Why You Should Get A Paralegal Degree Online

Learn more about why it is a good idea to get paralegal degrees online

. This could be the opportunity that many people have been waiting for.

There are many different ways, nowadays, to go about getting your degrees. However, one of the best ways to go about getting a degree is to get it online. This is a statement that holds true for paralegal degrees a well. Today we are going to cover the basic information on why you should choose to get your paralegal degrees online. In the end, you will see that online degree classes are just the overall best way for people to get degrees, no matter what field you are trying to get into.

First of all, when you get paralegal degrees online, you get to study when it's most convenient for you! No more trying to get your current job to try and work around your school schedule and so on. Now you can choose to take classes when it is convenient for you, and that means that you can study when you have the time to do so. For example, if you work during the day, then you could take your classes during the night from the comfort of your own home. This pretty much gives everyone the shot to be able to go back to school and do whatever they want to do. For the longest time, paralegal degrees were not offered online. However, nowadays they are, and they are pretty easy to come by. Just make sure you choose to get your online paralegal degree from an accredited school.

Not only do you have the ability to study when you want when getting online paralegal degrees, but you also have the ability to study wherever you want! This can be done, because your campus can be located anywhere, or at least anywhere that you can find an internet connection. As long as you are able to find a cable internet connection, you can attend class, submit work, and interact with your teacher. See, a lot of people think that when you take internet courses, you are taking the class alone, however, that is not the case at all. In fact, with online degrees, now you can interact with other classmates and contact your teacher in real time. Of course, you can email your teacher whenever you want to, but if you are online at the same time, you have the ability to actually live chat with your teacher, and it's almost as if they are standing in the same room with you.

The overall best reason to get your paralegal degrees online is because you can choose from a variety of schools. You no longer have to settle with a school, because it's in the area that you live. When you take classes online

, you are able to attend those classes from anywhere in the world. You can actually choose a school based on its overall recommendation from other students, and not just choose a school because of its location. This is something that gives you a sense of power whenever you do it. It makes you feel as if you are in control of your own future for the first time in your life. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.paralegal-degrees.net and writes about Paralegal Degrees

Fast Growing and Well Paying: The Benefits of Being a Paralegal

With job opportunities expected to grow by 22 percent through 2016, and with an annual median salary of over $40,000, it's no wonder so many people want to become a paralegal. So what can you do to get your foot through the door and into this fast growing field?

What Does a Paralegal Do?
Paralegals are also called "legal assistants" for good reason--they assist lawyers. Although they can't argue a case in court or perform other tasks classified as "practicing law," they can do just about everything else a lawyer does.

Lawyers may often delegate the prep work to paralegals for trials, hearings, and corporate meetings. Paralegals also typically do research into laws, articles, government regulations, and court decisions. Finally, they also traditionally complete paperwork including writing motions, legal arguments, affidavits, and contracts of all sorts.

How Do You Become a Paralegal?
Becoming a paralegal usually does not require a great deal of formal training, nowhere near the length or amount of training to become a lawyer. Most have an associate's degree from a paralegal program at a community college. Others may earn a bachelor's degree, but also acquire a certificate in paralegal studies.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has approved roughly 260 paralegal programs around the country. It can help your job prospects, especially for the more highly coveted (usually higher-paying) positions, to attend an ABA-approved school. But among those 260, entry requirements and program quality vary greatly, so do your own research to make sure you're getting exactly what you want.

Consider whether the school or program helps you find a job upon completion. Does it offer internship opportunities? Internships can be an excellent way to secure connections and get practical experience.

Job Prospects and Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, even with the predicted job growth competition for those jobs should remain tough. Those with formal training should likely have the best opportunities.

While seventy percent of paralegals work for private law firms, many paralegals can find employment opportunities throughout the different levels of government. The states with the highest concentration of paralegals, in order:
•    District of Columbia
•    New York
•    Delaware
•    West Virginia
•    Connecticut

The states that pay the best, however, differ slightly:
•    District of Columbia
•    New York
•    California
•    Vermont
•    Alaska

In 2007, the median annual salary for paralegals was $44,990. Paralegals working for the federal government in 2007 earned an average annual salary of $46,912. Within the federal government, the Department of Justice employs the most paralegals, followed by the Social Security Administration, and the Department of the Treasury.

