Center For Advanced Legal Studies Articles RSS Feed

Certificate vs Certified

James Scheffer — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:00:00 GMT

If you are interested in the paralegal profession, then it's important to understand the difference between being a certified paralegal and having a certificate in paralegal studies.

PARALEGAL CERTIFICATE

A person who has successfully completed a paralegal education and training program may receive a certificate. Receiving this certificate designates the conclusion of the educational process. It does not mean that this person is “certified” as a paralegal. At the Center, the Paralegal Certificate is earned by students that have received a Bachelor’s Degree prior to entering the program. Undergraduates earn their Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies upon completion of their education rather than a certificate. For more information about our paralegal programs, talk to an Admission Advisor.

CERTIFIED PARALEGAL

A certified paralegal is a paralegal that has completed a certification exam and has met specific requirements. The requirements, in general, include:

graduation from an accredited paralegal program
acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series of examinations, and/or
completion of a given amount of work experience

There are several organizations that offer certification exams.

The National Association of Paralegals (NALA) awards the designation Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) to persons who have met its requirements, which include passing a competency exam. Advanced specialty certification (CLAS) exams are also administered by NALA, as are a few state-specific advanced competency examinations. www.nala.org
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) awards the designation Registered Paralegal (RP) to persons who have met its requirements for education and work experience and who have passed the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE). www.paralegals.org
NALS, the Association for Legal Professionals, offers three unique paralegal certifications of varying levels. www.nals.org
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization offers a voluntary specialty certification program in six areas of Texas law. Other states have state-specific examinations. www.txpd.org

The American Bar Association does not certify paralegals. Paralegals may not represent themselves as "ABA-certified paralegals," because the ABA's approval applies to the paralegal education program rather than to the individual paralegal. Center for Advanced Legal Studies offers the Certificate Program for College Graduates and the AAS Degree for Undergraduates. Both programs are ABA approved.

Why it’s Important

Attorneys are encouraged by their State Bar Associations to promote continuing education and excellence among their paralegals. A paralegal that successfully completes a professional Certification Exam helps ensure employers and clients that they possess a specified level of understanding and competence.

26-Aug-10 3:00 PM

Paralegal Professional benefiting from Social Media Sites

Danelia Argueta — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:00:00 GMT

People use their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other social media site differently. For many, this may mean sharing with friends and family stories about their weekend or fun places they have recently visited. Something to consider is that with any professional career, how you present yourself in society can make an impact to the advancement of your career. Often people forget that social media sites, although online, are still projecting an image of you. For this reason, understanding how these sites can help or hurt your career is important as you enter or move along in the paralegal profession.

In the article written by Jeanie Sapp Johnston, she provides information on ways you can utilize social media sites to enhance your career.

The most basic form is for community. Community is specifically important for a paralegal who may work for a small solo firm who doesn’t have other paralegals to talk to. This can be a great way to network with people in your field and find out ways to improve your job role. You can also use these tools to market yourself and your profession. Maybe you can mention an interesting seminar you attended, a certain accomplishment, or a certificate you have received. However, keep in mind that you are there to build relationships so it’s important that your information varies and that you’re not always talking about your career.

Another way these sites can be beneficial, is to help you find employment. You can post your resume on sites like LinkedIn. On this site, you can find friends or colleagues and learn what they are doing in their careers. Another way you can find employment is by networking with your alumni group. Find out if they have an online alumni networking site and join that group. Networking with them may provide you with the next big career opportunity.

Lastly, you can build your knowledge by focusing on your education. Several sites are available where you can attend webinars, teleconferences, and take continuing education courses. For example, Center for Advanced Legal Studies has a Facebook page and is constantly sharing information about paralegal education with their fans. Look up other organizations that offer information about training and courses available in your area and join their Fan page as well. By joining, you will be introduced to many educational sites or online courses that you will find beneficial.

Once you are ready to launch into the social media world, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Keep your profile pictures professional. Employers are spending more time “googling” prospective employees to find more information about them online. Being cautious about your profile photo can possibly land you your next job. Be cautious about what you say. If you are not ready to put that sentence in the front page of your local newspaper, than perhaps you should consider how to post it on Facebook. It may not be something that can affect you today, but in the future in can come back to bite you.

