Beware Of Paralegal Online Degree Via Distance Learning

Distance learning has been around for a long time as correspondence schools, but today there is a proliferation of online schools of all sorts of programs including paralegal studies. However, this article aims to warn you not to jump on the first online school you come about. 

Distance learning is a big relief  in both time and cost. It affords you the opportunity to do your course without leaving home or work. Tuition fee and other cost are usually much less when compared to what traditional schools charge. And you are allowed to pay your fees on a monthly basis unlike paying a lump sum as is the case with traditional schools..

Now that you have considered some of the favorable factors associated with online paralegal degree program, the other very crucial factor you must consider is whether the school you are about enrolling with is accredited or not  Many schools  online are mere "diploma/degree mills".

To study with a none accredited school amounts to buying your degree because most of such schools teach next to nothing. Meaning that your degree will be worthless both for you and your prospective employer. Do not waste your hard earned money on a useless online degree or diploma program.  

To ensure that you do not get scammed to lose your valuable time and money, it is your duty to investigate the school you intend to study with. Find out all you can about it. Locate past students and find out what was their experiences.

Only fill out the application form and make any payment after you have convinced yourself that your intended online school is worth your time and money by being accredited by the state authority within which jurisdiction its is situated.

Although distance learning via online schools is a great opportunity for you to  become a paralegal or any other career development, do not wish to just get a degree.  It is best that you study your course thoroughly and become knowledgeable in the discipline.

Note that you can only do this to your advantage in an accredited school. Diploma and degree mills do not help you in this regard, what they are interested in is your money - Period.

You can Become a Paralegal if you Study for and Acquire a Paralegal Degree

 

You can become a paralegal if you study for and acquire a paralegal degree, if you are  interested in the legal profession, but not as a lawyer.  Although lawyers are generally responsible for the legal services their clients get; legal assistants known as paralegals do most of the work except appearing in court for clients.  If you have the requisite paralegal qualification and dedication you will be handsomely rewarded working in this fast growing profession.

The American Bar Association (ABA) determines the functions of a paralegal, who is supposed to be  a person who by means of education or  work experience have acquired enough knowledge necessary for him to assist an attorney or lawyers in a law office, governmental agency, the legal department of corporations and NGOs etc. A paralegal is supposed to be able to do all the substantive legal work a lawyer is usually responsible for.

A qualified paralegal should be in a position to  provide worthful help to lawyers in all aspects of legal work such as  preparing closings, trials, hearings and organizing  corporate meetings.  As a paralegal you are expected to  assist attorneys in  drafting deeds of conveyance and contracts. You should also be at home with estate planning. 

If you are adjudged a  valuable employee you can be given the  responsibility of maintaining the financial records of the law office, and  possibly organize and generally manage the  law office and its other  employees.    Your  duties may also comprise  finding witnesses, getting affidavits, researching legal documents, and chasing after case files.  

Having said all that, you need adequate paralegal training and qualification to be able to discharge the aforementioned duties. Associate's degree programs offered at community colleges or specialized schools are the most common certifications for a paralegal career. These programs are usually 2-year programs.  

For people who are already working as legal assistants,  certificate programs are usually used for advancing careers. People who have bachelor's degree also become paralegals on obtaining a paralegal certificate. Most certificate programs are usually completed within months.

Nowadays, however, the paralegal profession has so advanced to the extent that there are degree programs ranging from Bachelor to Masters and even Doctorate degree. A bachelor degree in paralegal studies takes about 4 years to complete. 

Training as a paralegal would necessitate the introduction of students to  law and legal research systems.  If you would like to specialize then you would have to do additional studies in your chosen area of specialization, such as immigration etc.

For more information on how to become a successful paralegal visit Online Paralegal Degree Success.

What Is A Paralegal? Read This Article To Know

What is a paralegal is a regular questions in today's world where terminology is frequently changing, several terms and what is associated with them can be very confusing. In the legal field, for example the terms paralegal, legal assistant, and legal secretary that are all used interchangeably leave many people wondering whether there is any significant difference between them in terms of the roles they play in the legal profession.

A legal secretary is precisely what the term implies. Up until quite recently, this role was the one which most non-attorneys held in a law office. Legal secretaries, who were usually female, were not much different from secretaries of any other type, with the exception that a legal secretary often had specialized training in order to be more knowledgeable about matters specific to the legal field, resulting in being more effective and efficient at the job. While legal secretaries occasionally had a college degree, it was generally more up to the discretion of the employer rather than due to any professional requirements.

In direct contrast, when paralegals or legal assistants became an everyday part of most law offices and the legal departments of government agencies and corporations, the the need for specialized training and qualifications arose. In taking a much more active role in the law office, a paralegal needed to be much more familiar with all aspects of the legal system in general, while those paralegals who had to work particular aspects of law such as immigration, specialized training was called for. Working as a paralegal was basically initially a matter of being a helper to an attorney, it was a job which consisted of a decidedly hands-on approach, that today a paralegal is trained to do all that an attorney does except standing for a client in the court of law.

These days, the terms legal assistant and paralegal are often used interchangeably. Although many who work in this field tend to prefer the latter term, there is actually not a difference between the two. While the duties of a legal secretary consists primarily of a clerical nature, this is not the focus of a paralegal.

