Paralegal Studies School
How to Choose the Best One Near Winter Garden Florida
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Winter Garden FL and begin your journey that will lead to a rewarding profession in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. More and more educational options are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by trying to find schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those choices, they look 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. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the program must be considered too. Later in this post we will review a list of questions that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one before making your choice. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill comparable 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 belong to a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Winter Garden FL lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine tasks can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and very demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Winter Garden FL is by earning a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Florida to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Training
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more common and can be a good option for students living in Winter Garden FL searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to individuals who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Winter Garden FL area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must know 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 most potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial factors to research also, 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 programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, 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 education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Winter Garden FL law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Winter Garden FL law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start creating contacts within the Winter Garden FL legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good 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 differ among states, it might be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Florida or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first look at those colleges that are within the Winter Garden FL region.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Winter Garden FL. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Winter Garden FL, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Winter Garden
Choose the Best Winter Garden Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the ideal paralegal degree school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Winter Garden residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as 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 wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you choose to obtain your education 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 ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Winter Garden Florida.
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