Paralegal - As Solid As The Ground We Stand On
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.
Crucial benchmarks to gauge when examining the standard of a paralegal program:
1. Paralegal programs should not only teach legal concepts but they should also provide practical real world job skills. In addition, any reputable paralegal school curriculum would encompass everything from legal contacts and legal writing to ethics and torts. Top notch Paralegal programs should also offer the opportunity for students to gain work experience through practicum or an internship.
2. Unquestioned belief to the value of the paralegal position within the legal field, from both the program director and the faculty, is essential. Plus, both the paralegal school “dean” and the teachers need to have the desired scholastic accreditation to run the program and to teach the curriculum. In a perfect world, the “dean” would have a law degree and the teachers would be considered “experts” in their fields with an advanced paralegal degree and measurable experience.
3. Online learning, also called distance learning has become the latest craze in the pursuit of paralegal degree excellence but an important question to ask your-self before taking the online plunge is… is it right for me? Pursuing a paralegal degree online is obviously different than campus learning because regardless of how the material is delivered (video or web-based content or tele-courses, etc.) the entire teacher / student relationship is much different and you need to decide if you can learn that way. If yes, go for it because there are many benefits; if not, then you need to find the nearest campus based paralegal school.
Obviously, seeking a paralegal career is not for just anyone but it is for those that welcome research, have top notch writing and organizational skills and can work under a deadline and for that possess those skills this is an exciting and expanding field that offers financial rewards and professional fulfillment.



