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By Sara Jenkins
By background aspect, paralegals, also known as legal assistants, are those individuals who render assistance to the lawyers in delivering legal services. Unless directed by their superior, they cannot practice or give legal advice to clients. For most states, this act is punishable or can be imposed with equivalent penalty to those persons caught in an unauthorized practice of law. By concise definition provided by National Association of Legal Assistants, legal assistants or paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. A paralegal is qualified by his or her formal education, substantial trainings and experience in related practice, possessing extensive knowledge or expertise in field of legal system and procedural law.
Necessity of legal assistants were started in the 1960’s when practitioners and law firms decided it was high time to obtain assistance to improve efficiency and cost effective delivery of legal services. Later on, demands were still growing dramatically because of the incessant increase in workload of the lawyers basically because of the equivalent upsurge of legal remedy-seekers. Because of the mounting of paralegal necessity in the field, different paralegal programs were provided by paralegal schools. Each paralegal school provides special courses in paralegal studies. Aside from paralegal studies, a paralegal has certain minimum requirements to meet that include paralegal training. Paralegal trainees receive adequate and reasonable instructions from lawyers or attorneys.
Paralegal education programs are offered in several types of formats and lengths. An individual can have paralegal program of Associate degree, which also has options for students to choose from a two-year paralegal program, or four-year degree. A paralegal bachelor degree program is different from the 4-year paralegal associate program in the sense that bachelor programs were offered by 4-year colleges and universities and that student were awarded with a baccalaureate degree at the end of the program. Also, this type of paralegal program allows the students to earn units both from minor, major, and major concentration in paralegal and related courses. Paralegal certificate programs grant an additional paralegal certificate to those who already earned paralegal degree. Another advanced degree in paralegal studies is the paralegal master’s degree programs. Paralegal colleges and paralegal universities offer this paralegal program for an additional enhancement in the student’s legal administration and legal studies expertise.
Paralegal education can be obtained through paralegal online classes or through traditional paralegal school. Online paralegal schools have their own advantage for students who got no time for full-loaded classes. Whatever preference a student decides on, paralegal education can be obtained through numerous paralegal schools widespread in the country. Prestigious universities and colleges had a lot to offer for paralegal matters. Most paralegal program comes with a paralegal package consisting of classroom meeting and paralegal training for the student’s comprehensive know-how and expertise in the field. If a student is having second thoughts over which paralegal school offer the best and top paralegal certificate, paralegal program, paralegal studies, or any paralegal education, resources and information are located right in the internet. Here, traditional paralegal schools and paralegal online schools are in abundance and one can get to compare a paralegal school to another.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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Selasa, 05 Mei 2009
Types of Program for Paralegal Education
The Paralegal Certificate Program
By Sara Jenkins
A paralegal or legal assistant “is a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”
A paralegal has a limited task that can perform. He cannot represent a client on a trial or accept a case. He cannot also give legal advice. In short, a paralegal cannot perform functions that are considered as a law practice. The paralegal performs some duties of the attorney such as but not limited to conducting and interview to the client, locating witnesses, conducting investigation, legal research, and interviews, drafting legal document, correspondents and pleadings with the supervision of an attorney.
To become a certified paralegal or Certified Legal Assistant CLA, he or she must achieve requirements such as graduating from a paralegal certificate program that is approved by the ABA; “or an associate degree program; or a paralegal post-baccalaureate certificate program; or a paralegal certificate program with 60 semester hours of which at least 15 semester hours are substantive legal courses.” He can also be a paralegal if he or she has any bachelor’s degree plus a one year experience as a legal assistant with a completion of at least 15 semester hours or substantive legal assistant courses. Or he or she could have a high school diploma or equivalent to seven years experience as a legal assistant under the supervision of a member of the Bar.
If an individual want to become a paralegal through paralegal certificate program, many educational institutions are offering paralegal certificate program as a professional course. It is aimed to prepare future paralegal certificate program holders in paralegal career. The paralegal certificate program of some institutions are focused of practical skills and research while other are focused on classroom lectures while other paralegal certificate program can be acquired online.
Institutions give paralegal certificate program which covers the following topics: Legal Research, Legal Writing and Reasoning, Technology and the Paralegal, Real Estate, Corporate Law, Litigation, and Probate. Some offers the paralegal certificate program upon completion of the Introduction to Law for Paralegals, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Procedure, Torts, Contract Law, and Criminal Law and Procedure. Although it varies from institution to institution paralegal certificate program should be based on the paralegal certificate program approved by the American Bar Association ABA. A grade not lower than “C” should also be maintained to attain the paralegal degree.
Admission depends on the institution offering paralegal certificate program. Some recommend a bachelor’s degree or at least completing 60 semester credit hours, or equivalent, of general education courses for one of any accredited colleges or universities in the country, while some institutions offering the paralegal certificate program accepts applicant which has achieved at least 3.0 GPA.
