Paralegal Studies Course
How to Find the Right One Near Stockbridge Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Stockbridge GA and begin your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s important that you find the right program so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are being offered, both on campus and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? When checking out paralegal studies programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. Later on in this article we will review a list of questions that you ought to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one before making your decision. But before we do, let's take a look at the academic alternatives that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Stockbridge GA is by earning a certificate, which can take just 6 months to accomplish. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and can be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and get a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help maximize your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more available and may be a good option for students living in Stockbridge GA looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be especially appealing to those who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online programs can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced 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 guarantee that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a reputable organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what training choices are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Stockbridge GA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial issues to consider as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a recognized organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Stockbridge GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are typically obtainable only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are new to the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call several Stockbridge GA law offices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law practice or other legal operation while still in school. They can also provide an avenue for students to begin developing contacts within the Stockbridge GA legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing provide internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that first 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 sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also confirms that their graduates are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ among states, it might be beneficial to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Georgia or the state where you want to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially look at those schools that are within the Stockbridge GA region.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help minimize some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Stockbridge GA. Of course if you opt to attend an online school, some of these supplementary costs, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Stockbridge GA, make certain classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you select makes available that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Stockbridge
Enroll in the Best Stockbridge Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies degree program is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Stockbridge residence. Paralegal training programs are provided in numerous formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you decide to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to review each program and make your final selection. And with the appropriate education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Stockbridge Georgia.
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