Paralegal Studies School
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Mount Pleasant Wisconsin
Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Mount Pleasant WI, it's time to start the process of picking a school. However, it's important that you locate the ideal school so that you will get the comprehensive training that you need to achieve success. As you most likely understand, the legal field is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more academic options are becoming available, both on campus and online. But just how do you go about finding the right program with so many options? When looking for paralegal studies schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Things like the reputation and accreditation of the school need to be considered too. We will address those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the paralegal schools you are interested in later in this article. But first, 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 essentially both hold comparable job roles and responsibilities, only with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and belong to a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Mount Pleasant WI attorneys with a wide range of job duties, including 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. For example, a legal assistant for a criminal law practice may assist with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is typically billed by the hour as are the attorney's. And just like lawyers, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and comply with a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their duties can be diverse in support of the practices where they are employed, but a few of their daily tasks can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Conducting research on related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal papers
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and managing legal files, documents and additional records
With all of their responsibilities, the job of a paralegal can be involved and rather 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 functions more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Paralegals truly are the right hand support systems for lawyers. And since they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers have the ability to take on a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Education and Certification
As we discussed earlier, paralegals are basically 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 fastest means to launch your career as a paralegal in Mount Pleasant WI is by earning a certificate, which may involve as little as 6 months to complete. Many entry level positions do call for an Associate's Degree, which furnish a more comprehensive education and can be obtained at numerous community colleges in 2 years. For an even more extensive education, 4 year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. Once you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you might choose to continue and get a certification. Even though it is not a mandatory requirement in Wisconsin to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help boost your job opportunities, but help establish you as a professional also. A few 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 program (we will cover the advantages of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken 2 crucial first steps that will help ensure your success as either a paralegal or a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Online Classes
Online legal assistant or paralegal schools have become more popular and may be an excellent option for those living in Mount Pleasant WI looking for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online schools can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while obtaining a degree. As an added advantage, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even secondary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all internet schools are accredited, which we will discuss in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest quality. So check to make sure that the program and school you are reviewing are accredited by a respected agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to attend classes in a less supervised and conventional environment, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Degree Programs
Once you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what training options are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But considering that there are so many programs offered at junior and community colleges in the Mount Pleasant WI area, as well as trade and vocational schools, you must find out what questions to ask so that you can evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs also. If you are like most potential students, you will start by searching for schools within driving distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other crucial factors 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 researching 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 choose need to be accredited by a reputable organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it might also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets online or distance training. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will get will be of the highest standard, but it will demonstrate to future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. A number of Mount Pleasant WI law firms will only hire entry level paralegals that are graduates of an accredited school. Also, financial aid and student loans are often accessible only for accredited schools.
What's the Reputation of the School? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant schools you are looking at. This is of particular importance if you are new to the field with no prior experience, since employers will have to rely on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you choose is accredited is a good first step. Checking school rating services can help confirm school quality of education and rankings as well. You can also contact several Mount Pleasant WI law practices that you may be interested in working for after graduating and ask what schools they suggest. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly ranked, its paralegal program may still have an outstanding reputation.
Does the Program Offer Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law firm or other legal enterprise while attending school. They can also present a means for students to begin creating contacts within the Mount Pleasant WI legal community. Find out if the paralegal programs you are evaluating offer internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial 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. High and rapid placement rates are a good sign that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Wisconsin legal services employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.
Where is the School's Location? Considering that laws vary from state to state, it may be beneficial to enroll in a paralegal school domiciled in Wisconsin or the state where you plan to practice after graduating. Also, it will be necessary to establish relationships in the local legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more reason to obtain your education in the area where you choose to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that reside outside of their districts. So you may need to first consider those schools that are within the Mount Pleasant WI region.
What is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in cost depending on the credential earned and the length of training furnished. However, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your education. Remember to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial aid may be available to help reduce part of the expense, so make sure to talk to the school's financial aid office to see what is offered in Mount Pleasant WI. Of course if you decide to attend an online program, a portion these supplementary costs, for instance for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.
Do the Class Times Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can only attend weekend or evening classes near Mount Pleasant WI, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you choose makes available that option. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making-up classes missed because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About How to Become a Legal Assistant in Mount Pleasant
Enroll in the Best Mount Pleasant Paralegal Studies Program
Selecting the right paralegal studies certificate program is an important first step to guarantee your success in the rewarding field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the choice of attending classes on-campus or you can attend them online in the comfort and privacy of your Mount Pleasant home. Paralegal education programs are made available in many formats and lengths. Various kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal education, including community and junior colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to trade and vocational schools. Your choice of a paralegal program will have a profound influence on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a wide range in the quality of programs, pick wisely. Give yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this exciting profession. But no matter how you decide to receive your education and earn your degree or certificate, by asking the questions that we have provided you will be able to evaluate each program and make your final decision. And with the appropriate education you can realize your career objective to become a successful paralegal in Mount Pleasant Wisconsin.
Mount Pleasant Paralegal Certificate | Mount Pleasant Paralegal Degrees