There are a number of choices when it comes to studying to become a paralegal. Some schools are dedicated solely to providing paralegal studies, whilst there are many legal colleges that offer paralegal courses. Finally, most colleges and universities have paralegal studies covering various qualifications.

If you want a specific paralegal college then you can’t go past the National Paralegal College. Other options include the American Institute for Paralegal Studies and the School of Legal Studies at Kaplan University.

National Paralegal College – This college provides excellent internet based training for people who want a future career in the paralegal field. You will learn career-oriented skills as well as an excellent academic foundation. You can get your Paralegal Associate’s Degree within 15 months at the National Paralegal College. There is also a Certification Program that can be completed in 7 months. Real world New York attorneys make up the faculty so you are receiving guidance and advice from people who have worked or still work in the field.

The interactive learning that you receive through the National Paralegal College means that you can study in the comfort of your own home at a time that suits you. The instructors are able to highlight and draw illustrations for students to see. The lectures take place on an electronic whiteboard so you feel as if you are in a classroom. During lectures you will get to discuss variable legal concepts and do analysis of issues.

Some of the subjects that you will study in paralegal schools include: Contracts Professional Responsibility & Legal Ethics Legal Research, Writing & Civil Litigation Criminal Law Real Property Wills, Trusts & Estates Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights Business Law & Bankruptcy Constitutional Law & Criminal Procedure Federal Income Taxation Employment Law Environmental Law Immigration Law Laws of Evidence Administrative Law Public Communications Law Microeconomics Macroeconomics Media & Cultural Literacy International Business

The American Institute for Paralegal Studies also offer accredited training for prospective paralegals. There are speciality courses available if you are interested in being trained in a particular legal expertise.

Another excellent option is the School of Legal Studies at Kaplan University. They have flexible online programs available so you can learn at your own pace and time. You can get an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree and you can choose to specialize in a particular legal field of law.

Author: Jennifer Charleston

Thinking about becoming a paralegal? Request free information from paralegal training schools. Learn more about becoming a paralegal from http://www.careertoolkits.com/

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Paralegal Certificate Knowledgebase

The American Bar Association, whose members in the beginning employed the bulk of Paralegals, produce the curriculum for paralegal studies and also approve Paralegal colleges or institutions, whether it be online or off line, …  

How Do I Get An Online Paralegal Certificate?

The first step in getting an online paralegal certificate is to look at the various online colleges available and make comparisons between them.

Advantages of Online Paralegal Courses

Getting an online paralegal certificate is easy to some people. However, it can also be very difficult to some. With the many available resources via the internet, getting an online paralegal certificate would never be that hard.

You can train to be a respected paralegal at some of the best paralegal schools in the US and Canada. There are a variety of paralegal courses available throughout North America where you can learn to be a professional paralegal, but what exactly will you learn?

Paralegal schools can prepare you for a legal career assisting attorneys and judges in the day-to-day routine duties of the court. You may be able to specialize in one or more aspects of the paralegal profession, such as tax laws, real estate laws, child custody cases, criminal cases, and many others. But, in general, you will be required to have an overall knowledge of law practices and courtroom procedures with the goal of helping legal processes to proceed smoothly.

Whether your ultimate goal is to work for an independent law firm or a government agency, the top paralegal schools will give you a thorough paralegal education to qualify you for a new career. Lawyers often rely on paralegals to help prepare legal arguments, draft motions and pleas, manage individual cases, and assist in the courtroom. Legal and paralegal schools teach paralegals how to help attorneys prepare for a courtroom hearing or trial by researching the facts about a case and investigating the laws that pertain. In addition to a general education, a paralegal course will cover legal terminology and documents, legal software applications, and other related topics.

There are several levels of paralegal education available, beginning with simple professional certification or an Associate of Arts degree in paralegal (AA-P). Either would be great for an entry-level paralegal position. Those who wish to expand their paralegal training can obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in paralegal (BS-P) or Bachelor of Arts – Paralegal (BA-P). If your ultimate goal is to become a legal administrator, such as a court clerk, you may wish to continue your legal studies to obtain a Master of Arts in Paralegal (MA-P) and Master of Science in Paralegal (MS-P) degree.

Graduates of paralegal schools are eligible to take the National Association of Legal Assistants Exam (NALA) to become Certified Legal Assistants (CLAs). With two years of relevant paralegal experience and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in paralegal, you may take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to become a Registered Paralegal (RP). Starting salaries for paralegals are in the range of $40,000 – $60,000, depending on experience and level of education.

To find out how you can learn to be a paralegal, we urge you to contact paralegal schools on SchoolsGalore.com today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 – All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Author: Michael Bustamante

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Paralegal Training and Paralegal Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com.

