Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Right One Near Atlanta Georgia
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Atlanta GA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school must be considered also. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold comparable job positions and functions, only 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 paralegals and legal assistants assist Atlanta GA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their daily activities can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a paralegal in Atlanta GA is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few 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 benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more popular and may be an excellent option for students living in Atlanta GA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Atlanta GA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical aspects to research also, including 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 investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Atlanta GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Atlanta GA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Atlanta GA legal field. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly want to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you want to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you wish 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 might want to initially look at those schools that are within the Atlanta GA region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be available to help minimize some of the expense, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Atlanta GA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Atlanta GA, 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 select offers that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Atlanta
Choose the Best Atlanta Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal training school is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Atlanta residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in many lengths and formats. Several kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school 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 schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Atlanta Georgia.