Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Right One Near Moultrie Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Moultrie GA and start your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But with numerous options to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those options, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one before making your decision. But first, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold the same job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Moultrie GA lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice 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 carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their daily activities may include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially 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 start your career as a paralegal in Moultrie GA is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. Once you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may want to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly regarded 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for those living in Moultrie GA looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Moultrie GA area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of potential 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 critical aspects to consider also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching 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 recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also get 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 demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Moultrie GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are often obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Moultrie GA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs give students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Moultrie GA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are assessing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws vary from one state to another, it may be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to create relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first look at those schools that are within the Moultrie GA area.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be accessible to help offset some of the expense, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Moultrie GA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while receiving their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Moultrie GA, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Moultrie
Enroll in the Right Moultrie Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the ideal paralegal studies certificate school is a vital first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Moultrie home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to examine each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can achieve your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Moultrie Georgia.
Moultrie Paralegal Programs | Moultrie Paralegal Certificate Programs