Want Adventure? Explore Paralegal Colleges

Don't assume just yet that the life of a paralegal is boring. In fact, it can be everything but. From working on high-profile cases to interesting investigations, those that graduate from paralegal colleges not only have rewarding careers, but exciting ones. If you want a taste of the thrills of paralegal careers, it may be time for you to enroll in one of many paralegal colleges. But before you send your application to paralegal colleges, here's a glimpse into paralegal careers. Are you cut out for the excitement paralegal colleges can bring you?

They Don't Teach This at Paralegal Colleges...
Such is the case for Bill Harrison, now a paralegal and legal assistant specialist for a reputable agency. Before his current position, Harrison spent part of his career tracking down fugitives, murder suspects, jail escapees as a paralegal during his tenure at a public defender?s office. "We were defending a guy recently charged with murder once," he explains. "The defendant allegedly held up the owner of a coin-operated laundry room." When the owner refused to hand over money, he was shot and killed. Upon the defendant's arrest, he asked for a public defender. And that's when Harrison and his agency steps in.

"While the man was in jail awaiting trial, he escaped as a result of a 'mishap' at the jail," he recalls. The fugitive squad of the sheriff's department gave Harrison the opportunity to go on a ride-along late one night as they attempted to apprehend the suspect. The defendant later surrendered when contact was made.

Opportunities After Education at Paralegal Colleges
If you work at the district attorney's office, Harrison attests, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants. From assisting with the investigation to attending and assisting with trial, just to name a few. And all it takes is a degree from one of the many paralegal colleges or something related. "I have a bachelor's degree in criminology and corrections. Normally, employers require either a four-year degree or a paralegal certificate," Harrison explains. Enrolling in programs at paralegal colleges can take you to the next step of employment in an exciting field like working with the district attorney.

Harrison also advises aspiring those considering paralegal colleges to be creative and understand the role they will play. "As a paralegal, you have to be willing to assist in every aspect of a case," Harrison explains. "Paralegal responsibilities are always changing so you can look forward to more responsibilities."

A Typical Day for a Paralegal
Keep in mind, it's not all thrills and excitement, car chases and crime scenes. When it comes to day-to-day duties, paralegals have to engage in some clerical tasks like filing legal papers at the courthouse, drafting legal documents (which can take up most of the day), and other paperwork. "This all depends on the field you choose," surmises Harrison. "There are paralegals at The Weather Channel that draft and assist in drafting contracts for video. There are also paralegals at Turner Broadcasting that research movie rights and clearances before a movie can be shown on TV."

For Harrison, he took a different approach to his career. Instead of going the route of many graduates from paralegal colleges -- to work as a paralegal -- becoming a legal assistant was just one of the levels to his ultimate goal. "For me a career as a paralegal was a step," Harrison asserts. "The final step is to become a lawyer. My ultimate goal is to practice law."

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Tips On Choosing The Best Online Paralegal School

Although the demand for many professional fields seem to be diminishing, the outlook for paralegals continues to be very bright. There is an ever increasing need for qualified individuals to help lawyers and corporations by indexing and filing the large amounts of paperwork that are involved in legal proceedings. Paralegals also may be used to interview witnesses and hold hearings as well. And a paralegal career is often a stepping stone to even greater involvement in the legal and governmental field.

So obviously, advanced training will be necessary in order to become a qualified paralegal. And here are some tips to help you choose the best paralegal school for your needs.

1. The very first and most important consideration regarding education in almost any field is to make sure that the school and the courses you will take are fully accredited by a recognized accreditation agency. This is important because in recent times there has been an increase in education scams, commonly referred to as diploma mills, that seem to offer quality training courses at bargain prices, whereas in reality the education received is of very little value in the workplace.

So when considering an online paralegal school, the first step is to make sure that their education program has been reviewed and accredited by educational peers who validate or verify that the education received is of high quality according to accepted educational standards. And you also will want to be sure that the program is approved by the American Bar Association.

2. Before choosing any online paralegal training program, it's good to ask a few questions of the school to determine how effective their training really is. For instance, you can ask them how many of the enrolled students actually finish or complete the courses provided? Also, how many other former students have gone on to find meaningful employment in the paralegal field? The more success that their former students have had, the more likelihood that you can enjoy the same kind of results yourself.

3. Next you should also consider the costs associated with any particular online paralegal training program. Bear in mind that you will be saving the cost of having to stay on campus or travel back and forth as you would normally do at an off line school. Also, many online colleges that offer paralegal training have financial aid programs to help students out who cannot afford to pay all of their class tuition. So whichever school seems to appeal to you, be sure to contact them and ask about aid and assistance for meeting the costs of paralegal courses to find out what is available to you.

