Paralegal Studies School
How to Find the Best One Near Cedarburg Wisconsin
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Cedarburg WI, it's time to start the process of picking a school. However, it's essential that you find the right school so that you will receive the extensive training that you require to be successful. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational choices are being offered, both at school and online. But with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one start? Many potential students start by looking for schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those choices, they try to find the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are very important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you need to take into consideration. Things such as accreditation and the reputation of the program ought to be considered also. Later in this post we will review a list of concerns that you ought to ask prospective paralegal schools so that you can evaluate and compare every one prior to making your choice. But before we do, let's take 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
Paralegals and legal assistants basically both fill the same job roles and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a separate job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Cedarburg WI lawyers with a diverse array of job functions, 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 work. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice might assist with the logistics of a trial or transporting files to court. In private firms, the work of a paralegal is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like lawyers, they must carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict code of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their routine activities might include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on pertinent cases and laws
- Preparing 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 preserving legal documents, files and other records
With all of their duties, the job of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. However, what they are not legally authorized to do is give legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical functions more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals really are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers are able to manage a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could otherwise.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are essentially the same as legal assistants, with paralegals arguably having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a paralegal in Cedarburg WI is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just six months to accomplish. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more comprehensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are offered as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to proceed and get a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Wisconsin to work as a paralegal, certification may not only help boost your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken 2 important first steps that will help ensure your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Paralegal and Legal Assistant Online Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and may be a good option for students living in Cedarburg WI searching for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be especially attractive to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online programs can in some cases be less costly than more traditional options. Even ancillary expenditures for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and conventional environment, then earning your certificate or degree online could be the right option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Schools
Once you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are so many programs available at community and junior colleges in the Cedarburg WI area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you need to know what questions to ask so that you can compare each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs as well. If you are like many prospective students, you will begin by searching for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already discussed, there are other crucial factors to think about also, such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at 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 final decision.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you choose should be accredited by a recognized 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 online or distance education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Cedarburg WI law firms will only employ entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are usually accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are entering the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the quality of your education exclusively. Checking that the program you pick is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact a few Cedarburg WI law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Remember that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the School Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students a chance to experience working in a law firm or other legal establishment while attending school. They can also present an avenue for students to start establishing contacts within the Cedarburg WI legal field. 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 upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Help offered? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without assistance. Find out if the paralegal programs you are interviewing have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Wisconsin legal services employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School's Location? Because laws differ from one state to another, it may be a good idea to select a legal assistant school located in Wisconsin or the state where you wish to work after graduation. Also, it will be necessary to build relationships in the local legal community, possibly by means of an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the community where you choose to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first consider those schools that are within the Cedarburg WI region.
What is the Entire Cost? Paralegal schools can vary in price depending on the credential obtained and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be accessible to help minimize part of the expense, so don't forget to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is available in Cedarburg WI. Of course if you opt to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Many legal students continue working while obtaining their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Cedarburg WI, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making-up missed classes because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Cedarburg
Enroll in the Best Cedarburg Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the right paralegal studies training program is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this post, you have the option of attending classes at school or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Cedarburg residence. Paralegal education programs are offered in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions provide paralegal education, including junior and community colleges, four year universities and colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a profound influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, pick wisely. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to receive your training and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to examine each school and make your final selection. And with the right training you can achieve your career goal to become a successful paralegal in Cedarburg Wisconsin.
Cedarburg Paralegal Training | Cedarburg How To Become A Paralegal