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Paralegal School vs Law School

Deciding whether to attend paralegal school or law school is not an easy task. Both have significant pros and cons, making the decision a challenging one.

Deciding whether to attend paralegal school or law school is not an easy task. Both have significant pros and cons, making the decision a challenging one. If you are trying to decide between these two career paths, here is some valuable information you can use to help make your decision.

Pros of Pursuing a Paralegal Career

Paralegal school is much more affordable than law school. In fact, many paralegals can start their careers with just three months of paralegal-specific training, provided they have the right college education behind them. Most paralegals start working with little school debt other than the college loans that most people have, in comparison to lawyers who graduate law school with tremendous amounts of debt, usually pushing the six-figure mark.

Paralegals do not have to pass a school entrance exam. Those who take the LSAT and do not receive high enough marks to enter law school often have no choice but to enter the paralegal program, unless they want to continue taking the LSAT in order to improve their marks.

Paralegals also have less stress in the field than lawyers. Since they must work under an attorney or lawyer, paralegals answer to someone other than themselves for their actions. Also, working in law requires long hours. Paralegals are usually able to get overtime pay. This is not the case for lawyers.

Cons of a Paralegal Profession

Pursuing paralegal school when you qualify for law school limits your advancement opportunities. There is only so far you can go in the system as a paralegal. The highest you can earn in most markets is $90,000 a year.

Some people feel that the tasks assigned to paralegals are mundane and become routine over time. This eliminates some stress, but also may eliminate the challenge of the job. Paralegals usually operate in a shared office environment, which some may view as a con to the job.

Pros to Attending Law School

The main two benefits to attending law school are unlimited career growth potential and the fact that a good lawyer has unlimited earning potential. If you are successful as a lawyer, you can grow in your profession and pursue a broad range of specialties. If you start your own firm, you will not be limited by the direction others wish you to pursue.

A successful lawyer has a lot of perks. Secretarial support and the help of paralegals are all benefits enjoyed by leading lawyers. Lawyers typically work out of private offices and enjoy a diverse assortment of tasks throughout the day.

Cons of Law School

The main drawback to law school for many people is the tremendous cost. If your LSAT scores are high enough, you may be able to get aid. However, most people end up graduating from law school with a lot of debt.

The other drawback is all of the testing you will have to do. First, you will need high enough LSAT scores to qualify for a law school program. Once you graduate, you will have to pass the bar exam in order to become a lawyer. It is entirely possible for a student to go all the way through law school and fail to pass the bar exam, which means that a career as a lawyer is impossible, in spite of the money spent on paralegal schools.

So which career path should you pursue? Only you can answer that question. If you desire to have unlimited income potential and feel you have the knowledge and resources to pass the rigorous testing required for law school, then pursue that option. If, however, you wish to take the safe route, a career as a paralegal may be the best option. You now know the benefits and risks of each career, so you can make a more informed decision.

Author: Amy NuttHalifax college offers training in continuing care, medical office administration and paralegal studies. When looking for information on colleges in Halifax, consider The Centre for Health & Management Studies.

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Paralegal Education and Certification in the Field of Law

In the grand scheme of the field of law, paralegals play an important behind the scenes role in the day to activities that result in settlements, cases going to.  

Paralegal Education Programs

Paralegal career is a challenging and rewarding career that is on the rapid growth trend in the labor market. Paralegals to provide administrative support to.   Become a Paralegal

Salaries for paralegals depend on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographic location of the job. Paralegals who work for large law firms or in large metropolitan areas earn more than those who …

How To Choose Aba Approved Online Paralegal Degree Programs

Paralegal Studies institutions approved by ABA (American Bar Association) all have the following characteristics .

Curriculum for Paralegals are usually ABA curriculum tailored towards providing you , after a successful completion of paralegal studies, the skills and opportunities of working as a lawyer’s assistant in research, document preparation client interviews and drafting of legal documents. As a qualified paralegal your service are also required in the legal departments of corporations, firms and organizations.

Another aspect of ABA approved Paralegal program is the pre-law specialization that prepares you for the law school proper.

ABA approved Paralegal institutions offer Associate of Applied Science, Post Degree Certificate, (only those who have already obtained a bachelor or associate degree are qualified). Bachelor of Science degree on Paralegal Studies and Certificate in Legal Nurse Consulting are two other programs offered by ABA approved paralegal study institutions.

ABA approved Paralegal institution’s minimum course duration is 1 – 2 academic years and internship is mandatory in most schools.

If you are looking for ABA approved Paralegal Education Program, then the Standing Committee on Paralegals Directory of ABA approved Paralegal Education Programs is where to look.

