Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Tarpon Springs Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Tarpon Springs FL and start your journey that will result in a rewarding career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you find the best school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. More and more educational choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right program with so many alternatives? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have 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 basically both hold the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Tarpon Springs 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 based upon the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could help with trial logistics or transferring files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their routine tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and rather demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger number 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 perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Tarpon Springs FL is by earning a certificate, which can take just six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. Once you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more popular and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Tarpon Springs FL looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Tarpon Springs FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant factors to consider as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Tarpon Springs FL law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Tarpon Springs FL law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide a means for students to start developing contacts within the Tarpon Springs FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ among states, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Florida or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you want 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 may wish to initially consider those colleges that are within the Tarpon Springs FL area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Tarpon Springs FL. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Tarpon Springs FL, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Tarpon Springs
Enroll in the Right Tarpon Springs Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal certificate school is an essential first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Tarpon Springs home. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you elect to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Tarpon Springs Florida.
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