Illinois Archives - Paralegal Schools

How to Find a Paralegal Certificate Program near Wonder Lake Illinois

Wonder Lake IL paralegal consulting with client Congratulations on your decision to enroll in paralegal studies near Wonder Lake IL and start your journey that will lead to a satisfying profession in legal services. However, it’s crucial that you find the right school so that you will get the extensive training that you require to achieve success. As you most likely understand, the legal field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, and increasingly more educational options are being offered, both at school and online. But with so many alternatives to choose from, where does one begin? Many potential students start by searching for schools within traveling range of their Wonder Lake residences. Of those alternatives, they search for the program with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important considerations when choosing a college, they are not the only factors you must take into consideration. Things such as the reputation and accreditation of the program ought to be considered as well. Later on in this post we will review a list of concerns that you should ask potential paralegal schools so that you can examine and compare every one prior to making your decision. But before we do, let’s have a look at exactly what a paralegal does and the instructional options that are available to earn either a paralegal certificate or degree.

Legal Assistants and Paralegals

Legal assistants and paralegals essentially both fill the same job positions and functions, just with different titles. However, legal secretaries are not the equivalent of either of those two positions and are part of a different job classification. Both legal assistants and paralegals help Wonder Lake IL attorneys with a wide range of job functions, such as legal research, maintaining client files, communicating with clients, and drafting legal documents. Their specific job duties are based upon the type of practice where they are employed. As an example, a legal assistant for a criminal law firm may assist with trial logistics or delivering files to court. In private practices, the work of a paralegal is usually billed hourly as are the attorney’s. And the same as attorneys, they must conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism and abide by a strict code of professional ethics. As stated, their duties can be wide ranging in support of the firms where they are employed, but some of their everyday activities can involve:

Researching and fact checking cases
Researching relevant cases and laws
Drafting correspondence and legal papers
Submitting legal papers with opposing counsel or the court
Helping lawyers prepare for trial and keep organized with their cases
Organizing and managing legal documents, files and other records

With all of their duties, the role of a paralegal can be complex and quite challenging. On the other hand, what they are not legally allowed to do is offer legal counsel and advice or represent a client in a legal proceeding. But paralegals are not restricted to administrative or clerical duties more apropos to the job of a legal secretary. Legal assistants really are the main support systems for attorneys. And because they do so much of the legal preparation and ground work, lawyers are able to take on a much larger volume of clients or cases than they could on their own.

Paralegal Education and Certification

Wonder Lake IL paralegal preparing documents As we previously covered, paralegals are actually the same as legal assistants, with paralegals possibly having more professional sounding job titles. As a result, for either position the educational requirements and job prospects will be the same. The fastest way to start your career as a paralegal in Wonder Lake IL is by obtaining a certificate, which can involve as little as six months to complete. A large number of entry level positions do call for an Associate’s Degree, which provide a more comprehensive education and may be acquired at many community colleges in two years. For an even more comprehensive education, four year Bachelor’s Degrees are available also. After you have obtained either a degree or a certificate, you may choose to continue and receive a certification. Although it is not a legal requirement in Illinois to work as a paralegal, certification can not only help improve your job opportunities, but help substantiate you as a professional as well. A few of the highly respected certifying agencies in the field are:

National Federation of Paralegal Associations
American Alliance of Paralegals
National Association of Legal Assistants
National Association for Legal Professionals

By graduating with a paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited program (we will discuss the advantages of accreditation later) and earning a certification, you will have taken two crucial first steps that will help guarantee your success as either a legal assistant or a paralegal.

Things to Ask Paralegal Colleges

legal library in Wonder Lake 60097 Now that you have a better understanding about what paralegals do and what educational options are offered, you can begin the process of assessing schools. But considering that there are numerous programs available at community and junior colleges in the Wonder Lake IL area, as well as vocational and trade schools, you need to learn what questions to ask in order to evaluate each one. This is particularly true when you add all of the online paralegal certificate and degree programs as well. If you are like the majority of potential students, you will start by looking for schools within commuting distance and then comparing their tuition. But as we have already covered, there are other critical issues to research as well, for instance the reputation and accreditation of the schools. So let’s take a look at some of the questions you need to be asking the programs you are researching so that you can thoroughly vet each one and make your final choice.

Is the Paralegal School Accredited? The paralegal program and school that you choose need to be accredited by a respected organization such as the American Bar Association. If it is an online school, it can also get accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online training. Accreditation will not only certify that the education you will get will be of the highest quality, but it will establish with future employers that you are a qualified professional as well. Numerous Wonder Lake IL law firms will only employ entry level legal assistants that are graduates of an accredited school. Finally, financial aid and student loans are usually offered only for accredited schools.

