Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Athens Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Athens GA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you locate the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are becoming available, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students start by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be considered also. We will cover those issues and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Athens GA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out 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 the majority of prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other critical factors to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are considering so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school 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 obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Athens GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you pick 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 some Athens GA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin creating contacts within the Athens GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from one state to another, it may be a good idea to enroll in a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first investigate those schools that are within the Athens GA area.
What is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset part of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Athens GA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Athens GA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Also, 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 process is for making up missed classes as a result of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Athens
Enroll in the Best Athens Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal certificate school is an essential first step toward 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 participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Athens home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Athens Georgia.