Questions on Becoming a Paralegal

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LJam4U, May 2, 2006.

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  1. LJam4U

    LJam4U New Member

    First off, this is my first post so hello to everyone! I've been lurking here for the past 2 days and reading other's posts. I finally decided to register and ask a few questions of my own.

    First of all, let me give you a little background history on my education. I dropped out of High School in the 11th grade, and I obtained a GED in 1999, which would have been the year I would have graduated had I stuck with school. I attended Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC) in Fall 1999 but dropped out. In 2000, I attended Job Corps in Cherokee, NC at the Oconaluftee Job Corps Center, and I received a Certificate in Clerical Studies. Came home just to find out that it was pretty much useless, and I found a simple Data Entry job. I was laid off in December 2001 (2 weeks before finding out I was pregnant), so I decided to go back to school. I re-enrolled in FTCC and I have over 64 credits plus a 3.89 GPA, I was 2 classes short of the Associates in Arts, but they messed up my financial aid so I decided to go on to a 4-year college.

    I enrolled in Winston-Salem State University and I started in January of this Year. The instructors here are, for the most part, wonderful, but the Administration is horrible. I was told NOTHING about how to register for classes, nor was I told anything about a so-called "Validation" process, which resulted in all of my courses being dropped and my having to pick up 4 courses that had nothing to do with my major (History Education). Also, they registered for fall 2006 classes in March, and neglected to tell me that there was an Immuzation hold on my being able to register for Fall 2006. When I confronted the Registrar office about it, I was told, rather nastily, that EVERY STUDENT must submit immunization records and that she KNEW I got it because they sent the forms out with the mailed application. I politely informed her that perhaps I didn't receive one OR that information because I CAME UP TO THE SCHOOL TO APPLY AND WAS NOT MAILED ANYTHING. Whew...

    Anyhow, I just don't want to go back to this school so I'm looking into Distance Education now. I decided that I also do NOT want to go into Education as I thought I did, not after being a Substitute and having been 1) Physically Assaulted by a Student after I called the office to remove her 3 times and 2) Having a student in my classroom who had a gun on him.

    I FINALLY narrowed it down to what I'm interested in. I want to become a Paralegal, and I want a Bachelor's degree. After searching this board and looking through several schools as well as Google, I've come across 4 different types of degree programs and I'm confused as to if they are interchangeable. Here are the names of the programs:

    BS in Paralegal Studies
    BS in Legal Studies
    BS Business Administration with a concentration in Legal Studies or Business Law
    BS in Science & Technology - Legal Studies (this is what CAL U calls theirs)

    So are these interchangeable or not? Would each of these result in my being qualified for a Paralegal position?

    Also, can anyone recommend a good distance Paralegal program in either of them if the titles are interchangeable? I'm looking for a Regionally Accredited one because I might work as a Paralegal for a few years and further on up the road (great, now that Bobby Blue Bland song is stuck in my head :D) I may decide to obtain a Law Degree or do some other advanced studies.

    Also, does anyone have advice for someone who's utterly confused and indecisive about what they want to do with their life? This is the 6th major change during my higher education (Accounting, Computer Information Technology, English, History, Horticulture Technology were the previous ones), and changing my major so much has resulted in my having college courses that I can't use in most places (like that one semester of Horticulture courses I took :eek: ) Does anyone here have work experience in the Paralegal profession? I'm sorry for all the questions, but I really don't have anywhere else to get advice.
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    You might see whether some of these classes from your previous majors can be used as free elective credits in your new degree pursuits. The bachelor's in paralegal studies is offered via distance learning through Kaplan College www.kaplancollege.com and Saint Mary of the Woods College www.smwc.edu .
     
  3. raristud

    raristud Member

    Hello LJam4U. Welcome to degreeinfo.


    Take a look at excelsior college ( www.excelsior.edu ) Your earned credits may meet the requirements for an associate of arts degree.

