Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Douglasville Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Douglasville GA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. A growing number of educational alternatives are becoming available in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. However with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold the same job positions and functions, 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 Douglasville GA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their regular tasks may include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys prepare 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 involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Douglasville GA is by earning a certificate, which can require just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online schools have become more common and can be a good option for students living in Douglasville GA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to students who keep working while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Douglasville 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 particularly true when 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 searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial issues to research as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Douglasville GA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the rankings and reputations 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 have to rely on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Douglasville GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Douglasville GA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the area legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you choose to work. 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 might want to first look at those schools that are within the Douglasville GA area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Douglasville GA. Naturally if you choose to attend an online program, some of these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Douglasville 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 choose offers that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Douglasville
Enroll in the Right Douglasville Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal studies training program is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Douglasville residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Douglasville Georgia.
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