Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Duluth Georgia
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Duluth GA, it's time to begin the process of picking a school. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you locate the ideal program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. A growing number of educational options are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you go about finding the right program with so many alternatives? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school should be taken into consideration also. Later on in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you must ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your selection. But first, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions 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 different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Duluth GA lawyers with a wide range of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is normally billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their everyday tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys are able to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to launch your career as a legal assistant in Duluth GA is by earning a certificate, which may require just 6 months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. When you have acquired 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 work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected certifying organizations 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 cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more popular and may be an excellent option for students living in Duluth GA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, 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 quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Duluth GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial issues to research as well, for instance 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 thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a reputable organization 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 online or distance training. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Duluth GA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Duluth GA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program 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 present a means for students to start developing contacts within the Duluth GA legal field. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be beneficial to select a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be important to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may wish to initially look at those colleges that are within the Duluth GA region.
How Much is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help offset some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Duluth GA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, some of these supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? A number of legal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Duluth 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 enroll in makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Paralegal in Duluth
Choose the Right Duluth Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal degree school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Duluth home. Paralegal training programs are made available in various lengths and formats. Different types of private and public institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you elect to obtain your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Duluth Georgia.