    For a Bachelor of Science, you may combine credits from different universities and transfer them to excelsior college. You may enroll to earn a bachelor degrees in computer technology, criminal justice, or business administration.

    Thomas Edison State College ( www.tesc.edu ) and Charter Oak State College ( http://www.charteroak.edu/ ) offer similar methods for earning degrees.

    You may earn credits from the institutions below and apply them to your degree program.

    http://www.ohiou.edu/independent/

    http://www.hpcnet.org/peru/onlineeducation

    http://www.is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp?level=CO&online=0&nid=102

    http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/

    http://www.clovis.edu/ClovisOnline/index.asp


    Duke University offers a paralegal certificate program online. It is not cheap. However, it could be a nice addition to your resume.

    http://www.learnmore.duke.edu/paralegal/online/registration.asp
     
  4. planejane

    planejane New Member

    Hey!

    I was born in Winston-Salem and my parents still live there.

    I got my BS in Paralegal Studies from Peirce College (Philadelphia, PA). It is ABA-approved and online as well. There are a handful ABA-approved paralegal programs out there. I finished my BS with them and I was totally satisfied.

    I am now working on my MS in Legal Studies online too with another school.

    Best of Luck!
     
  5. planejane

    planejane New Member

    One more thing...

    I just finished reading your previous post. I saw where you looked at the BS from California University of PA. Their BS is not ABA-approved, if this matters to you.

    CUP is where I am completing my MS in Legal Studies. A bunch of us from Peirce College went to CUP for our master's degree. Not a one of us have any complaints!

    Christie
     
  6. LJam4U

    LJam4U New Member

    Small world planejane! I rarely come across folks from Winston-Salem online, most of them are from Charlotte or Durham.

    I'll look into Peirce College, do they offer Financial Aid packages?

    @ Ted & raristud - hmm... that's a good idea about using my already-earned credits to apply towards an Associates elsewhere! Charter Oak is the most interesting to me for doing that at this moment because they offer Financial Aid (I just moved into a house, so I'm broke right now lol). I'll research all my options in this area but I do know I'll go for the Bachelor's as well.

    I'll keep everyone posted.

    ***Off to do more research***
     
  7. LJam4U

    LJam4U New Member

  8. planejane

    planejane New Member

    Peirce College

    It is Peirce College and they do offer financial aid. They are regionally acccredited and ABA-approved.

    Hope this helps!
     
  9. planejane

    planejane New Member

    One more thing . . .

    It is your last link for the website.
     
  10. LJam4U

    LJam4U New Member

    Oh no...

    I see they require residency for 4 courses at Peirce... and there's no way I could attend them. Oh well...

    BTW... does anyone know the difference between a BS in Paralegal Studies, a BS in Legal Studies, and a BS in Business Administration - Legal Studies or Business Law?
     
  11. planejane

    planejane New Member

    Peirce College

    The four classes for residency are online too.

    From my experience, the legal studies and paralegal studies are the same. It is like paralegal/legal assistant and attorney/lawyer.

    My legal studies program has almost the same classes as the paralegal program I completed. One is a masters and one is a bachelors.
     
  12. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    I wonder if you should not also look into one of the many paralegal programs being offered by community colleges. I am not sure if getting an actual bachelor's degree in paralegal studies makes you more attractive in the job market, nor am I sure if this degree satisfies the entrance prereqs for law school.

    Of note, I worked as a paralegal for a few years back in the early 80's. After I could not find a job with my shiny new master's in chemistry, I retrained myself at a local community college. It was a two year program, with the first year general credits, and the second year the actual paralegal program. Since I had more than enough general credits, the school placed me directly into the second year.

    Whatever program you go with, you should make sure that it is accredited by the ABA.
     
  13. planejane

    planejane New Member

    These days . . .