From nice salary possibilities to benefits packages, from numerous employment opportunities to different legal fields, becoming a paralegal can result in a rewarding, yet challenging career.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli Smith is the senior editor for www.Edu411.org. Edu411.org lists colleges and career institutes that offer training and programs for becoming a Paralegal. Schools listed offer free information packages or academic consultation.

What To Look For In Online Paralegal Courses

Learn more information on why online paralegal courses are better than taking traditional paralegal courses at a local college. Find out how they can save you time, money, and maybe even a job.

It is hard to get ahead in life if you do not go to college. However, to afford being able to go to college, you have to have a job. When you go to a local college, a lot of times, you do not have time for a good part-time job. So where does this leave you? It leaves you in the catch 22 with everyone else. You need a good job to pay to go to college, but you can not get a good job until after you go to college. Not only that, but it can be hard to have any kind of job when you are going to college locally. The good news for those of you who do not want to give up is online paralegal courses. These are courses that, of course can be taken online in your spare time. However, they are going to do a lot more for you than just free up your time! They are going to jump start your life!

The first good thing to note about online paralegal courses is that you can work at your own pace. So if you have a very demanding job that takes up a lot of your time and you can not give as much of your time to online courses, that is fine. It may take you longer to get your degree, but you will still be working towards it. If your part-time job offers you more relaxing hours, then you can spend more time studying and get your degree quicker! It's all up to you, and that is one of the great things about online courses. For once, you are the one that is in charge of your life. You no longer have to live and work on someone else clock. Online paralegal courses can be taken when you want to and right from the comfort of your own home. Pretty much meaning that you can actually take courses whenever you want to. If you work early, then you can study late and the other way around!

Another thing that Online paralegal courses are going to give to you, is the ability to save money. The overall course to go to the online paralegal school is going to be about the same as going to a traditional school. However, at the traditional school you are going to end up having to pay for a lot more. You will be paying for a place to live, food to eat, and even gas to drive back and forth to your college. However, when you are taking classes from home, you can cut out almost half of those expenses, meaning that you are going to have more money in your pocket to help you pay for other bills that have to be paid.

Pretty much what it comes down to is that online paralegal courses offer you the freedom, as well as everyone else, to take courses whenever they want and wherever they want. Furthering our education is something that we have to do in order to be able to move on in life and get the job that's best for us. Do not get stuck working a dead end job and just barely getting by, because you did not get an online degree.Take online paralegal courses, and find out what life really has in store for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.online-paralegal-courses.net and writes about Online Paralegal Courses

Is Paralegal Education Necessary?

The level of education needed to become a paralegal depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a paralegal career. A recent college graduate who wants to be a paralegal to get into law school may not want to seek additional training. A person wishing to become a career paralegal would benefit from the additional training.

Paralegals help make lawyers look organized. They typically sort, prepare, photocopy, and index documents, while also interviewing witnesses or conducting hearings. Most beginning paralegals should have a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

Roughly 50 percent of paralegals do, with about 25 percent having two-year

associates degree. However, trends indicate that most potential employers expect entry-level paralegals to have a four-year college degree. Any additional training a paralegal might have, whether it be in medicine, another science, or social work, will help a paralegal to specialize and possibly make more money.

Programs exist to train paralegals. NFPA recommends a formal paralegal education program, which approximately 84 percent of current paralegals have.  Training programs consist of 24 semester hours in legal studies. NFPA offers the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam to establish and recognize high standards in the paralegal profession. In order to qualify for the exam, a paralegal must have a bachelor’s degree, have completed an accredited paralegal program, and have at least two years of paralegal experience. Paralegals who pass the exam are recognized professionally as a “PACE Registered Paralegal.”

For a small fee, a potential paralegal can obtain a directory of paralegal education programs from the NFPA.
The amount of training needed for a paralegal job can depend on the organization for which the paralegal will work. It may be useful to contact local law firms about their paralegal hiring practices. Some positions require a paralegal certificate, which requires additional training after a four-year degree program. Online directories allow registered users to search for hiring law firms, and most local libraries have a copy of Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm.

In general, the level of education needed to become a paralegal depends the kind of paralegal work desired and the length of a paralegal career. A recent college graduate, for example, who wants to be a paralegal in order to help her chances of getting into law school, may not want to seek additional training. A person wishing to become a career paralegal, on the other hand, would benefit from the additional training.