Paralegal Studies School
How to Choose the Right One Near Madison Wisconsin
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Madison WI, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. However, it's crucial that you locate the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you need to achieve success. As you probably understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational options are being offered, both on campus and online. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right school with so many options? A number of potential students start by trying to find schools within traveling range of their homes. Of those alternatives, they try to find the program with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are very important considerations when selecting a college, they are not the only qualifiers you should take into consideration. There are various other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example accreditation and reputation. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are researching later in this article. But first, let's have a look at the instructional options that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegal Training and Certification
Paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals perhaps having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The quickest way to start your career as a paralegal in Madison WI is by obtaining a certificate, which may take just six months to complete. Most entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which offer a more extensive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might want to proceed and earn a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Wisconsin to practice as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. 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 address the benefits of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two important initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Online Paralegal and Legal Assistant Programs
Legal assistant and paralegal online programs have become more available and can be a good alternative for students living in Madison WI searching for convenient access to classes and accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be especially appealing to students who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can often be less costly than more traditional options. Even secondary expenses for such items as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caution, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will address in more detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are looking into are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for instance the American Bar Association. But if you are dedicated enough to attend classes in a less structured and formal setting, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can start the process of evaluating schools. But since there are so many programs accessible at junior and community colleges in the Madison WI area, in addition to vocational and trade schools, you must learn what questions to ask so that you can evaluate 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 potential students, you will begin by looking for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have previously covered, there are other significant aspects to research also, 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 choice.
Is the Paralegal School and Program Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you enroll in need to be accredited by a highly regarded organization 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 targets online or distance learning. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified professional also. Numerous Madison WI law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial assistance and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Research what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no previous experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the quality of your training exclusively. Verifying that the program you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help determine school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Madison WI law offices that you may be interested 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 ranked, its paralegal program may still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also offer a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Madison WI legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are assessing provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing after graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without support. Find out if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and great relationships with Wisconsin legal services employers. It also confirms that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School Located? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be advantageous to enroll in a legal assistant school located in Wisconsin or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to build relationships in the neighboring legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to acquire your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, most require a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might need to first investigate those colleges that are within the Madison WI region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal schools can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of books, supplies and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial assistance might be available to help reduce some of the expense, so make sure to contact the school's financial aid department to find out what is available in Madison WI. Needless to say that if you decide to attend an online school, a portion these additional costs, for instance for commuting, may be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? Numerous paralegal students keep working while obtaining their training and must have flexibility in class scheduling. If you can solely attend night or weekend classes near Madison WI, make certain classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the program you select provides that option. Finally, ask what the process is for making up classes missed due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More About Becoming a Legal Assistant in Madison
Enroll in the Best Madison Paralegal Studies Program
Enrolling in the ideal paralegal studies certificate school is a vital first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have discussed in this article, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Madison home. Paralegal training programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of private and public institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school will have a pronounced impact on your prospects for success in your new profession. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of programs, choose carefully. Give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed in this fascinating profession. But regardless of how you decide to acquire your training and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to assess each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right training you can accomplish your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Madison Wisconsin.