Paralegal Studies School
How to Pick the Right One Near Wahiawa Hawaii
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Wahiawa HI and start your journey that will result in a satisfying profession in legal services. But in order to guarantee your success, it’s important that you find the right program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and more and more educational options are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with numerous alternatives? Some potential students start by looking for schools within driving range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when selecting a school, they are not the only qualifiers you need to take into consideration. Things like accreditation and the reputation of the school ought to be taken into account as well. We will discuss those topics and other crucial questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are looking at later in this article. But first, let's take a look at what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, just 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 category. Both legal assistants and paralegals assist Wahiawa HI lawyers with a wide variety of job functions, including legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are relevant to the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice could help with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is usually billed by the hour as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high degree of professionalism and follow a strict code of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they work, but some of their day-to-day tasks might include:
- Investigating and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on applicable cases and laws
- Preparing correspondence and legal documents
- Filing legal papers 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 responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be complicated and very demanding. However, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But they are not limited to clerical or administrative tasks more applicable to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to take on a much larger number of cases or clients than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Wahiawa HI is by obtaining a certificate, which may require as little as six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which offer a more expansive education and may be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. When you have earned either a certificate or degree, you may choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Hawaii to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. Some of the highly regarded 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 program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Degrees
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more prevalent and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Wahiawa HI searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while obtaining a certificate or degree. As an added benefit, online classes can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caution, not all online programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps guarantee that the education you obtain 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 instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to study in a less supervised and formal setting, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are available, you can begin the process of evaluating schools. But since there are numerous programs accessible at community and junior colleges in the Wahiawa HI area, in addition to trade and vocational schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential 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 crucial factors to research as well, 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 schools you are investigating 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 choose need to be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it might also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. Accreditation will not only certify that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Wahiawa HI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are often available only for accredited programs.
What's the Program's Reputation? Find out what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of special importance if you are entering the profession with no previous work history, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your training exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact some Wahiawa HI law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Remember that even though a school is not the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an excellent reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs give students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal operation while remaining in school. They can also present an avenue for students to begin establishing contacts within the Wahiawa HI legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably wish to secure employment quickly after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without support. Ask if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are a good indication that the schools have substantial networks and great relationships with Hawaii legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from state to state, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in Hawaii or the state where you wish to practice after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to create relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to acquire your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may wish to first consider those colleges that are within the Wahiawa HI area.
What is the Total Cost? Paralegal schools can differ in price depending on the credential obtained and the length of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only cost for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be available to help reduce some of the cost, so make sure to consult with the school's financial aid office to find out what is available in Wahiawa HI. Naturally if you opt to attend an online school, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? Many legal students keep working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Wahiawa HI, verify classes are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Finally, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Wahiawa
Choose the Right Wahiawa Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies certificate program is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have addressed in this article, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can attend them online in the privacy and comfort of your Wahiawa home. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Various types of public and private institutions offer paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Since there is a wide range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you elect to obtain your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will be able to assess each school and make your final selection. And with the ideal training you can achieve your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Wahiawa Hawaii.
Wahiawa Paralegal Programs | Wahiawa Paralegal Certificate Programs