Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Covington Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Covington GA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both on campus and online, due to the increasing popularity of law related professions within the United States. However with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of potential students begin by searching for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. Later in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Covington 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 legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their everyday tasks may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more apropos 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, attorneys 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 essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Covington GA is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some of the highly respected certifying agencies in the field 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 discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Schools
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more popular and may be a good option for individuals living in Covington GA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a respected organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Covington GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial factors to think about as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a respected 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 focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Covington GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Covington GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Covington GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their placement 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 corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ among states, it may be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in Georgia or the state where you want to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to build relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially look at those colleges that are within the Covington GA area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Covington GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, some of these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit 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 Covington GA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select provides that option. Last, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Covington
Enroll in the Right Covington Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies certificate program is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Covington residence. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous lengths and formats. Various types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to review each school and make your final decision. And with the right training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Covington Georgia.
Covington Paralegal Training | Covington How To Become A Paralegal