available only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking 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 Poinciana FL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Poinciana FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from one state to another, it may be a good idea to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the area where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Poinciana FL region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Poinciana FL. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Poinciana FL, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select provides that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Poinciana
Enroll in the Right Poinciana Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the best paralegal training program is a crucial 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 participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Poinciana home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various lengths and formats. Various types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Poinciana Florida.
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