Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Lithia Springs Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Lithia Springs GA and begin your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s essential that you find the ideal school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. A growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both at school and online, because of the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when picking a college, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program should be considered also. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both hold comparable job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Lithia Springs GA attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or transferring files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but a few of their day-to-day tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing 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 other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and rather challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Lithia Springs GA is by earning a certificate, which may take just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 program (we will discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more popular and may be an excellent alternative for individuals living in Lithia Springs GA searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to students who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added benefit, online programs can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Now that you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Lithia Springs GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must 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 many potential students, you will begin by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical factors to research as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Lithia Springs GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several Lithia Springs GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Lithia Springs GA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success 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 substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in Georgia or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to initially look at those schools that are within the Lithia Springs GA region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Lithia Springs GA. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, a portion these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend weekend or evening classes near Lithia Springs GA, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you select provides that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Lithia Springs
Choose the Best Lithia Springs Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training 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 at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Lithia Springs residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of private and public institutions offer paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to examine each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Lithia Springs Georgia.
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