The majority of a paralegal's work consists of legal duties; although it is usually required that these duties are assigned and carried out under the direction of an attorney, it is generally a matter of the paralegal lightening the attorney's workload by taking on responsibilities and tasks for which she is qualified. For example, interviewing witnesses for a court case is one such duty. Instead of basic clerical work, a paralegal's duties often include such examples as researching statistics, case information, and other facts which are vital to the attorney's ongoing work.

In today's world, the role of paralegal is quite often filled by men. While there are still more women paralegals, many men have also found this field to be both professionally and personally rewarding. Although there were very few male legal secretaries in the past, the widening role and opportunities for paralegals have led many men to find this line of work to be quite appealing.

In short, a paralegal is a professional in the law office or other business where he or she works. The paralegal has a distinct role, and the qualifications necessary to be effective in that role.

Investigation into Jefferson Parish continues

Reported by: Val Bracy, Reporter 

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Jefferson Parish

Ken Trahan is best known as a radio sports commentator and for the work he did with Aaron Broussard on the Saints Hall of Fame Museum.

And according to Jefferson Parish records he was also a paralegal in the Parish Attorney's Office.

Trahan was paid about $18,000 a year for a 20-hour week in 2008 and '09 although he doesn't show up on the parish attorney's 2009 organizational charts.

According to the parish, Trahan resigned a few days after FOX 8 inquired about his paralegal credentials. Jefferson Parish does not have any on record.

Reached by phone Monday, Trahan said, despite the parish documents, he never worked as a paralegal, only in the Public Information Office.

Although, last week, the Public Information Officer said Trahan did odd jobs in her office, like writing articles and press releases, while he worked primarily for the parish attorney.

"Obviously it's suspicious. It's something that has to be looked into," says Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

Jefferson Parish Constable Antoine "Tony" Thomassie is a similar case.

He shows up on a list of paralegals the parish turned over to FOX 8, but he's not on the Parish Attorney's organizational chart either.

Also reached by phone, Thomassie said that last year he was looking for some extra income so he met with Broussard and Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson.

Thomassie says they told him he would work in the Code Enforcement Department but hold the title of paralegal.

"Could there possibly be an innocent explanation, sure. Could there be something more sinister, sure. What we're seeing right now in Jefferson parish is a variety of different smelly, unusual circumstances," says Goyeneche.

Broussard's ex-wife holds the title of paralegal supervisor, although for the last six years she's been working in the Security Department. That's what the parish told us earlier this month when we first reported he story, but now there seems to be some confusion as to Karen Parker's current employment status.

As of last week, the parish's Finance Director claimed Parker was still being paid about $65,000 a year.

But Deputy Parish Attorney Peggy Barton says she doesn't have any records pertaining to Parker's employment. The head of the Security Department now says the same thing, although two weeks ago he said Parker did work in his department.

After FOX 8's report on Parker, parish official Bert Smith said her employment status was being investigated.

As of January 26th, Parker was still employed, although she has been removed from the Parish Attorney's organizational chart.

Jefferson Parish declined to make Interim Parish President Steve Theriot or Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson available for an interview on this story.

Instead, the parish released the following statement regarding Karen Parker and Antoine "Tony" Thomassie.

"Both employment matters are personnel matters currently under review and we will have no comment until they are resolved, which should be later this week."

As far as Trahan is concerned, the parish would only say he resigned and would not address whether his employment is under review.

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Online Criminal Justice Masters Degree Free helpful Knowledgebase

If you are about going for Online Criminal Justice Masters Degree because you want to study online, my advice is that you make yourself conversant with online universities accreditation processes.An accredited online institution is a genuine place to study for your online degree program.

Are You Aware Of The Meaning Of College Accreditation?

Accreditation of a school or an online college is all about its evaluation by an appropriate body to ascertain that the school meets required standards.

Without evaluation and accreditation most online schools will not offer students quality education.

The proper processes for evaluating and accrediting an online or even an off line school is for the evaluating body to examine the school's overall programs requirements, the efficiency of the faculty teaching the courses, the available support services, students admission etc in relation to its mission statement.

Do you know that accreditation processes are not the same in all countries? Yes, the processes are not the same in every country of the world. In some countries it is the government that appoints regulating bodies for schools, but a good example of countries that don’t endorse such practices is the United States, where members of an association of schools or colleges appoint from amongst themselves certain erudite members to evaluate and accredit member schools.

Because of the above, it is wise of you to ensure that the school you intend to enroll with meet both the national and state standards of education and accredited by the relevant agency. Going for Online Criminal Justice Masters Degree is not what you do without proper research.

The Importance Of Accredited Online Institutions

Most employers are aware of the diploma mills that are usually unaccredited online schools churning out worthless degrees. Do not get involved with any online school for your tertiary education without first investigating it to ensure that it is accredited by a relevant agency. It is accreditation that makes an online school worth your while.

In concluding this article, I should like to warn that “Accredited” seen on most online degree program sites does not mean that they are really accredited; most of the school have the sign displayed to deceive you, so what you do is investigate the validity or otherwise of such a claim – find out who evaluated and accredited your school of choice. Your interest in Online Criminal Justice Masters Degree notwithstanding, you must establish validity of the site you want to study with.