Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Dunwoody Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Dunwoody GA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to be successful. More and more academic options are being offered in the field of legal studies, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? When looking for paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are necessary considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you ought to consider. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Dunwoody GA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complex and rather challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants 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 take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education 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 academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Dunwoody GA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for those living in Dunwoody GA searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while earning a degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can often 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 online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are considering are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Dunwoody GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other important factors to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Dunwoody GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call some Dunwoody GA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the Dunwoody GA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws vary among states, it may be beneficial to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be necessary to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to receive your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first look at those colleges that are within the Dunwoody GA area.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be available to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Dunwoody GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? Many paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Dunwoody GA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Dunwoody
Choose the Right Dunwoody Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Dunwoody home. Paralegal training programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Dunwoody Georgia.