Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Best One Near East Point Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near East Point GA and start your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s essential that you find the right program so that you will receive the extensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? Some prospective students start by searching for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at the educational options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in East Point GA is by earning a certificate, which can involve just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the benefits 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.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Degrees
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be an excellent option for individuals living in East Point GA looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can sometimes be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the East Point GA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical factors to research also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several 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 Program and School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of East Point GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some East Point GA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep 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 Offer Internships? Internship programs offer 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 start establishing contacts within the East Point GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without support. Ask if the paralegal programs 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 good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to select a legal assistant school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain your education in the area where you choose to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first consider those schools that are within the East Point GA area.
How Much is the Entire Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset part of the cost, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in East Point GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near East Point GA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in East Point
Choose the Best East Point Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal studies certificate program is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your East Point home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to review each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in East Point Georgia.
East Point Paralegal Certificate Programs | East Point Paralegal Certificate