Paralegal Studies School
How to Select the Right One Near Mountain Park Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Mountain Park GA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's essential that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. A growing number of educational alternatives are becoming available in the legal field, both on campus and online, due to the growing popularity of law related professions within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right program with numerous alternatives? Some prospective students begin by searching for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those choices, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school ought to be taken into consideration as well. Later on in this post we will review a list of questions that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional 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 roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Mountain Park GA attorneys with a diverse array of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job duties are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they work, but a few of their day-to-day tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on relevant cases and laws
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal papers with the court or opposing counsel
- Helping attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to clerical or administrative functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Mountain Park GA is by obtaining a certificate, which can take as little as 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. Once you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some 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 address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 essential initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more available and can be a good option for individuals living in Mountain Park GA searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Mountain Park GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial factors to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's go over a few of the questions you should be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Mountain Park GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Mountain Park GA law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program 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 present an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Mountain Park GA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new profession can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and good relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you wish to work after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first consider those colleges that are within the Mountain Park GA region.
How Much is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to check with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Mountain Park GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Mountain Park GA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the school you select offers that option. Finally, inquire what the protocol is for making up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Mountain Park
Enroll in the Right Mountain Park Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies degree school is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Mountain Park residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound impact on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Since there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But no matter how you elect to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Mountain Park Georgia.
Mountain Park Paralegal Degrees | Mountain Park Paralegal Courses