Avoid These Common Mistakes in your Search for an Online Paralegal Certification Program!
The main benefits of attending an online paralegal program include:
- No classroom attendance
- No driving
- Open-book/note exams
- Enroll any time, anywhere
- Affordable tuition
- Offers a lot of the same resources as a brick and mortar program
Is this the Only Thing you’re Looking For?
You also need to consider the original influences. These will determine the success or failure of your career.
Watch Out! Continue Reading this if you Don’t Want to Throw your Money Away”
The 7 frequent mistakes potential students make!
1. Not Bothering with the Subject Matter of the Curriculum
The Curriculum will follow the guidelines set out by the ABA if it is an approved ABA program. Graduates should be taught, at a very minimum, the following things in preparation of your career as a paralegal -
- How to perform legal research
- Document preparation
- Client interviewing skills
- Drafting of legal documents
The graduates should also be developed in the following areas so that they will work more effectively with attorneys -
- Critical thinking and analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Effective computer skills
- Organizational skills
- Competency in handling ethical issues
Every paralegal program should teach legal ethics. If it doesn’t teach this, you need to avoid it at all costs. Knowing legal ethics helps you to work as a paralegal without breaking the law and maintain a high level of integrity.
2. Omitting the Detail of Services Offered to Students
Here’s the mind trap for many aspiring students -
Students have limited resources. So, they turn to online paralegal programs that cost less. They want to get a degree or certificate quick. The cheaper the program, the better it is for you. Most likely, they would overlook the need for necessary services. As long as they could get the paper degree, it is acceptable to them.
Now, you need to be careful. What you see is what you get, generally. HOWEVER, you may not be able to get it. OR you may get the wrong material. Instead of saving money, you may end up throwing it away.
Online paralegal education is still developing. There are people out there ready to abuse this growing market and take your money.
For that reason, you need to be prudent. A reputable online paralegal program should also provide -
- Institution orientation
- Course tutoring
- Academic counseling
- Financial aid
- Career information and career counseling
- Job placement assistance
Information on the placement rate of graduates should also be offered to prospective students. After all, the quality of the program depends on the achievement of job placement.
Additional tips!
Ask these questions before enrolling in any program -
- Does the institution or program have a good graduation rate?
- Does it have the reputation of offering graduates the skills to compete effectively in the paralegal job market?
3. Forgetting about the Reputation of the School and their Paralegal Program
This is misleading especially in their online advertisements. So, stay away from how the institution promotes the paralegal programs. Your decision should be based on facts and exactly what you need in a paralegal certification program.
You should look to the public and the legal community. If they do not hold the program in high regard, you should be suspicious. This is why you should always check with people you know and trust in the community, legal field and other institutions for more information first.
A dependable institution and online paralegal program usually have these attributes -
- The institution is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
- ABA-approved institutions usually offer Associate of Applied Science, Post Degree Certificate, and Bachelor of Science degree on Paralegal Studies.
- The minimum length of an ABA-accredited program is 1 to 2 academic years. And participation in an internship is mandatory.
- The institution should be listed in the Standing Committee on Paralegals Directory of ABA approved Paralegal Education Programs.
- The institution should be a member of the American Association for Paralegal education (AAfPE).
- It should also be a member of at least one of the 3 national regulatory bodies for paralegal study, specifically – the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), and the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI).
Additional tips!
If you have taken courses at another institution before, you should be able to transfer some or all of your credits towards your online degree course. If the online institution rejects these credits, this may be a sign that they are not a reputable program.
4. Not Asking About the Resources Available
A legitimate online paralegal school SHOULD have these online resources available -
- Online law library
- E-classrooms with audio and visual support
- E-mail assistance from tutors
- Textbooks that are included in tuition
- Discussion groups
5. Not Knowing the Activities Available To Students
Participation in a paralegal internship is exceedingly important. The program should require, as part of graduation, completion of an internship at a law firm. In the online world, it is still possible to allow students to participate in programs like honor societies, and work in the legal community. This can be achieved solely online.
Besides this, information on paralegal associations and continuing paralegal education should also be available.
6. Overlooking the Aim of the Institution and the Purpose of the Paralegal Program
When first looking at potential programs, always look at the mission statement of the Institution.
Some institutions offer courses for the goal of training students to become a legal secretary. In this case, the subject of law is not covered thoroughly. If you intend to acquire the skills necessary of qualified paralegal, this program is not what you’re looking for.
7. Refusing to Notice Suspicious Graduation Requirements
A quality paralegal institute and program always impose strict requirements. Nothing can be compromised in your paralegal education.
If you see an online school that accepts every person as a student – RUN! Legitimate schools should offer some sort of test, like the wic test, before allowing prospective students into their program.
Since the ABA has strict requirements, many paralegal institutions require students to take both paralegal and general education courses. If you’ve already completed general education, then it isn’t necessary and these course credits should transfer.
The institution should also require having a high-school diploma.
The best way to know the standards is to check with the ABA’s Standing Committee Directory. You’ll know the admission requirements for all ABA-approved institutions when you read this.
Remember! Following ABA’s guidelines is not mandated by law, and a school can still be accredited even if they aren’t approved by the ABA. It is just a good idea to have confidence in the program by knowing the ABA has approved it.
What’s the Takeaway?
Online paralegal training institutions are just like their brick and mortar counterparts. Part of your success depends on the quality of the program. If you want to enable yourself to be completely ready when you graduate, you must avoid those 7 mistakes. Always do your due diligence before signing up with any online paralegal program.