| How do I know if the paralegal profession
is right for me?
The paralegal profession is unique in that there is no prerequisite background
required to excel as a paralegal. Like law school, paralegal students come from
all walks of life. Teachers, doctors, business owners, students, sales representatives,
secretaries, homemakers, wait staff, accountants, nurses, etc. and even lawyers
have taken our program. A student should, however, have an interest in the law,
be curious, have good communication skills, be dependable, decisive, and willing
to dedicate themselves to the task at hand. Maturity is a definite plus.
Why do I have to have a degree to enroll
in the Paralegal Certificate program?
Employers who require a paralegal certificate as a condition of employment
normally assume the four-year degree has previously been earned. This is especially
true in the larger law firms where a ‘degree plus certificate” is
the standard. Students without a college degree should earn one. The Associate
of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies program offered at the Center
accomplishes that goal for students lacking a degree upon entering the Center.
Why does the Center require those without
a bachelor's degree to earn an associate's degree? Some other
schools don’t.
Many authorities on the paralegal profession agree that
the minimum educational requirement to enter the paralegal profession
is an associate degree in paralegal studies. As stated in Occupational
Outlook Quarterly, Winter 2002-03, paralegals "usually
are required to have at least an associate degree.” Students
enrolling in paralegal certificate programs that admit non-degree
holders must usually meet additional educational requirements including
the completion of prior college credit. It often saves students
time and money transferring those credits directly into a degree-granting
program.
Why should I enroll in the Center’s
program over another institution’s?
The Center specializes in paralegal education. We have made the commitment
to provide the best paralegal education available by focusing all our energies
and resources exclusively towards preparing students to enter the paralegal
profession. Other institutions can neither make this claim nor demonstrate
this level of commitment.
What about these short-term paralegal
courses I’ve seen advertised?
The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), has denounced short-term
programs in its Policy
Statement Regarding Short-Term Programs which states: "These short-term
programs are doing a disservice to the students who enroll in them, to those
who employ paralegals, and to the legal profession.” The Center strongly
encourages anyone interested in pursuing a paralegal career to thoroughly investigate
perspective programs to ensure that they meet the accepted minimum standards
as outlined therein.
I’m not sure if I have the time
to go to school. I work full-time and have a family. How do other
people do it?
The Center offers morning and evening classes. If you work full-time during
the day you can still reach your career goals by attending class in the evening.
Just three nights a week will get you through our curriculum in a short period
of time. Our evening Paralegal Certificate students finish in a mere 40 weeks,
and our evening A.A.S. Degree students complete their entire 2 year degree
program in just 19 months.
I don’t see how I can afford to
get my paralegal education. I don’t have the money right
now. What can I do?
No matter what your financial situation is right now, we have a plan to help
you turn your life around and begin a career you'll love. While many of our
students pay for their education as they attend, the majority of our students
rely on the financial assistance that is available for college students. The
truth is, few people can afford to pay up front for their education. You are
not alone. Rarely is a person denied the opportunity to continue their education
due to a lack of funds.
Who teaches the classes I will
be taking at the Center?
All of the law classes at the Center are taught by licensed, practicing attorneys
or in the case of very practical classes such as Computers and the Law, qualified/practicing
paralegals. Also, guest speakers are invited from time to time to address the
students on various topics. For those students enrolled in the A.A.S. Degree
paralegal program, the general education instructors each have a minimum of
a master's degree in their area of specialty.
For more information about our faculty, please see the Our
Faculty page of our website.
What are my prospects for employment
after I graduate from the Center?
The Center’s graduates have had great success in finding employment in
the legal field. Our placement director works individually with each graduate
to help ensure this success. The future looks very promising as well. According
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the paralegal profession "is projected to grow much faster than average
for all occupations through 2014" as law firms increasingly hire paralegals
to lower the cost and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services.
Considering this and the Center’s commitment to providing dedicated placement
services, our graduates should feel very confident concerning their future
employment possibilities.
As a paralegal, where are my opportunities
to work?
Many businesses other than law firms utilize paralegals.
Such employment is not unusual. These employers include banks,
mortgage companies, airlines, churches, non-profit organizations,
hospitals, the government and many other businesses. Paralegals
may also work independently on a contract basis; however, the unlicensed
practice of law (UPL) can become an important issue especially
when a paralegal has a business of his or her own. In all cases,
a licensed attorney should be ultimately responsible for a paralegal’s
performance on specifically delegated substantive legal work.
When I graduate from the Center will
my credits transfer?
Acceptance of credits by any college or university is strictly
up to the accepting institution. The Center’s classes are
highly specialized and there are few ABA approved and accredited
programs in the Houston area. This makes it
more challenging to find a complementary program. However, in March 2002 the
Center entered into an articulation agreement with the University of Phoenix
whereby graduates of the Center’s A.A.S. Degree program can transfer
all 62 of its semester credit hours into their Bachelor of Science in Management
(BSM) 4-year degree program. This is great news for individuals who seek to
receive their paralegal credentials and start working as soon as possible but
still desire to complete their bachelor’s degree in the future.
Will obtaining my paralegal education
help me if I decide to go to law school?
Yes, without question. As a graduate
of the Center and new law school student you will suddenly become
very popular with fellow students who “don’t have a
clue” about legal research, procedure, contracts, etc. Much
of what you learn at the Center will be repeated in law school.
Conversely, much of what you learn at the Center will not be addressed
in law school at all. Will a paralegal education help? Absolutely.
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