Social networking sites are a way to build relationships and communicate with people. The only difference is that you are now sharing your conversations with multiple people at one time. These are not individual conversations and it’s important that you keep that in mind. Lastly, these tools are used to enhance your ability to communicate with others, but it should not replace face-to-face interactions. Remember to schedule luncheons, attend events, and participate in functions where you can meet people in person and not just online.

28-Jun-10 5:00 PM

Paralegal Occupation is Still a Rising Star!

Gail Armatys — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Here it is. Bad news/good news.

The bad news is, the nation is still in a recession. The good news is, the paralegal field is still growing.

Since you are on this website and reading this article, then you or someone you know is probably interested in a legal career. As indicated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, this profession is "projected to grow 28 percent through 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations".

The Handbook states that the demand for paralegals is growing because employers want to reduce costs and increase the "availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services".

If you are interested in the law or have thought about going to law school but just aren't sure or aren't ready, you need to check into getting a high quality, formal education that will provide you with the best employment opportunities in the field.

To find out more about the paralegal job outlook go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm.

To find out more about the Center and how we can help you begin your legal career call 800-446-6931 or email us at info@paralegal.edu.

21-Jan-10 12:00 PM

How I Became a Paralegal.

Gail Armatys — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Written by
James Scheffer

Admissions Director at the Center

I began my paralegal career onboard the aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). Prior to enlisting in the Navy, I had never heard of the term paralegal, much less have any desire to become a paralegal. That all changed.

I arrived onboard the USS CARL VINSON as an undesignated Airman, which basically means I would be placed in a position that required little more than a warm body. My first assignment was to V-2 Division, catapults and arresting gear. The mission of the Division was to operate the ship’s equipment that launched an aircraft into the air from a runway at sea. This also includes the retrieval of the aircraft upon landing in a manner that is best described as a controlled crash. Life in V-2 Division was grueling. “Flight quarters! Flight quarters!” would be the call through the 1MC, an all hands intercom system onboard Navy ships. I would gear up and make my way swiftly to my post. My job was to take a big bar that looked and felt like those that you add weights to at the gym, run up under an aircraft with jet engines in full roar, duck (so as to not be sucked in by the intake), attach one end of the bar to the catapult and the other to the aircraft (there was a little dumbbell-looking piece you attached that breaks away at a specific pressure point as the aircraft launches). I would then scurry back to the “catwalk” on the side of the ship high above the ocean where I would duck again. The jet propelled to the end of the flight deck with a loud “boom!” A large tank of water below deck stopped a piston propelling the aircraft forward, the little dumbbell broke away, and the aircraft launched into the air with all its force. After all the aircraft were safely launched, the next task was to perform preventative maintenance on this massive piece of machinery. After this, we would conduct a “field day,” however, not the kind you may have experienced in elementary school. Our field day involved thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny of our assigned work spaces. The complete evolution would often take 15 to 18 hours and we were allowed to eat, rest, and get cleaned up during the remaining 6 to 9 hours, if you weren’t assigned to a security watch.

One day, when the ship was in homeport, the catapults were lifted from their troughs and my job was to climb down into the trough and clean grease. I was young, full of energy, and quite happy to be there. I proudly announced who I was and where I was from to a shipmate angrily cleaning the grease next to me. He did not respond and was in a pretty foul mood. I later discovered he had been disciplined for misconduct and was performing extra duties as a part of his punishment. This made me stop and think, “This is my job which others are required to perform as punishment?” I was suddenly aware and looking for another path for my naval career. Shortly after that experience, I was visiting the Division tool shop when I encountered another shipmate working on a course book for Navy Legalman, an administrative position. I asked why he was working on the qualifications and he proudly announced he was planning on becoming a Navy Legalman. “Navy Legalman? What is that?” I asked. He informed me that there was an announcement in the ship’s Plan of the Day (a daily publication) seeking sailors who may be interested in transferring to the Ship’s Legal Office and converting to Legalman. The Legal Office is where they prepare discipline cases for non-judicial punishment and courts-martial; conduct JAG Manual Investigations into serious incidents; provided legal assistance; and perform a whole host of other legal services. I wasn’t sure what all it entailed, but knew it didn’t involve the flight deck, 18 hour workdays, or completing tasks that others were assigned as a form of punishment!