Some work experience is usually beneficial for an intending paralegal student like you. Courses, depending on the type of institution, can run for between 2 (for community and junior colleges) to 4 years in a University. Aside from the general requirements above, the ABA Standing Committee Directory listing carry varying standard requirements for different instructions in terms of duration of course, course content and admission requirements.

Therefore, you should consider the factors favourable to you while choosing any particular school or institution.

More than 1000 institutions are offering Paralegal degree and certificate programs in the United States of America, but the ABA approved Paralegal institutions can be found at the ABA standing committee Directory of Paralegal schools.

NOTE: ABA approval for Paralegal schools or instructions is not mandatory by law so it is not a measure of the quality of or reputability of an institution that it is ABA approved, yet institutions have found it necessary to get ABA approval by meeting the ABA requirement in order to, I suppose, bluster their image. My advise is that you should go for ABA approved institutions for your paralegal studies.

Online institutions like their offline counterparts are of different categories and as such offer different qualities of course content programs. You should as a matter of fact take a critical look at the institution offering the Paralegal Degree Online program you chose. Carry out your investigation with the information below to ensure that such institution is an ABA approved paralegal degree online program.

INSIGHT INTO ABA ONLINE PARALEGAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Paralegal degree programs prepare students for employment as paralegals or legal assistants in private law offices and even both the public and the private sectors of sectors such as banking, insurance, real estate etc. Care must, however, be taken to ensure that a chosen school or online paralegal degree program is approved by the American Bar Association in conjunction with the institution being an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal education (AAFPE) and other relevant regulatory bodies for Paralegal studies.

PROGRAMS OF TUDY:

Most ABA approved schools and ABA approved online degree programs will have programs of study that look similar to the following:

A Bachelor’s Degree program otherwise called BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in legal Studies) of a full 120 credit hour.
A Credit Certificate for students who already have the equivalent of an associate degree but desirous of obtaining a Paralegal bachelor’s degree. Course content here is 26 credits in legal specialities which are usually waved if student decides to head up to bachelor’s degree program.

The objective of these programs is to provide students with general legal education for paralegals’ work in both the public and the private sector, including the legal firms.

Course content include both operations of the legal system, theory of law and legal problems analysis.

This is to ensure thorough understanding of the ethics and concepts binding both lawyers and people assisting them to practice law ethically to the satisfaction of both the law and the citizenry .

By: Neshah

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Neshah recommends online-paralegal-degree.fateback.com“>Online Paralegal Degree SUCCESS, for ABA approved online paralegal degree programs opportunities.

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Aba Certification Important Hint

To fit into the position of a learned Paralegal you need proper legal education and it must be from either an online or offline institution approved by the American Bar Association otherwise your qualification will be voided by most …   

Aba Approved Paralegal Programs Free Interrelated Resource

The paralegal profession evolved from the practice of the common lawyers’ clerks of old who helped in typing and filing the massive paperwork produced in law offices.

Paralegals are an integral part of any law office, corporation or government agency that must work with lawyers. Paralegals keep the paperwork under control by indexing, photocopying, and organizing documents. Paralegals may also help draft legal documents, conduct hearings, and interview witnesses. The work of a paralegal depends both on experience, additional educational specialization, and the environment in which the paralegal works.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations recommends that most paralegals have a bachelor’s degree. Although a survey indicated that only 50 percent of paralegals had a bachelor’s degree in 2001, the four-year degree is quickly becoming an expected standard in this rapidly growing field.

Paralegal certificate programs are offered by most colleges and universities, as well as online. Before enrolling in any program, make sure the program is approved by the American Bar Association. Paralegal certificate programs typically require a bachelor’s degree, strong critical thinking and communication skills, a secure understanding of law ethics, a legal vocabulary, experience in a law office, and the ability to conduct legal interviews and research. Some programs also require a minimum college GPA.

Paralegal certificate program participants can choose a variety of classes, such as management, public administration, policy-making, ethics and public responsibility, interviewing and research techniques, writing, and introductions to criminal, commercial and government law and litigation. The courses may also provide the foundation for a bachelor of arts degree in justice.

Though California is currently the only state to have educational requirements for paralegals, many employers require similar standards, including certification. Paralegal certification may be granted by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), by examination, and by the NFPA, by examination. Both of these programs require educational requirements to take the examination, which is why a paralegal certificate program may help a paralegal become certified. NALA has different combinations of education and experience to qualify for the test, and NFPA requires bachelor’s degree with at least two years paralegal experience.

Author: Kent Pinkerton

Paralegals Info provides detailed information about paralegal jobs, schools, training, courses, certificates, and services. Paralegals Info is the sister site of Notary Public Web.

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Paralegal Careers for the Legally Minded

There are a few schools that offer a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, but more often you will see an associate degree for paralegal studies or a certificate for paralegal studies.