Paralegal Studies Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Salem Wisconsin
Now that you have decided to enroll in a paralegal certificate or degree program near Salem WI, it's time to start the process of picking a school. But in order to achieve your success, it’s crucial that you locate the best school so that you will receive 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 academic alternatives are being offered, both on campus and online. However with numerous alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? A number of potential students start by searching for schools within commuting distance of their homes. Of those options, they look for the program with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are prime considerations when choosing a school, they are not the only qualifiers you ought to take into consideration. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as accreditation and reputation. We will cover those topics and other vital questions that you should be asking the paralegal schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional alternatives that are offered to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.
Paralegals Compared to Legal Assistants
Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both hold the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. On the other hand, legal secretaries are not the same as either of those two positions and are part of a different job category. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Salem WI attorneys with a wide variety of job functions, including maintaining client files, legal research, drafting legal documents and communicating with clients. 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 practice could help with the logistics of a trial or delivering documents to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is normally billed hourly as are the lawyer's. And just like attorneys, they must perform with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict standard of professional ethics. As mentioned, their responsibilities can be diverse in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their daily activities can include:
- Researching and fact checking cases
- Researching related laws and cases
- Composing correspondence and legal documents
- Submitting legal documents with opposing counsel or the court
- Assisting attorneys get ready for trial and keep organized with their cases
- Organizing and preserving legal documents, files and additional records
With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be involved and very demanding. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal advice and counsel or represent a client in a legal action. But paralegals are not confined to administrative or clerical duties more suited to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants 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 manage a much larger number of clients or cases than they could alone.
Paralegal Training and Certification
As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the academic prerequisites and opportunities will be the same. The fastest way to begin your career as a legal assistant in Salem WI is by obtaining a certificate, which may take as little as 6 months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do require an Associate's Degree, which provide a more expansive education and may be obtained at many community colleges in two years. And if you are interested in an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor's Degrees are an option as well. When you have obtained either a certificate or degree, you may 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 increase your career opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly regarded certifying agencies 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 discuss the benefits of accreditation later) and obtaining a certification, you will have taken two essential initial steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.
Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Degrees
Paralegal and legal assistant online programs have become more common and may be an excellent alternative for those living in Salem WI looking for convenient access to classes as well as flexible scheduling. Online programs can be particularly attractive to those who keep working while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional advantage, online classes can sometimes be less expensive than on campus options. Even ancillary expenditures for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated. One caveat, not all online schools are accredited, which we will cover in greater detail later. But at the very least accreditation helps ensure that the training you obtain is of the highest caliber. So check to make certain that the school and program you are considering are accredited by a highly regarded agency, for example the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and formal setting, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Paralegal Studies Programs
Since you now you have a better understanding regarding what paralegals do and what academic choices are offered, you can begin the undertaking of evaluating schools. But because there are so many programs offered at community and junior colleges in the Salem WI area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you must find out what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential 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 critical aspects to research as well, for instance accreditation and the reputation of the schools. So let's take a look at some of the questions you should be asking the schools you are researching so that you can effectively vet each one and make your final decision.
Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal school and program that you pick should be accredited by a respected accrediting agency such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which targets distance or online education. Accreditation will not only help guarantee that the training you will obtain will be of the highest quality, but it will show potential employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Many Salem WI law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that have graduated from an accredited program. Finally, financial aid and student loans are typically accessible only for accredited programs.
What's the School's Reputation? Learn what the rankings and reputations are for the legal assistant programs you are contemplating. This is of particular importance if you are new to the profession with no prior work history, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your training exclusively. Confirming that the program you choose is accredited is an excellent first step. Checking school rating reports can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also call some Salem WI law offices that you may be interested in working for after graduation and ask which schools they recommend. Keep in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an exceptional reputation.
Does the Program Sponsor Internships? Internship programs provide students an opportunity to experience working in a law office or other legal enterprise while still in school. They can also provide a pathway for students to start creating contacts within the Salem WI legal community. Ask if the paralegal programs you are evaluating provide internship programs, particularly in areas of the law that you are most interested in pursuing upon graduation.
Is Job Placement Assistance available? You will probably want to hit the ground running after graduating, but getting that initial job in a new profession can be challenging without assistance. Ask if the paralegal schools you are interviewing have job placement programs and what their success 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 confirms that their students are well regarded and in demand.
Where is the School Located? Since laws differ among states, it might be advantageous to choose a paralegal school domiciled in Wisconsin or the state where you plan to work after graduation. Also, it will be valuable to create relationships in the area legal community, perhaps through an internship program. This is even more justification to obtain your education in the area where you want to work. Also, if you attend classes at a community college, many charge a higher tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you might wish to first look at those schools that are within the Salem WI area.
How Much is the Complete Expense? Paralegal programs can vary in price based on the credential earned and the amount of training furnished. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expense for your training. Don't forget to include the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget as well. Financial assistance may be obtainable to help reduce part of the cost, so be sure to consult with the school's financial aid department to find out what is offered in Salem WI. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online school, some of these additional expenses, such as for commuting, might be decreased or eliminated.
Do the Classes Accommodate your Schedule? A number of paralegal students continue working while receiving their training and require flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Salem WI, verify classes are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the program you enroll in makes available that option. Last, ask what the process is for making-up missed classes due to work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More About Becoming a Paralegal in Salem
Enroll in the Best Salem Paralegal Studies School
Selecting the best paralegal training program is a vital first step to guarantee your success in the gratifying 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 Salem residence. Paralegal training programs are made available in various formats and lengths. Different kinds of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including junior and community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal school 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 schools, pick wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to succeed in this rewarding profession. But no matter how you elect to acquire your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have provided you will have the ability to review each school and make your ultimate decision. And with the right education you can accomplish your career objective to become a practicing paralegal in Salem Wisconsin.