Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Best One Near Sugar Hill Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Sugar Hill GA and start your journey that will lead to a rewarding profession in legal services. But in order to assure your success, it’s important that you find the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need. More and more academic alternatives are being offered in the legal field, both at school and online, due to the growing popularity of law related occupations within the United States. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only qualifiers you must take into consideration. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance reputation and accreditation. We will discuss those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the educational alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both fill comparable 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 classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Sugar Hill GA lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as maintaining client files, legal research, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their responsibilities can be varied in support of the firms where they work, but a few of their daily activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting lawyers get ready for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to handle a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps 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 launch your career as a paralegal in Sugar Hill GA is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which provide 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. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may choose to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more prevalent and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Sugar Hill GA looking for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online programs can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even supplementary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded organization, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal environment, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training options are available, you can begin the undertaking of assessing schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Sugar Hill GA area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial factors to research also, including the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Sugar Hill GA law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Sugar Hill GA law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Sugar Hill GA legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Georgia legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary among states, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Georgia or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is all the more justification to obtain 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 first look at those schools that are within the Sugar Hill GA area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Sugar Hill GA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these added costs, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Sugar Hill GA, make certain classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in offers that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About How to Become a Paralegal in Sugar Hill
Enroll in the Right Sugar Hill Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the best paralegal certificate school is an essential first step to guarantee 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 attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Sugar Hill home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year colleges and universities, as well as trade and vocational schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But no matter how you choose to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Sugar Hill Georgia.