Weiss Report Blog

Throughout our representative republic, paralegals (also called legal assistants) have a number of professional organizations that have taken the role of “guardian angel”. One such organization; a relative newcomer, that has risen to national prominence very quickly (it began in 2003) is the American Alliance of Paralegals Inc (AAPI). AAPI’s fast ascent to prominence may be traced to the fact that it was the first national organization that focused primarily on the establishment of minimum educational requirements. In addition, members that wish to have a say in policy (given a vote) must meet particular guidelines through both real world experience and on an educational basis.

Critical aspects to remember when looking into the quality of a paralegal program:

1. Paralegal courses should teach usable job skills along with the underlying legal theory. The paralegal schools curriculum should also cover torts, contracts, legal writing and legal research, ethics and litigation. Paralegal courses should be geared towards developing students’ communication skills, their critical thinking and their skill set in dealing with ethical issues. Paralegal degree programs should also include a way to gain experience such as an internship, clinical experience or practicum.

2. Who are the individuals making up the faculty and the administration of the paralegal school you are looking to attend? Does the curriculum program director have a law degree or minimally have they had solid field experience along with an advanced degree in some aspect of paralegal education? Are the instructors considered to be “experts” in their sphere of influence as a result of their field experience and educational background?

3. Are you searching for a conventional college campus learning environment or does online training 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?

Even if down the road your goal is to become a lawyer, starting your professional life in law as a paralegal is a wise initial step. Earning your paralegal degree will allow you to get a foothold into the legal field, which in turn will expose additional opportunities. And then, down the road you can make a more informed decision as to whether or not to pursue your law degree or to keep working as a paralegal. In any case, opportunities will be many.