Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Forest Park Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Forest Park GA and start your journey that will lead to a fulfilling profession in legal services. However, it's important that you find the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to be successful. As you probably understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. However with numerous options to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students start by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those options, they search 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 accreditation and the reputation of the program must be considered also. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's have a look at the academic options that are offered 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. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Forest Park 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 extensive education and may be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered also. After you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected certifying agencies 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 program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Schools
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more available and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Forest Park GA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs available at junior and community colleges in the Forest Park GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical factors to research also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Forest Park GA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Forest Park GA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also offer an avenue for students to start developing contacts within the Forest Park GA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to select a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Forest Park GA area.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be available to help minimize part of the expense, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Forest Park GA. Naturally if you decide to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Forest Park GA, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in provides that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making up classes missed as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Forest Park
Enroll in the Right Forest Park Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal training school is an important first step toward 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 privacy and comfort of your Forest Park home. Paralegal education programs are made available in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of private and public institutions provide paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Forest Park Georgia.
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