Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Honolulu Hawaii
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near Honolulu HI and start your journey that will result in a gratifying career in legal services. However, it's essential that you locate the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to be successful. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more academic choices are becoming available, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the program need to be considered too. Later in this post we will review a list of concerns that you must ask potential paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare each one prior to making your choice. 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 Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and responsibilities, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Honolulu HI lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist 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 attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high degree of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be varied in support of the practices where they work, but some of their daily tasks might involve:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But they are not restricted to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially 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 way to launch your career as a paralegal in Honolulu HI is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just 6 months to complete. Most entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are available also. When you have acquired either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Hawaii to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining 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 Schools
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more common and may be a good alternative for those living in Honolulu HI searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and formal setting, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.
Things to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Honolulu HI 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 when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other critical factors to consider also, 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 researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your ultimate decision.
Is the Paralegal Training Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Many Honolulu HI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually available only for accredited schools.
What's the Program's Reputation? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call a few Honolulu HI law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also offer a means for students to begin creating contacts within the Honolulu HI legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in entering upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without help. Ask if the paralegal schools you are assessing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have substantial networks and good relationships with Hawaii legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to choose a legal assistant school domiciled in Hawaii or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. In addition, it will be important to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more justification to receive your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to first consider those colleges that are within the Honolulu HI region.
What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce some of the cost, so don't forget to consult with the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Honolulu HI. Needless to say that if you opt to attend an online school, a portion these added costs, for instance for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while getting their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near Honolulu HI, 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 select offers that option. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Honolulu
Choose the Right Honolulu Paralegal Studies School
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal degree school is a crucial first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Honolulu residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible opportunity to be successful in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you decide to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to review each program and make your ultimate decision. And with the right education you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Honolulu Hawaii.