Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Select the Best One Near La Crosse Wisconsin
Congratulations on your decision to enroll in a paralegal school near La Crosse WI and begin your journey that will result in a satisfying career in legal services. But in order to secure your success, it’s important that you locate the best program so that you will get the extensive training that you need. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational alternatives are being offered, both at school and online. But just how do you approach finding the right school with so many options? Many prospective students begin by looking for schools within driving distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to consider. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example reputation and accreditation. Later on in this post we will cover a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can assess and compare every one before making your choice. But before we do, let's take a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the academic choices that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold comparable job roles and functions, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and belong to a different job classification. Both paralegals and legal assistants assist La Crosse WI attorneys with a wide variety of job duties, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their particular job functions are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm might help with trial logistics or transporting files to court. In private firms, a paralegal's work is typically billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And the same as attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As noted, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but some of their daily activities might involve:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching pertinent laws and cases
- Preparing correspondence and legal papers
- Filing legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Helping lawyers prepare for trial and stay organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal files, documents and other records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complicated and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally authorized to do is provide legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not limited to administrative or clerical tasks more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for attorneys. And since they do so much of the legal ground work and preparation, lawyers have the ability to manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically 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 legal assistant in La Crosse WI is by obtaining a certificate, which can take just six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and can be acquired at many community colleges in 2 years. And if you are interested in an even more extensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. After you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and obtain a certification. Although it is not a mandatory requirement in Wisconsin to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help maximize your employment opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. 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 degree or certificate from an accredited school (we will cover 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 Programs
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and can be an excellent option for individuals living in La Crosse WI searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to individuals who continue to work while obtaining a degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can in some cases be less expensive than more traditional options. Even supplementary expenses for such things as study materials or commuting can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the education you obtain is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a respected organization, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online could be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational choices are offered, you can start the process of assessing schools. But since there are numerous programs offered at junior and community colleges in the La Crosse WI area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is especially true when you include all of the online paralegal degree and certificate programs also. If you are like the majority of prospective students, you will start by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other crucial aspects to think about also, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's go over several of the questions you should be asking the schools you are considering so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your ultimate selection.
Is the Paralegal Program Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you select should be accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it may also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will show future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many La Crosse WI law firms will only hire entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically offered only for accredited schools.
What's the School's Reputation? Research what the reputations and rankings are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will need to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Confirming that the program you select is accredited is a good first step. Reviewing school rating services can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact some La Crosse WI law firms that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even if a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students a chance to experience working in a law office or other legal operation while attending school. They can also provide a pathway for students to begin establishing contacts within the La Crosse WI legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Help available? You will probably wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that initial job in a new field can be difficult without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering have job assistance programs and what their placement rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Wisconsin legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ from one state to another, it may be a good idea to enroll in a legal assistant school domiciled in Wisconsin or the state where you plan to work after graduating. Also, it will be valuable to establish relationships in the area legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is even more reason to receive your education in the area where you want to practice. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might want to first investigate those schools that are within the La Crosse WI area.
What is the Entire Expense? Paralegal schools can differ in cost depending on the credential received and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expense for your education. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance may be accessible to help reduce part of the cost, so make sure to check with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in La Crosse WI. Of course if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Fit your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while getting their training and require flexibility in class scheduling. If you can only attend night or weekend classes near La Crosse WI, make sure classes are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the program you choose offers that option. Last, ask what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of sickness, work or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in La Crosse
Enroll in the Best La Crosse Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal certificate school is an important 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 participate online in the privacy and comfort of your La Crosse residence. Paralegal academic programs are provided in various lengths and formats. Several types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your choice of a paralegal school will have a pronounced influence on your prospects for success in your new career. Considering that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this exciting profession. But regardless of how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each program and make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate training you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in La Crosse Wisconsin.