Paralegal Studies Program
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Rome Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Rome GA and begin your journey that will lead to a gratifying profession in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you locate the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. More and more academic choices are being offered in the field of legal studies, 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? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when picking a school, they are not the only factors you need to consider. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program must be taken into consideration as well. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants essentially both hold the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Rome GA attorneys with a diverse array of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of legal firm where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with trial logistics or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and adhere to a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but some of their everyday tasks might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and quite demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest means to launch your career as a legal assistant in Rome GA is by obtaining a certificate, which can require just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be earned at numerous community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available as well. When you have earned either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and may be an excellent option for those living in Rome GA looking 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 additional benefit, online classes can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Rome GA area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to compare each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like most prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other important issues to consider also, including 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 researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Rome GA law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Also, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are considering. This is of specific importance if you are entering the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program 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 a few Rome GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Rome 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 pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without support. 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 sizable networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ among states, it might be beneficial to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you want to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire 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 might wish to first look at those colleges that are within the Rome GA region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Rome GA. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Rome GA, make sure classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the program you choose makes available that option. Last, inquire what the process is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Rome
Enroll in the Best Rome Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies degree school is a crucial first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Rome residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions offer paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each school and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Rome Georgia.