Either way, entering on a paralegal certificate program is a good start in achieving a wide career in the field that needs a lot of dedication, patience, and discipline.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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Paralegal and Paralegal Certificate
By Sara Jenkins
Paralegal or legal assistant is “a distinguishable person who assists attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training and experience, legal assistant has knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney.”
In the United States, there are more than 120,000 paralegals that have received paralegal certificates that do tasks and become vital members of the legal community. Paralegal are either hired by lawyers, law firms, corporations, governmental agency, or other groups of the same manner.
Paralegals, as a legal assistant have limited task. They could mot represent a client in court not give legal advice. They cannot set fee or accept a case. In short paralegals cannot assume the duties that are set for legal officers only.
However, paralegals can perform tasks under the supervision of the attorney. These can be, but not limited to, conducting client interview without bridging the gap between paralegal and attorney. Paralegals can also conduct survey, investigations, and research whether statistical or documentary. Paralegals can also summarize depositions, interrogatories and testimony. They can also attend hearings and trial with the attorney. And with legal assistance, paralegals can author and sign correspondence but does not include legal opinions.
But becoming must have a formal education about the profession. The Associate Degree Programs, Bachelor Degree Programs, and Master’s Degree Program are some of this. There is also what we can the Certificate Program that is offered to various educational institutions that can be between 16-60 semester units.
Some educational institutions accept student and afterward award paralegal certificates to those who finished at least three semesters in college or 36 units credits. There are also eight courses in legal studies to finish before a paralegal certificate can be given. These are Business Law, Family Law, Introduction to Civil Procedures, Introduction to Criminal Law, Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law, Legal Research and Writing, and Legal Ethics.
Upon completion of the course, but before the awarding of paralegal certificate, the individual is not yet to be called paralegal, because the paralegal certificate can be obtained by standards set by the American Bar Association. The standard requires completion of the Certified Legal Assistant certifying (CLA) examination of the National Association of Legal Assistants. The school that award paralegal certificate should have “American Bar Association approved program of study for legal assistants.” The candidate should first graduate “from a course of study for legal assistants which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study.”
In addition, a paralegal certificate can be obtained he the candidate graduated from “a course of study for legal assistants, other than those set forth in (2) and (3) above, plus not less than six months of in-house training as a legal assistant.” He or she should also have an attained baccalaureate degree in any field with an "in-house training as a legal assistant" not lower than six months. Achieving all these, paralegal certificate is ready to be given.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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What are the Goals and Objectives of Paralegal Schools?
By Sara Jenkins
Individuals enter a paralegal school and obtain paralegal certificate because of several objectives. Some attend paralegal classes to earn paralegal certificate and would provide them enough passport as an entry-level to an employment; others seek paralegal education to lend them more knowledge on paralegal matters; others necessitate themselves to be equipped with the continuing trend in terms of paralegal concerns or enhance/empower their know-how or expertise in the technicalities of paralegal activities. Whatever objective they may have behind acquiring additional knowledge in paralegal profession, there are paralegal schools sprouting everywhere the country and who offer different paralegal programs and paralegal certifications. Each paralegal school stipulates similar concepts of goals and objectives as a means of assuring the quality of paralegal studies.
For paralegal schools, it is extremely essential that they abide with the trend in the paralegal world. They should continually incorporate changes brought along by the constant evolution of each phase in the legal world. A paralegal school should also collaborate with the employers, legal practitioners, and professional associated in working toward improving the whole application of paralegal education and consequently for a better paralegal services. As paralegal schools prepare student for a rewarding career in the field, they should also carry with them specific goals like making the students understand the concepts of critical and analytical thinking skills in paralegal work. Likewise, they should also enable students adopt understanding of the paralegal role and paralegal’s delivery of services. Also, specific goals should be offered in relation to the students’ ability to develop the importance of communication skills, knowledge in manual legal research techniques, professional caliber legal writing skills, and knowledge in the federal and state court systems.
Furthermore, it is also particularly significant to let students imbued of the relevance of understanding in the use of legal vocabulary that is required to function within the community. Adeptness in computerized as well as manual legal research techniques are also one of the programs a paralegal school should be equipped with. Other relevant objectives would focus from the mastery of the rules of professional office etiquette, develop and maintain effective case management, to understanding the sensible contacts with different cultures and other backgrounds in the society. Paralegal schools also offer more objectives to allow students get concrete knowledge of the components a paralegal matters entail. They are totally committed to bringing the students to the real mobility of paralegal world especially after completing the course and ready to tackle paralegal profession.
