Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Suwanee Georgia
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Suwanee GA and begin your journey that will lead to a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to achieve your success, it’s essential that you locate the best program so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with numerous options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance accreditation and reputation. We will cover those topics and other important questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Education and Certification
Paralegals are basically the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the educational prerequisites and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to launch your career as a paralegal in Suwanee GA is by obtaining a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option also. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to proceed and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Georgia to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected 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 school (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more available and may be an excellent option for students living in Suwanee GA searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional benefit, online classes can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the program and school you are thinking about 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 formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Programs
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what educational options are available, you can start the undertaking of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Suwanee GA area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is particularly true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many potential students, you will start by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other significant factors to consider also, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at 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 ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency 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 help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. A number of Suwanee GA law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you pick is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Suwanee GA law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also offer an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Suwanee GA legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing 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 good 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 may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Georgia or the state where you want to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you wish to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may want to first investigate those colleges that are within the Suwanee GA area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price based on the credential obtained and the length of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help reduce part of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to see what is offered in Suwanee GA. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these added expenses, for instance for commuting, may be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Fit your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Suwanee GA, make sure classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make sure that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, inquire what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Suwanee
Choose the Right Suwanee Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal degree program is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have addressed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Suwanee residence. Paralegal academic programs are made available in many lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But regardless of how you choose to obtain your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will have the ability to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Suwanee Georgia.