Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Brown Deer Wisconsin
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Brown Deer WI, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. However, it's essential that you find the ideal school so that you will receive the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and a growing number of academic options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right program with so many alternatives? Many prospective students start by trying to find schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they search for the program with the most affordable tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the school must be taken into consideration too. Later in this post we will cover a list of questions that you should ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your selection. But before we do, let's have a look at what a paralegal does and the academic options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals basically both hold comparable job positions and responsibilities, only with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist Brown Deer WI lawyers with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. Their particular job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may help with the logistics of a trial or transferring documents to court. In private practices, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the attorney's. And the same as lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities can involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related cases and laws
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and maintaining legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very challenging. 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 clerical or administrative functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the main support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, attorneys have the ability to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.
Paralegal Education 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 requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Brown Deer WI is by earning a certificate, which may involve just 6 months to accomplish. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more expansive education and can be earned at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have acquired either a certificate or degree, you may want to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Wisconsin to practice as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional also. Some 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will address the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two essential first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes
Online paralegal or legal assistant programs have become more popular and may be a good alternative for individuals living in Brown Deer WI searching for convenient access to classes and flexible scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to individuals who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added benefit, online schools can often be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenditures for such items as study materials or commuting can be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet programs are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make certain that the school and program you are thinking about are accredited by a respected agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and conventional setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are available, you can start the process of assessing schools. But because there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Brown Deer WI area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true if you add all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will begin by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial aspects to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let's take a look at a few of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can properly vet each one and make your final selection.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you select should be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it can 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 future employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Brown Deer WI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you pick is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also call a few Brown Deer WI law firms that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start establishing contacts within the Brown Deer WI legal community. Find out if the paralegal schools 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 offered? You will most likely want to hit the ground running after graduation, but getting that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Wisconsin legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Because laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to choose a paralegal school located in Wisconsin or the state where you plan to work after graduation. In addition, it will be valuable to build relationships in the local legal community, perhaps by means of an internship program. This is all the more reason to acquire your education in the community where you desire to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most 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 Brown Deer WI area.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Remember to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be obtainable to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to contact the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Brown Deer WI. Naturally if you opt to attend an online program, some of these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while getting their training and need flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Brown Deer WI, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select makes available that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up missed classes because of work, illness or family obligations.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal in Brown Deer
Enroll in the Right Brown Deer Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the right paralegal studies certificate school is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this article, you have the option of attending classes on-campus or you can participate online in the privacy and comfort of your Brown Deer home. Paralegal education programs are provided in many formats and lengths. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational 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 wide range in the quality of programs, pick carefully. Give yourself the greatest possible opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession. But irrespective of how you elect to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to assess each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the ideal education you can realize your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Brown Deer Wisconsin.
Brown Deer Paralegal Programs | Brown Deer Paralegal Certificate Programs