    Yes, a BS in Paralegal Studies is very attractive, if this is the field you wish to pursue. There are plenty of paralegals that go to law school, so this degree does help in the legal research area. Paralegals understand what the attorney needs to accomplish in the job, as we both know (I used to be a paralegal too.).

    This field is still booming and paralegals can be used in a variety of areas. ABA-approval is so important, as this field is getting competitive. The BS in PS is recent in schools and the classes fill up.

    Either way, you can't go wrong. The accreditation is important regardless, if this is what you want to study and make a career.

    Best of Luck.
     
  14. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    Insofar as I have not looked into it in recent years, I don't know if there is a substantive difference in the curriculum between a bachelor's and associates in paralegal studies. If both programs are ABA accredited, then they both have the necessary legal content, and I suspect there is little difference in the legal curriculum. Are the bachelor's programs then just padded out with three years of general credits?

    A bachelor's program could be an excellent choice for someone who wants to get an undergrad degree and does not already have one. If someone only wants to obtain paralegal training, than a community college may be a quicker and cheaper route.
     
  15. planejane

    planejane New Member

    The AS and BS degrees . . .

    The associate's degree has the paralegal and general ed courses. The bachelor's degree has more paralegal courses and the rest of the core classes.

    The bachelor's degree may have legal research and writing II and criminal procedure (whereas the associates has civil procedure).

    IMO, I see a community college as a way to get a paralegal certificate (quicker training) or the two-year associate's degree. This degree can then be put into a four-year degree.

    Either way, you can't go wrong. I remember 10 years ago that you couldn't get a BS in Paralegal Studies, let alone ABA-approved.

    I have enjoyed my studies and I am wrapping up the master's in legal studies. I would not change a thing.

    Christie
     
  16. LJam4U

    LJam4U New Member

    Well, I sent an information request form to Peirce College. I suppose the only thing I'm worried about now is the cost and how I'm going to pay for it.

    I want a Bachelor's degree as opposed to the certificate/Associate's because it will be more helpful IF I decide to continue on and go to Law School someday (no time soon though).

    Also, what's it like to work in the actual field?
     
  17. planejane

    planejane New Member

    I can speak for aviation . . .

    I worked as an aviation paralegal. I did anything from product liability with aircraft manufacturers and repair facilities to personal injury to issues with airports to insurance claims to plane disasters to . . .

    The list keeps going obviously. I hope some others can post here. I love aviation law and miss the job.

    I was the right hand person for the attorney. I was in the middle of everything. He got the bigger bucks and I did most of the work. It was totally worth it, as I got the opportunity to see if being a lawyer was right for me without going to law school.

    I got to work in the office, the courtroom, aircraft manufacturers, and the aircraft hangars.

    I hope this helps. Remember you get what you pay for when it comes to your education. Also, I don't like claiming my school is the best. However, Peirce College will really set you for your career in paralegal. Most of the graduates either go onto law school or go for their master's in legal studies. I went to Peirce after my paralegal job and it was right on the money. Also, a lot of law firms are requiring paralegals with degrees and ABA-approved.

    Go to www.nala.org. It is the National Association of Legal Assistants. Some states are requiring certification (mini-bar examination) for paralegals (which they should). They is plenty of info on that site to read too.

    Feel free to PM is you need to and best of luck to you.

    Christie
     
  18. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Re: These days . . .

    Curious. Are there any ABA-approved completely online paralegal certificates available?

    I ask because the ABA approval seems to required an on campus core of classes, as it does at Peirce.

    Dave
     
  19. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    First, welcome to the boards.

    I'm going to take a different advise direction than our peers here - and I mean this in a spirit of helpfulness so please read, consider, and then you may decide if my observations are wrong.

    I commend that you completed the GED after dropping high school. I also commend you on the job corps experience and your return to the CC for more education.

    Your decision to transfer to WS State was probably a good one as well. You abviously know full well that an education is a valuable tool to you.

    I'm guessing that you have something nearing 75 hours of undergraduate credit. It is very likely that you already meet all of the requirements for an AA or AS at Excelsior College (http://www.Excelsior.edu).

