Paralegal Studies Course
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Ocean Pointe Hawaii
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Ocean Pointe HI and begin your journey that will result in a fulfilling career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you probably know, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic alternatives are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with so many alternatives? When checking out paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you must consider. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will address those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional choices that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants for the most part both fill the same job positions and functions, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a separate job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants help Ocean Pointe HI lawyers with a wide range of job duties, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they work. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could assist with trial logistics or delivering documents to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their routine activities may involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching relevant laws and cases
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal documents with the court or opposing counsel
- Assisting lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and quite challenging. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more applicable 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 ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of cases or clients than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Programs and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The quickest means to begin your career as a legal assistant in Ocean Pointe HI is by obtaining a certificate, which can require as little as six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be acquired at numerous community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have earned either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Even though it is not a legal requirement in Hawaii to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help increase your career opportunities, but help establish you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Paralegal and legal assistant online schools have become more common and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Ocean Pointe HI looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added advantage, online schools can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will address in greater 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 considering are accredited by a highly regarded organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and conventional setting, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better idea regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can start the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are numerous programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Ocean Pointe HI area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously discussed, there are other critical issues to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to 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 targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will receive will be of the highest standard, but it will establish with potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Ocean Pointe HI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually obtainable only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Learn what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant schools you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous experience, since employers will need to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating reports can help verify school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Ocean Pointe HI law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they suggest. Keep in mind that even though a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the School Provide Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin creating contacts within the Ocean Pointe HI legal field. Find out if the paralegal schools you are assessing offer internship programs, especially in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the paralegal programs you are considering have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Hawaii legal services employers. It also substantiates that their graduates are highly regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Because laws differ from one state to another, it might be beneficial to choose a legal assistant school located in Hawaii or the state where you wish to practice after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the local legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more reason to obtain your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, many require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to initially investigate those schools that are within the Ocean Pointe HI area.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in cost based on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Remember to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid might be obtainable to help offset part of the expense, so be sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to find out what is offered in Ocean Pointe HI. Of course if you choose to attend an online school, a portion these additional expenses, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of legal students keep working while receiving their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Ocean Pointe HI, verify classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, confirm that the program you choose provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up classes missed as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Ocean Pointe
Enroll in the Best Ocean Pointe Paralegal Studies Program
Choosing the best paralegal training program is an essential first step to guarantee 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 comfort and privacy of your Ocean Pointe residence. Paralegal education programs are provided in numerous lengths and formats. Various kinds of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a pronounced influence on your opportunities for success in your new profession. Considering that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Afford yourself the best possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But irrespective of how you choose to receive your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each program and make your final selection. And with the right training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Ocean Pointe Hawaii.
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