Paralegal Studies Certificate
How to Choose the Best One Near Hawaiian Paradise Park Hawaii
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Hawaiian Paradise Park HI, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's important that you locate the best school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you require to achieve success. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of educational options are becoming available, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Some potential students start by trying to find schools within traveling distance of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are necessary considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you ought to consider. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be taken into account also. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you need to ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare each one before making your choice. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals vs Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job positions and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Hawaiian Paradise Park HI lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are based upon the type of practice where they work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their regular activities might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching applicable cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not confined to clerical or administrative duties more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could alone.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. In any case, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a legal assistant in Hawaiian Paradise Park HI is by earning a certificate, which can take as little as six months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and can be earned at many community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. After you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you might want to continue and earn a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Hawaii to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few of the highly respected certifying organizations in the field 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 two crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Training
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more common and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Hawaiian Paradise Park HI searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who continue to work while earning a degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less costly than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such things as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will address in greater detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain 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 dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what training choices are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Hawaiian Paradise Park HI area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you need to find out what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true if you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate 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 covered, there are other significant factors to consider as well, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you need to be asking the schools you are investigating so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program and School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 distance or online learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Hawaiian Paradise Park HI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are considering. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous work history, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the school you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact a few Hawaiian Paradise Park HI law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask which schools they suggest. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while still in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Hawaiian Paradise Park HI legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will most likely wish to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their placement rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Hawaii legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Since laws differ from one state to another, it might be advantageous to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Hawaii or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to develop relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the area where you desire to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Hawaiian Paradise Park HI area.
How Much is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price based on the credential received and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Hawaiian Paradise Park HI. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous legal students continue working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can just attend weekend or evening classes near Hawaiian Paradise Park HI, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you enroll in provides that option. Last, inquire what the protocol is for making-up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Hawaiian Paradise Park
Enroll in the Best Hawaiian Paradise Park Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal certificate school is an important first step toward your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the choice of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Hawaiian Paradise Park home. Paralegal academic programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of schools, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you elect to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have presented you will be able to examine each program and make your final decision. And with the ideal education you can accomplish your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Hawaiian Paradise Park Hawaii.
Hawaiian Paradise Park Paralegal Degrees | Hawaiian Paradise Park Paralegal Courses