I vigorously began completing my qualifications for conversion to Navy Legalman and submitted a request to transfer to the Legal Department. Approval of my request required that I complete “on-the-job training” in the legal office during my off-duty time (of which I had little while at sea). I was therefore resigned to performing on-the-job training while in homeport, where we only worked eight to twelve hours days because you obviously don’t launch aircraft unless you are at sea. However, while in homeport, the legal office was in full swing since sailors on liberty tend to get in a little trouble now and again.

My first assignment in the legal office was filing a huge tray of papers, which I did with pride, again and again until I had the Chief all caught up on his filing. I was then assigned a “real” Legalman task to perform. I was “allowed” to type a tray full of about 50 of powers of attorney. I was excited. I sat down, turned on the typewriter, rolled a form into the carriage and then suddenly realized… “I don’t know how to type!” All I could hear was the sudden and extremely loud humming of the Selectric III typewriter before me. Up until that very moment I hadn’t realized that the typewriter made any noise at all if someone wasn’t typing. Not one to give up and desperate to succeed, I began to type the information onto the forms, slowly but surely, so I thought. I had wasted about ten forms when the Chief showed up to ask how things were going and why I had so many forms in the trashcan. I sheepishly admitted that I had made some typing errors and needed to keep starting over. He informed me that the typewriter came equipped with correction tape to fix mistakes. Wow! Correction tape! I went through a roll of that in no time and had to find ways to obtain correction tape from friends in the supply department so it wouldn’t be known how much I was actually using. Nevertheless, I persisted and got through that stack only to be rewarded with another. My speed and accuracy began to increase, but I secretly purchased a manual (that means no electricity required) Mexican typewriter at a local pawn shop and began practicing and practicing my typing every evening. Things progressed, and in time, I was given more and more opportunities while completing my on-the-job training.

After 90 days, my time in the Legal Office became routine. Whenever a sailor has “duty” he is required to stay onboard the ship for a full 24-hour period and stand various watches or participate in working parties to load/unload stores and materials. During my duty days, I spent every available hour performing my on-the-job training. One evening, I was supposed to meet the Chief outside his office at 1800. I got off watch, cleaned up, and hustled to the Legal Office so as not to be late. No one was there when I arrived, so I awaited the Chief’s entrance in the passageway. At around 2100, he arrived with sleep in his eyes and appeared to have been napping before coming to the office. He asked me why I was standing in the passageway outside the office, and I reminded him that he instructed me to be there at 1800. He asked why I was still standing there, and I told him I was waiting on him so I could get in and get some work done. The very next day my request for transfer to the Legal Office was approved! After two years in the ship’s Legal Office I was transferred to attend Navy Justice School in Newport Rhode Island, where I graduated with honors and was approved for conversion to Navy Legalman or “paralegal.” My four year enlistment in the Navy turned into a 20 year career in which I promoted through the ranks and retired as a Senior Chief Legalman. However, lessons I learned during that 90 day on- the-job training period have carried me ever since, and can certainly be useful to all aspiring paralegals:

be persistent in pursing your trade,

learn new skill sets and continually seek to improve them;

take initiative;

be resourceful; and

most importantly, be reliable.

19-Jan-10 3:00 PM

ABA Student Membership & Social Networking Site

Gail Armatys — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:00:00 GMT

The ABA recently adopted a "Student Associate" Category. Membership for this category is open to students in college or university level post-secondary educational studies who have an interest in the work of the American Bar Association. Dues are $25.00/year. Student Associates may be able to join certain sections as well. Additional information is available at:

https://www.abanet.org/ome/front/form/ome_main.cfm?JoinType=t&sc=RMM9IBE

The ABA also has a new social networking site. Legally Minded is for lawyers, paralegals, educators and others with similar interests. You do not need to be an ABA member to belong but will be restricted from ABA "members-only" content. Users can establish groups, contribute to group discussion boards, share files, etc. There are also wikis. Here's the link : www.legallyminded.com

25-Aug-09 2:00 PM

Paralegals May Be Replacing First Year Associates, According to CEO of ParalegalGateway.com

Gail Armatys — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Wed. Aug 19, 2009

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB)

First year associates may be taking a back seat to paralegal professionals. That's the word from Jeannie S. Johnston, paralegal expert and CEO of Paralegal Gateway.com on the subject.

