Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Pick the Best One Near Brunswick Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Brunswick GA and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding profession in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic alternatives are being offered in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, because of the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right program with numerous alternatives? A number of potential students start by trying to find schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will cover those topics and other important questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Brunswick GA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their regular activities can include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the main support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Brunswick GA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly respected 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and may be an excellent option for students living in Brunswick GA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Brunswick GA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical issues to research as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Brunswick GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Checking that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Brunswick GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to start developing contacts within the Brunswick GA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be difficult without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws differ among states, it might be a good idea to select a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the community where you wish to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially look at those colleges that are within the Brunswick GA area.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in price depending on the credential received and the length of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Brunswick GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Brunswick GA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making-up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Brunswick
Choose the Best Brunswick Paralegal Studies School
Choosing the right paralegal studies certificate program is an important 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 Brunswick home. Paralegal training programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to examine each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Brunswick Georgia.
Brunswick Paralegal Certificate Online | Brunswick Paralegal Studies