Choosing a career in the paralegal field is very timely as there is a tremendous need and demand for qualified paralegals in the workplace. And there are several high quality online schools that specialize in paralegal training to help fill that need. So if you use the suggestions are provided above to find an online paralegal training school, most likely you will be able to enjoy an exciting career in the legal field for many years to come.

You can find an online paralegal school and paralegal certificate programs and more by visiting our education website.

Online Degrees Can Charge Your Legal And Paralegal Careers

The need for trained legal professionals and paralegals is expected to grow faster than the national average for job growth within the next five years. Stiff competition is expected, making your decision to enter the legal profession a critical one. The online program you choose will be a crucial decision affecting the level of success you enjoy.

While paralegals and legal assistants once were trained on the job, employers today are increasingly depending upon employees who have already completed some type of formal legal education or training. That's why a legal or paralegal certification, degree or online degree is so important to your future success in the legal profession.

One of a paralegal's most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Your classes and online programs will teach you to investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. Colleges and online schools also will teach you critical skills such as preparing the legal arguments, drafting pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtaining affidavits, and assisting attorneys during trials.

Once you have earned your legal certification via an online legal degree, you will be able to find work in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. Your degree program or online courses will prepare you for work in all areas of the law, including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate.

Because computer use and technical knowledge has become essential to paralegal work, a well-rounded degree program or online program is critical.There are several ways to become a paralegal. Increasingly, employers prefer graduates of four-year paralegal programs or college graduates who have completed paralegal certificate or online paralegal training programs.

Over 800 formal paralegal training programs are offered by 4-year colleges and universities, law schools, community and junior colleges, business schools, and proprietary schools.

Paralegal programs include 2-year associate's degree programs, 4-year bachelor's degree programs, and certificate programs that take only a few months to complete. Many certificate programs only require a high school diploma or GED for admission, but they usually are designed for students who already hold an associate or baccalaureate degree.Your legal or paralegal education will prepare you for a rewarding and relaxed life. According to the National Association of Legal Assistants, paralegals had an average salary of $38,000 in 2000.

Joyce Jackson writes, lectures and publishes helpful and easy to understand information for career enhancement and graduating students emerging into new professions. More comprehensive and simple tips are found on her website: http://www.careerenhance.blogspot.com

Enrolling in a Paralegal School

Paralegal jobs in the United States have steadily been on the rise these past few years. The US Department of Labor also projects that in the next several years, paralegal job opportunities will continue to increase. As law firms continue to expand and new ones are being established, paralegals are progressively more in demand than ever before.

Some paralegal positions do not require extensive training and provide it on-the-job. However, most employers prefer applicants who have had formal training in a paralegal school. These law firms need paralegals who already demonstrate proficiency. On-the-job training calls for a commitment of more resources and time, which may not be cost effective for the firm.

Because of the increasing demand for paralegals that specialize in particular fields, paralegal training courses and paralegal schools have also gained popularity. For those considering a career in this field, enrolling in a paralegal school is a good decision. A paralegal school will provide extensive training on the duties and functions of a paralegal. The training that a paralegal school provides is very advantageous to the student compared to on-the-job-training. In a paralegal school, future paralegals can complete paralegal training programs and even proceed to taking additional classes in a specialized area of study.

General paralegal training in a paralegal school usually consist of special courses that cover key areas of importance. Paralegal training programs in paralegal schools include classes in legal terminology as well as the operation of the US Justice System. Paralegal schools also train students on the basics of conducting an investigation and interviews. Some other key courses that paralegal schools offer include legal writing and conducting legal research. Students will also learn about legal ethics and professional responsibility. Paralegal schools are excellent training ground for future legal professionals. Some paralegal schools provide affiliate programs with law schools, universities and colleges that could further improve the skills and knowledge of its students.

Paralegal schools also offer elective course that are geared towards specific areas of study. Today's paralegal schools have introduced new courses and classes that cover the newfound duties of paralegals. As demand for paralegals increase the duties that a paralegal performs also increases. Many law firms expect paralegals to perform duties that only lawyers used to do. These duties are offered as training courses in most paralegal schools. Thus, enrolling in a paralegal school greatly benefits the future paralegal. By completing the advanced courses that accredited paralegal schools offer, the future paralegal can acquire skills and knowledge that will give him the edge when applying for a legal professional job. Paralegal schools can also open the opportunity of specialization that will further improve the chances of employment as more law firms favor applicants with specialized skills.

The internet revolution also offers a new, more convenient way for potential paralegals to obtain formal training and instruction. Online paralegal schools now offer distance learning courses that students can take in their own homes and at their own pace. Students can now take paralegal courses at their most convenient time. This further enhances the rising popularity and demand for paralegals in the country.
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