Online Paralegal – Make Hay while the Sun Shines
Like most professions, legal assistants and paralegals are represented by a wide array of organizations (some professional and some not so) that work to improve the overall working conditions of their members. A few of the most prominent paralegal organizations include AAPI, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and NALA (the National Association of Legal Assistants). While the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI is the new kid in town because it wasn’t started until 2003) is fully geared towards the training of paralegals (through paralegal schools and instructors) both NALA and NFPA focus their spheres of influence on developing professional development programs and promoting a community as well as a global presence for the paralegal profession.
Key steps to quickly and correctly evaluate the value of a paralegal program:
1. Paralegal programs should not only teach legal concepts but they should also provide practical real world job skills. In addition, any reputable paralegal school curriculum would encompass everything from legal contacts and legal writing to ethics and torts. Top notch Paralegal programs should also offer the opportunity for students to gain work experience through practicum or an internship.
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. Are you searching for a conventional college campus learning environment or does online paralegal appeal to you? Online paralegal programs have become more and more popular among paralegal schools but if you’ve never taken an online class you need to ask yourself if online learning is right for you. Moreover, it’s imperative that you find out (before you enroll) what type of online training will be use. Will it consist primarily of web-based content or interactive video or both or something else? How much interplay will there be between you and the instructors and do you have the self-discipline and motivation to attend all the lectures and do all the assignments on you own?
As the old saying goes, “if you want more than just a job and you have what it takes” then in today’s uncertain economy a career in law as a paralegal, is about as good as opportunities get. Undoubtedly, opportunity knocks for those that have the required drive and training. So if you’ve been sitting on the fence; the time is now, jump down and go get your paralegal degree.
