Legal Assistant - Come Hell or High Water
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 factors to keep in mind when evaluating the quality of any legal assistant program:
1. Paralegal schools should educate students with the primary objective being to development the entire student. This needs to be done by teaching usable, sensible workforce skills alongside a solid core of legal theory. The curriculum should encompass topics like torts and legal contracts, legal writing and contracts, litigation and legal research. Organizational and communication skills must be developed in addition to a student’s capacity to think critically and apply the legal theory into real world situations. A high quality legal assistant school will also provide the opportunity to learn through programs like an internship or clinical experience.
2. The legal assistant “dean” of curriculum must have the passion, experience and educational credentials to take the legal assistant schools training program to the next level. Likewise, the faculty members from top to bottom must also have the credentials to provide the top notch training all students deserve. They must have the legal assistant expertise and real-world experience in the subjects they are teaching and be able to pass that knowledge on to their students.
3. The latest fad in learning is to learn online through the internet but is this right learning environment for you or should you stick with the traditional brick and mortar classroom? The aforementioned is just one of the many questions you need to answer before pursuing your legal assistant degree online. Another vital question that needs answered is how will you receive your training? Will it be web-based or through interactive video or whatever is the latest and greatest technological advance. Regardless of the delivery method it comes down to this; “Is online learning right for you?” If yes; jump right in because the benefits in convenience and cost are many but if not, then don’t do it. Simply go out and find the best brick and mortar legal assistant school near you.
Even if long term you have aspirations to become an attorney, beginning your career in law as a legal assistant is a smart first step. Becoming a legal assistant will enable you to get your foot in the door of the legal field, which will open up additional opportunities whether you decided to pursue your law degree or continue to work as a legal assistant. Regardless, a legal assistant career offers countless opportunities.