The field of law is a vast arena of rules and regulations but one key player; the paralegal is surprisingly exempt from one rule. Paralegals, after decades of existence are still not required to become “certified”. Clearly, it made sense backs in the 1960s when the profession first evolved out of a need for attorneys to free up their time from doing the “less lawyerly” activities like filling out documents, standard research and other office related paperwork. But you would think over the ensuing years that this would have been “corrected” but for some reason it has not. On the other hand, the marketplace has changed and more and more employers are now requiring that potential employees gain some type of certification before they will be considered for employment.
Essential fact-finding criteria to keep in mind when analyzing a paralegal program:
1. Teaching practical, usable job skills in combination with fundamental legal principals are an essential part of any quality paralegal schools curriculum. In addition, paralegal college degree programs should also cover topics like contract law, legal research, business organizations and legal writing. A quality paralegal school will focus their courses towards the development of an overall higher quality, well-rounded student. This would be done by designing courses that develop students’ hypercritical thinking abilities, organizational skills and their emotional and mental capacity to handle delicate ethical issues.
2. Who are the participants running the show? In other words, who were the people that put together the paralegal schools curriculum and who are teachers? Does the teaching staff and paralegal program director have outstanding educational credentials and the field experience to bring their book knowledge to life? Minimally, the program director should have a law degree or other type of advanced degree and the faculty must have real-world experience working with paralegals but preferably as a paralegal and they must be an “expert” in the subject matter they are teaching.
3. An ever increasing number of paralegal colleges now offer online paralegal programs. Granted, online training has become more popular over the past few years, primarily because of its’ convenience and cost savings but regardless of the reasons why it has become so popular you must determine if it’s right for you. A key factor you may want to ask yourself is, “Do I have the ambition and focus to complete the homework and watch all the lectures on my own?” If no, look for the nearest campus and if yes, getting your paralegal degree online may be the best thing since sliced bread.
Fine, your goal is to become a lawyer, but rather than take the so-called “traditional route” of going directly to law school, why not get your paralegal degree first. The benefits are many; like making contacts within the industry, getting a feel and an understanding for the field of law before you plunk down big bucks and 4 years of life and who knows; you may like being a paralegal so much that you’ll never want to leave. Think about it!
