Paralegal Studies Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Peachtree City Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Peachtree City GA and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying career in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic options are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with numerous options? Many prospective students start by looking for schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are prime considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you ought to take into consideration. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. Later on in this article we will cover a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare each one before making your selection. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Peachtree City GA attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they are employed. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict standard of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their everyday activities might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally permitted to do is provide legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Peachtree City GA is by earning a certificate, which can take just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you might choose to continue and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize 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 cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Online paralegal or legal assistant schools have become more popular and can be a good alternative for students living in Peachtree City GA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Schools
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at junior and community colleges in the Peachtree City GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you need to find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other significant factors to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will obtain will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Peachtree City GA law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call several Peachtree City GA law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Peachtree City GA legal community. Ask if the paralegal schools you are evaluating offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are considering have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you want to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to receive your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to initially investigate those schools that are within the Peachtree City GA region.
How Much is the Total Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your training. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be obtainable to help minimize part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to see what is available in Peachtree City GA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Match your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Peachtree City GA, make certain classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making-up classes missed due to sickness, work or family emergencies.
Learn More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Peachtree City
Enroll in the Best Peachtree City Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies certificate program 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 Peachtree City home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in many lengths and formats. Several types of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a profound impact on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Peachtree City Georgia.
Peachtree City Paralegal Certificate | Peachtree City Paralegal Degrees