Paralegal Studies Program
How to Select the Right One Near East Point Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near East Point GA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. 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 becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with numerous options? Many prospective students begin by searching for schools within commuting range of their homes. Of those options, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program ought to be taken into account as well. Later on in this article we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your decision. But before we do, let's have a look at the academic options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
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 requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in East Point GA is by earning a certificate, which may involve just six months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and may be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may 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 job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school (we will address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for students living in East Point GA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online programs can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the East Point GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other important aspects to research also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of East Point GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few East Point GA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin developing contacts within the East Point GA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the East Point GA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help offset some of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in East Point GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near East Point GA, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you choose provides that option. Last, inquire what the procedure is for making up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in East Point
Choose the Right East Point Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies training school is a crucial first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your East Point home. Paralegal training programs are made available in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you choose to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in East Point Georgia.