Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Venice Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Venice FL and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational choices are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous alternatives? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest 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 various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance 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 educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill comparable 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 belong to a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Venice FL lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm could assist with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their daily tasks might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare 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 complicated and very demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks 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, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
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 prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Venice FL is by earning a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be obtained 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 as well. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more popular and can be a good option for students living in Venice FL looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined 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 Schools
Now that you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Venice FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most prospective 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 critical factors to research as well, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Venice FL law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Venice FL law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Venice FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent 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 Campus Located? Considering that laws differ 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 plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you wish to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those schools that are within the Venice FL area.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce part of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Venice FL. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, such as for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Venice FL, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you select makes available that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Venice
Choose the Best Venice Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Venice home. Paralegal training programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Different types of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the right education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Venice Florida.