subject: What Paralegal Schools Should Teach You [print this page] Once you have decided to enroll in a paralegal school, you should then check the things that you can expect from that institution. There is no single paralegal program that has been standardized by any US agency. However, there are still basic things that you must expect from paralegal schools. If you see that these steps are being taken by the school, then you can be assured that you have chosen to enroll in the right institution and that it will help you to achieve your goals in the future.
The paralegal coursework
If you want to know about the program you are taking is qualified by the American Association for Paralegal Education, then you should check a few things first. A quality paralegal course should include in its curriculum discussions and activities that would boost critical thinking skills such as analysis, judgment, research and problem solving. It would also have to help a student develop his/her communication skills whether oral, verbal or interpersonal.
Paralegal schools must also ensure that their coursework would provide a venue that will improve ones computer skills, computational skills, understanding of ethics and organizational skills. All these must be integrated to ensure that a paralegal student will have the proper knowledge when the actual work comes.
Of course, any paralegal course will be naught if it does not include an academic curriculum that has substantive legal courses and professional skills. You can expect to learn about the legal system and paralegalism, ethics, civil litigation, contracts, torts, real estate law and domestic law. You would also learn how to write legal contracts and letters, as well as do legal researches and case analysis.
Aside from these legal-based subjects, paralegal schools must also teach you about basic American history, business and political systems. Understanding such topics will help a future paralegal deal with circumstances that have been influenced by the economic and political systems of the country.
What are the programs being offered by paralegal schools
Most paralegal schools offer five major courses: home study and online paralegal programs, associate degrees, certificate programs, four-year college and university degrees and advanced degree programs. Although online courses are not recommended, many people are still taking it primarily because of how easy and convenient it is to finish.
If you want to be successful as a paralegal, you should really consider taking up a paralegal program in at least one of the institutions that you trust. Remember that law firms would always prefer to hire someone who has taken up a paralegal degree. Although certificates and trainings are widely accepted by various institutions, you should still always prefer to get a paralegal degree so that you will have an opportunity to climb up the paralegal ladder.