What’s the Reputation of the Program? Investigate what the rankings and reputations are for the paralegal schools you are looking at. This is of specific importance if you are entering the profession with no prior experience, since employers will have to make a decision based on the caliber of your education exclusively. Verifying that the school you select is accredited is an excellent first step. Reviewing school rating reports, including those furnished by U.S. News and World Report, can help confirm school rankings and quality of education as well. You can also contact several Wonder Lake IL law practices that you may have an interest in working for after graduation and ask what schools they recommend. Bear in mind that even when a school is not among the most highly rated, its paralegal program could still have an outstanding reputation.

Does the Program Provide Internships? Internship programs offer students an opportunity to experience working in a law practice or other legal enterprise while remaining in school. They can also present a pathway for students to start developing contacts within the Wonder Lake IL legal field. Find out if the paralegal programs you are considering provide internship programs, specifically in areas of the law that you have the most interest in entering upon graduation.

Is Job Placement Help offered? You will most likely wish to hit the ground running after graduating, but finding that first job in a new field can be challenging without help. Find out if the paralegal programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. High and rapid placement rates are an excellent indication that the schools have large networks and great relationships with Illinois legal services employers. It also substantiates that their students are highly regarded and in demand.

Where is the Campus Located? Because laws differ from one state to another, it may be beneficial to select a legal assistant school located in Illinois or the state where you plan to work after graduating. In addition, it will be valuable to cultivate relationships in the neighboring legal community, possibly through an internship program. This is all the more justification to acquire your education in the community where you want to work. Also, if you go to classes at a community college, most require an increased tuition for students that live outside of their districts. So you may want to initially investigate those colleges that are within the Wonder Lake IL region.

What is the Complete Cost? Paralegal programs can differ in price depending on the credential received and the amount of training provided. Having said that, tuition will not be the only expenditure for your training. Don’t forget to add the cost of supplies, books and commuting to classes to your budget also. Financial aid may be available to help offset some of the expense, so don’t forget to consult with the school’s financial aid department to find out what is offered in Wonder Lake IL. Needless to say that if you choose to attend an online program, some of these added expenses, such as for commuting, might be reduced or eliminated.

Do the Classes Match your Schedule? Numerous legal students keep working while getting their training and need flexibility to schedule classes. If you can just attend night or weekend classes near Wonder Lake IL, verify classes are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part time basis, make certain that the school you enroll in offers that option. Last, find out what the protocol is for making up missed classes as a result of sickness, work or family obligations.

Online Legal Assistant and Paralegal Classes

student attending paralegal school online in Wonder Lake IL Online legal assistant or paralegal programs have become more common and can be an excellent alternative for students searching for convenient access to classes as well as accommodating scheduling. Online programs can be particularly appealing to students who continue to work while earning a certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, online schools can often be less costly than on campus options. Even ancillary expenses for such items as commuting or study materials can be reduced or eliminated. One caveat, not all online programs are accredited, which we will cover in more detail later. But at a minimum accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive is of the highest caliber. So check to make sure that the school and program you are reviewing are accredited by a reputable agency, such as the American Bar Association. But if you are disciplined enough to study in a less structured and conventional environment, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Will You Attend Paralegal School near Wonder Lake IL?

If you live near Wonder Lake IL or perhaps you are considering attending classes in that area, following is some interesting and useful information regarding the location of your new school campus.

Wonder Lake, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Wonder Lake has a total area of 5.925 square miles (15.35 km2), of which 4.78 square miles (12.38 km2) (or 80.68%) is land and 1.145 square miles (2.97 km2) (or 19.32%) is water.[4]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,345 people, 445 households, and 367 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,657.4 people per square mile (641.1/km²). There were 488 housing units at an average density of 601.4 per square mile (232.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.17% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.12% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.46% of the population.

There were 445 households out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.32.

Choose the Best Legal Assistant College near Wonder Lake IL

Choosing the right paralegal degree program is an important first step toward your success in the gratifying field of law. As we have covered in this post, you have the option of attending classes on campus or you can participate online in the comfort and privacy of your Wonder Lake residence. Paralegal academic programs are offered in various formats and lengths. Different types of public and private institutions make available paralegal training, including community colleges, four year colleges and universities, in addition to vocational and trade schools. Your selection of a paralegal program will have a pronounced impact on your opportunities for success in your new career. Given that there is a broad range in the quality of schools, choose wisely. Afford yourself the greatest possible chance to be successful in this fascinating profession. But irrespective of how you decide to receive your education and earn your certificate or degree, by asking the questions that we have furnished you will have the ability to assess each school and make your final decision. And with the appropriate training you can realize your career goal to become a practicing paralegal in Wonder Lake IL.