subject: Paralegal Studies Will Help You Get A Law Degree [print this page] Many people think of paralegals as the secretaries who carry out various administrative tasks, but theyre wrong. They are in fact legal assistants who assist the judges and attorneys. Basically, they are the ones who conduct the research and perform the legal tasks for their employers. Thus, one can say that the success of an attorney depends on the efficiency of a paralegal.
Since these professionals have such an important role, its crucial for the paralegals to have a good education. In order to become a paralegal, an individual must have an associates degree or bachelors degree in any study. A paralegal certificate or diploma is not necessary, but can offer an advantage when looking for a job as a paralegal.
There are numerous educational institutions out there that offer paralegal programs, so those who are interested in this career have where to choose from. Thus, there is the associates degree, the paralegal studies education program that lasts four years and the certificate programs. The certificate programs can last from one year to a couple of months. The most important program is the advanced paralegal education. Once you complete this program, youll be able to get a masters degree and therefore, to have more job opportunities.
As you can see, there are many options for your paralegal studies. The problem is that there are numerous institutions offering these programs and you might not know what to choose. There are even online schools that can make it easier for you. You can be a legal assistant and improve your knowledge and education at the same time by following online paralegal studies. You must be very careful when opting for the right institution. Always look for the institutions and programs that have received the ABA (American Bar Association) approval. The schools with ABA recommendation provide high quality education.
If you choose online education alternatives, there are a few things that you must know. Online paralegal studies will help you develop competencies in areas like understanding of ethics, communication skills and computer skills. Youll also acquire organizational skills and youll learn how to communicate with lawyers, judges and clients. Not to mention that youll develop your critical thinking and youll be able to solve, research and analyze particular cases. Most people dont know whether or not the paralegal studies can help them become an attorney. First of all, the paralegal programs can help you get a job as a paralegal. When you get in that field, youll immediately know how the legal processes work and youll develop legal experience. Thus, if you have the expertise and the talent, you can easily go to law school and continue your education.
However, remember that the paralegal studies are not enough for the bar examination. Moreover, they arent the equivalent of law school. You cannot transfer your paralegal education to law school. If you want to go to law school, you can see the paralegal program as an important stepping stone. There are numerous lawyers out there that started as paralegals.
