Paralegal Studies Program
How to Choose the Best One Near West Park Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near West Park FL and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. However, it's crucial that you locate the right school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. More and more academic options are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program with numerous alternatives? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program should be taken into account as well. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you need to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your selection. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold the same job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist West Park FL attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their daily tasks can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to start your career as a paralegal in West Park FL is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more popular and can be a good option for students living in West Park FL looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to those who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the West Park FL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to consider as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many West Park FL law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, 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 programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several West Park FL law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while remaining in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the West Park 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 after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Florida legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ among states, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school located in Florida or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within the West Park FL region.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential received and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in West Park FL. Of course if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near West Park FL, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you choose offers that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in West Park
Choose the Right West Park Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies training school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your West Park home. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final decision. And with the right education you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in West Park Florida.