Johnston, who consults with many large firm paralegal managers, goes on to explain that the inside word from some of the nation's top law firms is that they actually lose money on first year associates. These firms spend big money on recruiting top candidates and offer large starting salaries only to have them begin work without any applicable experience.

"It takes about another year to train the first year associates. Secondary to this, they are not able to bill out as much time and the firms are actully losing profits." Johnston goes on to say, "The existing paralegals, on the other hand, can do the exact same work much more efficiently and end up billling almost three times as much in the same day. It just makes more sense to increase the hourly rate of the paralegals and reduce the first year salary of the incoming associates."

Johnston believes that if this trend catches on, paralegals should see an increase in their paychecks. "This has been a long time in coming and paralegals deserve not only the respect for the caliber of work product they are producing, but also an across-the-board increase in their salaries. Bottom line is that we are profit centers for the firms that we work for and should be compensated accordingly. In some areas of the country, firms are only offering $25,000 salary to mid-level paralegals and I don't know of many people who can live comfortagly on that abount of income!"

For more information please visit ParalegalGateway.com.

Jeannie S. Johnston is the founder and CEO of ParalegalGateway.com and has been a Paralegal for over 16 years. She has written for Legal Assistant Today, The Paralegal Reporter, and has spoken at conferences nationwide. She recently appointed as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Legal Assistant Today.

24-Aug-09 11:00 AM

Interested in a Paralegal Career?

Gail Armatys — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Author: Gail L. Armatys, M.S. is Administrator and Co-Founder of the Center. Gail has nearly 30 years of experience in the private school industry and is a trained Mediator, and Christian Life Coach. As a partner in the development of the Center and its programs, she is most interested in delivering opportunity through education to students interested in the law and in helping them find their career, success and satisfaction in the legal profession.

After reviewing hundreds of ads and online commentaries about the various paralegal programs coming available to the public, I feel a need to write. As co-founder and administrator at a private paralegal school I find it disconcerting to read some of the information now available about the paralegal profession.

Although it is great to read all the articles about the growth of the paralegal profession and the opportunity found in the career field, it is unsettling to also read daily how paralegal programs seem to be popping up all over the country to take advantage of this growth. Being an entrepreneur myself, I don’t have a problem with educators and business people seizing the moment to open doors of opportunity to others. But I have to ask myself if that is what they are really doing.

We opened the Center and began our programs over twenty years ago. Over the years, we have gone through all the rigors of state approval, accreditation, and ABA approval. The purpose of all of this is to: provide high quality, specialized paralegal programs, teach them in the shortest time that seems feasible without having to take more-than-enough electives, ensure understanding and skill development, provide successful lifetime placement assistance to graduates, and do it all with oversight to ensure the integrity of the programs and the institution. Our ultimate goal is and always has been to serve students honestly and with excellence and serve the legal community and its clients by providing quality paralegals.

Now, I find that paralegal programs seem to sprout up everywhere. This includes short-term programs taught in continuing education departments of well-known universities so as to appear to be a part of the university curriculum, appear to be accredited, are stretched out over time to appear to be longer, and appear to cost very little because potential students often do not calculate how much they are actually spending per class hour and investing in the lack of student services and curriculum content.

I also find that there are online paralegal courses popping up all over the place taking advantage of the growth market. Again, this causes me concern for the students who attend these classes, for their employers, and for the clients they will serve. Are these online programs providing the depth of study necessary to relay understanding? I am not in any way saying that online education is not a wonderful educational vehicle. In fact, we offer our classes online as well. However, we do not do this without scrutiny by the state, our accrediting body and limitations of the ABA.

To go a step further, I will tell you that the non-ABA approved paralegal programs may indicate to you that there aren’t necessarily any advantages to ABA approval. What they don’t tell you is that just as accrediting bodies review, research and scrutinize the details of an educational institution and its curriculum, ABA reviews, researches and scrutinizes paralegal programs in specific, thus ensuring the quality of the legal courses offered.

So while there are many varieties of paralegal programs now available offering an assortment of curriculum options, methods of instruction, and a vast range of tuition and fees it is in your best interest to ask the hard questions. Make sure the program you attend, in-house or online, is one of integrity in-and-of-itself rather than by association, and that it provides you the opportunity for and personal assistance in acquiring the employment and job satisfaction that you seek.

