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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 opportunites
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. |
