Paralegal Studies Course
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Royal Palm Beach Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Royal Palm Beach FL and begin your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s essential that you find the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of academic choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with so many options? Some potential students start by trying to find schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later in this article we will review a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Royal Palm Beach FL attorneys with a wide range of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their day-to-day activities might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not restricted to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly 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 launch your career as a legal assistant in Royal Palm Beach FL is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although 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 as well. Some 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning 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 Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and may be a good alternative for those living in Royal Palm Beach FL looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Royal Palm Beach FL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other significant factors 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 effectively vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded 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 help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Royal Palm Beach FL law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific 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 training exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Royal Palm Beach FL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Royal Palm Beach FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws vary from state to state, it may be beneficial to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the Royal Palm Beach FL area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help minimize part of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Royal Palm Beach FL. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Royal Palm Beach FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you enroll in provides that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making-up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Royal Palm Beach
Choose the Best Royal Palm Beach Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal training school is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Royal Palm Beach residence. Paralegal education programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and 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 schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training 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 ultimate decision. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Royal Palm Beach Florida.
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