Paralegal Studies Course
How to Select the Right One Near Druid Hills Georgia
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Druid Hills GA, it's time to begin the process of selecting a school. However, it's important that you locate the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to be successful. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are being offered, both at school and online. However with so many options to choose from, where does one begin? Many prospective students begin by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the program must be considered as well. We will address those issues 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 take a look at what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Druid Hills GA attorneys with a wide range of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine activities may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay 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 very challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Druid Hills GA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve just six months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may 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 earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and earn a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded 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 school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Programs
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more available and can be an excellent option for students living in Druid Hills GA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable organization, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Druid Hills GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know 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 most potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other crucial issues to consider also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. 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 Druid Hills GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help verify school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Druid Hills GA law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the Druid Hills GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be beneficial to select a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Druid Hills GA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Druid Hills GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Druid Hills GA, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Druid Hills
Enroll in the Right Druid Hills Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal certificate school is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding 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 Druid Hills home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in numerous formats and lengths. Several kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Druid Hills Georgia.
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