Becoming a paralegal can be a great career move for someone that is looking to boost their career in a new field. The paralegal field is extremely exciting as well as very rewarding. While paralegals are not lawyers, they do fully assist lawyers in their work. They’re a very necessary part of every law office across the United States. Making the switch to a career as a paralegal begins with getting your paralegal degree, which can now be done online across the United States.
• Step One: Go for the four-year degree. To really be taken seriously as a paralegal, you’re going to want to go for that four-year degree. You can find many programs offered through local community colleges for an associate’s paralegal degree, which are fine, but you need to get the full bachelor’s degree. You can take the associate’s program first and find another two-year program at a larger university to finish your degree, just as long as you’re completing The Bachelor’s. You can even go as far as getting a master’s in paralegal study, which would benefit you even more, but make sure you go for at least the bachelor’s degree.
• Step Two: Find your school. If you decide to take the associate’s degree route, make sure you check with your local community college to find a program. This isn’t a bad way to start out, because classes will likely be able to fit more easily into your schedule than they will at a traditional four-year university. Either way, though, you should be able to find an online option, whether it’s associate’s or bachelor’s. Make sure you check with your local colleges about this option, because it’s much more flexible than traditional classroom work.
• Step Three: Get in Gear. Once you’ve found a school and gotten yourself registered, it’s time to get serious. Make sure you really pay attention to what you need to get done and work hard. Being a good paralegal student is going to help you become a good paralegal professional. The practices you adopt now will transfer to your professional career, so pick up good habits.
• Step Four: Find your place. Once you’ve worked hard enough to get that degree, you’re going to want to put it to work for you. Earning your degree is going to make you extremely marketable in the paralegal world, especially if you went for the bachelor’s or master’s.
Earning your paralegal degree online is a big step toward your new career. You’re going to be able to use your education to get ahead, and really make a name for yourself in the legal world. You may not be in the courtroom arguing for clients, but you’ll know that the work you’ve done to prepare for the case can make or break it.
EarnMyDegree.com has a list of schools offering online degrees in the paralegal field. Check out http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/legal-paralegal/paralegal.html for more information.
If you are looking to become a paralegal, you cannot earn your degree for this occupation at any online college, you will have to enroll in a local school.
Kaplan University and University of Phoenix Online, both offer Paralegal Degree programs. Both schools offer the opportunity to complete these degree programs online and offer financial assistance.
One must get the correct paralegal qualifications for a paralegal career. One can get the education and certificates needed from the National Paralegal College. They enable one to get the Associates Degree Program and Bachelors Degree Program.
A paralegal does much of what an attorney does. He drafts letters and pleadings, does deposition summaries and interviews clients. Paralegals also negotiate medical liens. In the field of civil litigation, a paralegal writes discovery documents, follows a trial checklist and prepares all pretrial documents. In the field of Workers' Compensation, a paralegal can also represent clients in court in the capacity of a hearing representative.Bachelor's DegreeA Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies can be obtained online. Many four-year state colleges and universities offer this online major. There are a multitude of online private universities that offer this online degree, as well. The benefit of obtaining an online Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies is that, if a paralegal eventually decides to become an attorney, his Bachelor's Degree will provide the easiest transition to law school. All the law school applicant needs is a qualifying score on the LSAT for law school entrance.Associate of Arts DegreeCommunity colleges offer an Associate's Degree of Paralegal Studies online. The largest portion of a paralegal's job is preparing court forms and pleadings. So an online paralegal course of study lends itself perfectly this particular major.Paralegal CertificateA paralegal certificate can be obtained online through a university's extension program or private online school. Usually this involves several very condensed core subjects and two or three areas of legal specialization, such as Probate Law, Civil Litigation or Family Law. In these specialties, the paralegal student undergoes a very intense course of study online.Pros and ConsA paralegal's salary is well under that of an attorney for doing much of the same work. Also, a paralegal must have a good eye for detail because legal filings are replete with dates, statutes and deadlines. A positive for obtaining a paralegal degree online is that it is a good stepping stone to law school. Many law firms will pay a paralegal's law school costs, in exchange for the paralegal's agreement to work for that firm for a set amount of time afterwards.
A college degree is not required to get a paralegal job. A paralegal needs plenty of experience. It's also good for the paralegal to take some courses or classes.
There are many paralegal schools in Indiana, and some are better than others, but more expensive. If you are looking for affordable paralegal schools, you should visit the paralegal degree website, they provide you with some of the best, and affordable paralegal schools in your area online.
An associate degree in paralegal studies sets you up for an entry level paralegal job.
Not all degrees can be earned online, it all depends on what you are shooting to be. If you are simply looking for a degree that can be earned online, there are many programs such as dental assisting and paralegal training. Every degree is unique in its attainability.
You do face a chance of some discrimination as a result of it being an online degree. But for the most part, the fact that it's a degree at all will be enough to give you an edge.
There are a lot of schools offering a paralegal degree. One of them is Everest University. The main job of a paralegal individual is to assist the lawyers in their legal work. It will take you 1 year to get the degree and the tuition fee is 1,255.00 dollars per semester.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for paralegals are expected to increase faster than the national average over the next six years.Ranked by Money Magazine and Salary.com as one of the best jobs in America for young professionals, paralegals are expecting a ten-year job growth of 3% and currently earn a median salary of $53,7 annually.Both professionals just starting out and those changing fields mid-career are finding the job of a paralegal compelling.An online paralegal certificate program or degree program can be the first step towards a position that is both well paying and fulfilling.It is not required for a paralegal to earn certification, but it certainly enhances resumes and is likely to qualify job applicants for more career opportunities.As with earning a higher degree, a paralegal certificate will demonstrate to potential employers an applicant’s subject knowledge, career commitment, and personal drive.In a competitive job market, paralegal certification can set candidates apart and above.The National Association of Legal Assistants, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the National Association for Legal Professionals offer certifications exams that credential paralegals.Qualifications for the three paralegal certification exams vary.To be eligible for one of the three exams, paralegals must have one of the following qualifications:An associate degree in paralegal studiesA bachelor degree and three years of paralegal experienceA bachelor degree and completion of a paralegal programCompletion of a legal assistant program approved by the American Bar Association.Four years of paralegal experience.Whether switching careers or seeking a first career the prospect of a two or four year program is a daunting prospect for many people.Full-time jobs, children, and other responsibilities may make a traditional paralegal program impossible.An online paralegal certificate, or an online paralegal degree program, may be the best option.Online paralegal certificate programs and online paralegal degree programs through accredited online colleges offer a flexible and convenient option for preparing for the paralegal certification exam.Once a paralegal certificate has been earned, burgeoning paralegals may find internships, volunteering, and temporary jobs assigned through staffing agencies to be the best way to gain valuable hands-on experience in the legal field.A paralegal certificate and quality experience is the number one path towards a high-paying position with longevity, but to remain competitive, some paralegals may want to continue on to a four-year bachelor degree in paralegal studies.