Some paralegal schools grant paralegal programs that will lead students to obtaining paralegal associate’s degree, paralegal bachelor’s degree, and paralegal post-baccalaureate certifications. Through these paralegal schools, students will earn paralegal trainings that will make them relevantly and highly qualified in the field of paralegal career. Paralegal schools offer flexible options for paralegal studies. They have the traditional way of conducting paralegal classes. These paralegal courses are good for those who have the privilege to go full-time student. And for those who are working at daytime, they can access paralegal online classes. Both offer the same quality and courses and would provide the same goal and objectives.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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Enrolling in a Paralegal School
By Sara Jenkins
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.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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What Paralegal Program Fits Your Need
By Sara Jenkins
If you enjoyed doing research and writing up its results, possesses good communication and organization skills, you will be good in paralegal profession. And with the right paralegal education, paralegal training as well as good background of experience, professional paralegal status may be just achieved. As paralegals become more and more in demand because of the apparent escalation in the workload of law firms, organization, government agencies, and even non-profit organizations, more paralegals are seeking different path to grow faster in terms paralegal careers.
Different paralegal schools are also in proliferation to aid these individuals who need to nourish their basic knowledge in legal matters. A paralegal position may seem a simple and easy job, these, however may not seem so uncomplicated. More and more lawyers and attorneys convey their job to paralegals or legal assistants. Though, they are not allowed to do legal practices, still their job is job that needed sharp skills and formal paralegal training in order to obtain and carry on with tasks on their shoulders.
Different paralegal programs offered by different paralegal colleges and universities in the country can only enhance such knowledge an expertise in paralegal matters. These institutions provide services that meet important factors in evaluating a paralegal program. First, the reputation of the institution must hold up with the general public and legal community for higher education information. Another factor to consider is how these services are being provided. The paralegal program should have proper orientation, excellent tutoring, academic counseling as well as career information counseling, financial aid, and placement assistance. Also, they should have information ready regarding the placement rate and job satisfaction of the alumni of such paralegal institution.
Another factor to be considered is the facilities that have direct concerns to a legal research library, computer libraries, suitably furnished classrooms for all students. Paralegal activities should enable the students to participate in the legal community while paralegal education and as well as paralegal associations should always be prepared whenever a student needs one. Also more important to consider is its content and nature of paralegal program’s curriculum which will adhere with relationship to legal research and writing, ethics, contracts, business organizations, and litigation as well. While each paralegal program may differ in the offering of courses, a student should be able to develop and hone their critical thinking, communication, organizational skills, competency to handle ethical concerns, and computational. Paralegal training and experiential learning elements will include internship, clinical experience, and practicum.
If these standard factors have met by paralegal programs like paralegal associate degree programs, paralegal bachelor degree programs, paralegal certificate programs, and/or paralegal master’s degree programs of paralegal school/college/university, students will sure make it a long way in the field after completing paralegal certification or paralegal degree. Most of these programs are now offered in a delivery system that utilizes interactive broadcasting to different sites. These are called the distance education program wherein paralegal online schools have taken its numerous advantages. Web-based paralegal education will provide easier and more accessible learning using the internet as the medium.
About the author:
Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.TipsEveryDay.com
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Online Degree Education - Advantages
By Katie Robbins
Distance education has been getting a lot of attention lately, but it isn't new. Correspondence courses have been around for over a century, allowing students to complete assignments and mail them to an instructor for feedback. Advances in technology have presented more opportunities in distance education. Classes can be taken through telecourses and the internet.
Family and job related responsibilities make it difficult for many people to attend traditional college classes. Distance education makes it possible to complete degree requirements, while attending to other responsibilities. Online programs eliminate the need for long commutes and allow work to be completed according to your schedule. You will still have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other classmates.
Distance education is available in a variety of forms. Telecourses come with video taped lessons and lectures, which you watch on you home television. Assignments are then completed and mailed to the instructor. Online courses allow you to complete coursework on the computer and email assignments to your instructor. Message boards and chats with other students add to the experience. Video conference classes are held at one site with the instructor at another location. Students and the instructor interact through two way television.
Some colleges offer programs that don't require you to travel to the campus at all. Other programs require you to attend an orientation at the beginning of the semester and may meet once or twice throughout the semester. Brief residency programs require students to attend a weekend long session at the start of every semester. After this initial meeting, you complete the coursework on your own. In some programs, all courses are offered online. In other programs, you may have to take some of the courses on campus.
Programs are structured to give students the same information and quality education they would receive in a traditional college program. In some cases, the textbook and assignments are the same. Opportunities for community involvement and exposure to a diverse student body are found in many programs. Several years ago, few schools offered degrees through distance education. More schools are now offering this choice in response to student needs. The availability of online degree programs continues to increase.
Older students often return to school to fulfill job requirements or to secure a promotion. These students like the flexibility distance education offers. You can work independently and gain skills valuable on the job market. You have the flexibility to study during your lunch hour, in the early morning or at night, according to your schedule. If your job involves travel, you won't have to worry about missing classes.
Distance education offers flexibility in the amount of time you spend on each class or assignment. You can spend more time on difficult concepts and less time on those you find easy. If you are taking more than one course, you can schedule your study time according to assignment due dates. You may have a paper due in one class this week and another project due next week in another class. You can tailor your schedule to meet the changing course requirements.
About the author:
Katie Robbins is a professional writer, providing content to help the online student. Check out her other articles, including accredited online universities, education master degrees and criminal justice degrees.
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