Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Right One Near College Park Georgia
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near College Park GA, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you locate the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to be successful. A growing number of academic options are being offered in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. However with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you need to consider. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school must be taken into account too. We will discuss those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help College Park GA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their routine activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs 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 educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in College Park GA is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and earn a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 school (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more popular and may be a good option for those living in College Park GA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the College Park GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you add 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 already discussed, there are other critical issues to research as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many College Park GA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several College Park GA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the College Park GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large 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 from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you want to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be important to develop relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may need to first consider those colleges that are within the College Park GA region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in College Park GA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near College Park GA, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you choose offers that option. Last, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in College Park
Enroll in the Right College Park Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal training school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your College Park home. Paralegal training programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in College Park Georgia.
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