    You make a few comments in you initial post that I want to pass back at you though.

    First you got that Job Corps certificate which you claim was useless so you got a data entry job. I'm thinking that an admin cert by JC experience is exactly the credential a Data Entry worker might have. Give some credit to that experience. IMHO

    The you spent two years studying at the community college and left when "they messed up" your financial aid when you had only two courses left. While "they" may have indeed "messed up" your financial aid -- two classes at FTCC are cheap by comparison to almost everywhere else in the USA. Take a minute to reflect and make sure you didn't bail as the result of self-damaging decision making; ie: fear of success.

    You transferred to WS State with well over 60 hours of credit. You should expect that the staff and faculty at WS State considers you an upperclassman. Many of the things they would take time to explain to an 18 year fresh HS grad, they will assume (generally rightly) that you already know or know to ask.

    Now, I've never attended WS State but I have no doubt that they will require my immunization records. If by "validation" you mean the process of proving what you wrote on your FAFSA -- I generally expect that too and have been known to file my tax returns with the financial aid office before I'm even asked.

    These are issues that an administrator would expect an adult college junior to know how to deal with -- and even anticipate.

    The Registrar "knows" that you should have known about the requirement for immunization records because it's a well known requirement for attending anywhere. Doesn't matter whether you applied in person, online, or by mail. What she really wanted to say but was being nice is "what rock have you been hiding under" -- I don't mean this mean, I want you to see their side.

    The reason I want you to see their side is that this is the only way you will be able to graduate from college. Unlike HS and other lower level programs, most colleges expect the student to take responsibility for their own academic success. It's not the problem of the registrar or your academic advisor or a course instructor. It all falls on you.

    So, my point; learn how this this called higher education works and then go tell them what you want. Don't expect that they care at all -- they'll be nice but "they" really don't care about you.

    You've changed career direction more than a few times in a relatively short time. That's not bad in and of itself.

    Get yourself to a professional career counselor. Take an interest and aptitude battery. Examine some options. It may well be that your best option is a true liberal arts degree -- one that will allow you to change direction as regularly as you feel like it.

    Your options in the Winston-Salem area of really good colleges is awesome. You're going to have to take the responsibility for goal achievement though. Go back to FTCC and finish that AA -- it's just a morale booster if nothing else. Or, if you can't take the idea of that school, transfer the whole lot to Excelsior for an AA or AS.

    Take a whole 90-120 days to research and understand exactly how the system works and exactly what credentials you need for the career you're wanting to pursue. Asking on this board is a good start -- there are some very fine educational professionals posting here -- we can get advise here for free that we probably wouldn't be able to pay for.

    Don't blame "they" - it makes you look unprofessional. Especially if it comes up more than once. You'll get further simply saying "my schedule was cancelled because my FAFSA was being verified" or that "I didn't know they still needed my immunization records".

    Consider yourself a college upper classman who knows when it's time to say "hey! what exactly do I need to do now" and don't wait for "them" to think to tell you.

    You write well, your GPA is high, I have no doubt that you can accomplish your goals. But you can't continue to rely on "them" or explain away problems as "they messed up..."; it's all on you.

    =================

    BS in Paralegal Studies -- this is the program that would prepare a professional paralegal.

    BS in Legal Studies -- this may or may not prepare a paralegal. It could as well prepare for pre-law or academic study of laws.

    BS Business Administration with a concentration in Legal Studies or Business Law -- this would prepare one for a career in business and management with a significant background in the laws that relate to business operations. Not paralegal work at all.

    BS in Science & Technology - Legal Studies (this is what CAL U calls theirs) - One would have to examine the curriculum but it almost sounds like a legal secretary prep. but may be a paralegal program.

    =============

    It's helpful when asking about programs here to put a link to the program or school. Then we can look and compare for you...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 19, 2006

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