Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Port Saint Lucie Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Port Saint Lucie FL and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. However, it's crucial that you locate the best school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational options are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many alternatives? Some prospective students begin by looking for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later in this article we will review a list of questions that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your choice. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered 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 are part of a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Port Saint Lucie FL lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might help with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their daily activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Port Saint Lucie FL is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and can be an excellent option for individuals living in Port Saint Lucie FL looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Programs
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Port Saint Lucie FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical factors to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Port Saint Lucie FL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Port Saint Lucie FL law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Port Saint Lucie FL legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from one state to another, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be important to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first look at those schools that are within the Port Saint Lucie FL area.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. 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 aid may be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Port Saint Lucie FL. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Port Saint Lucie FL, make certain 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. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Port Saint Lucie
Enroll in the Best Port Saint Lucie Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal studies certificate school is a crucial 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 Port Saint Lucie residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Several types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Port Saint Lucie Florida.
Port Saint Lucie Paralegal Studies | Port Saint Lucie Paralegal Schools