Paralegal Studies Program
How to Pick the Right One Near East Honolulu Hawaii
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near East Honolulu HI and begin your journey that will result in a gratifying profession in legal services. However, it's crucial that you find the right school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you require to achieve success. More and more academic alternatives 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 with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? When checking out paralegal studies schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when picking a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the school need to be considered as well. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals for the most part both fill comparable job roles and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants help East Honolulu HI attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of legal firm where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may help with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they work, but some of their everyday tasks can involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the role of a paralegal can be involved and rather demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally permitted to do is give legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not confined to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could on their own.
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 opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a paralegal in East Honolulu HI is by earning a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more extensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and receive a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Hawaii to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help improve your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more available and can be an excellent option for individuals living in East Honolulu HI looking for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting may be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs 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 certain that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the East Honolulu HI area, as well as 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 as well. If you are like the majority of 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 crucial factors to think about also, including accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are investigating so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final choice.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you pick need to be accredited by a reputable accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous East Honolulu HI law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the paralegal programs you are looking at. This is of special importance if you are new to the field with no prior work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help determine school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some East Honolulu HI law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while still in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the East Honolulu HI legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Hawaii legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the Campus Located? Considering that laws vary among states, it might be beneficial to select a paralegal school located in Hawaii or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be important to establish relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps by means of 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 require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first consider those colleges that are within the East Honolulu HI region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid might be available to help offset some of the expense, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in East Honolulu HI. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these additional expenses, such as for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many paralegal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near East Honolulu HI, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in East Honolulu
Enroll in the Best East Honolulu Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal studies degree program is an essential first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your East Honolulu residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions provide 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 profession. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to evaluate each school and make your final selection. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in East Honolulu Hawaii.
East Honolulu Paralegal Studies | East Honolulu Paralegal Schools