27-Jul-09 12:00 PM

Technology Is Reinforcing and Expanding the Role and Professional Nature of the Paralegal Profession

Gail Armatys — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:45:00 GMT

"Paralegals are becoming more accessible to attorneys as the cost of new hardware decreases," says Gary Melhuish, former president of The International Paralegal Managers Association. With new software constantly being created and its use updated in almost every area of law, paralegals are able to perform their tasks with increased speed and accuracy.

Law libraries in law firms are literally discarding their books in favor of online services for legal research. Paralegals who keep current with technology become invaluable to the firm, especially because they tend to stay with the firm, while associates and attorneys tend to rise up through the ranks or change firms. They become the institutional memory of the firm.

Taken from Paralegals.USLegal.com. Written by Carole Bruno

Paralegals.USLegal.com is maintained by Carole Bruno, a Paralegal for over 35 years.

24-Jul-09 2:45 PM

Profile: Center For Advanced Legal Studies - The Paralegal People

Gail Armatys — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

by Sami Hartsfield; Houston Legal Issues Examiner

Center For Advanced Legal Studies is no doubt a staple of the large Houston-area legal community. For 22 years, the Center has been providing top-notch paralegal graduates to local attorneys, law firms, corporate legal departments, and governmental entities. And the flexibility of the Center’s course delivery options ensures that future paralegal students can find a program that fits their busy schedules.

Interested candidates may take their paralegal classes in a traditional on-campus environment; via the Center’s Online Interactive Instruction™; or in a blended format.

Staff at the Center for Advanced Legal Studies.

Perhaps more importantly, the Center for Advanced Legal Studies is one of just four ABA-Approved paralegal programs in the Houston area, and the only one focusing solely on paralegal education, hence their nickname “The Paralegal People.” Why is that important? For starters, most states (including Texas) require all attorneys to graduate from an ABA-approved law school in order to sit for their bar exams (please see Texas Board of Law Examiners Rule I(a)(3), regarding eligibility to sit for the Texas bar exam: “'Approved law school' shall mean a law school approved by the American Bar Association"). It follows, then, that attorneys would hold in high esteem the paralegal programs that have met these stringent requirements promulgated by the American Bar Association.

But that’s not all, the Center is fully-accredited and approved. You can find out more about the Center’s approvals and Accreditation here.

(For helpful background information on the paralegal profession, please see “Thinking about becoming a paralegal? Part I” and “Conclusion.”)

For those of you who already possess a bachelor’s degree in any field, you’ll want information on the Center’s certificate program (30 college semester credit hours). This Paralegal Certificate (not to be confused with certification) can be earned in just 7 months via traditional in-person classroom instruction held on campus in the mornings; or in 10 months via blended or Online Interactive Instruction™ classes. Courses included in the Paralegal Certificate Program:

Introduction to Law & Ethics	Computers and the Law
Interviewing and Investigation	Corporate and Business Law
Legal Research & Writing	Family Law
Civil Procedure	Real Estate
Personal Injury	Intellectual Property

If you do not yet have a college degree, you’ll want to know about their Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Paralegal Studies (62 college semester credit hours). You can earn this AAS Degree in just 15 months of full-time, traditional morning classes; or in 19 months via the blended or Online Interactive Instruction™ classes. Courses in the AAS Degree Program include all of the above, plus:

Criminal Law

English Composition I & II

American Government I

Introduction to Speech Communications

Anatomy & Physiology I

Wills, Trusts, & Probate

Business Math

Immigration Law

and an Externship

Furthermore, once you graduate the Center, you’re eligible for their lifetime placement assistance program. The Center’s web-site lists the following “small but representative cross-section of some of the hundreds of companies that have hired [their] graduates”:

Baker & Associates L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Bracewell & Giuliani L.L.P.
Centerpoint Energy
City of Houston
Cooper Industries
Crown Castle International
Cruse, Scott, Henderson & Allen L.L.P.
Devon Energy
Federal Wage and Law Labor Institute
Fizer, Beck,Webster, Bently & Scoggins
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Harris County Attorney’s Office
Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Holt & Young P.C.
Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere L.L.P.
Jenkins & Kamin L.L.P.
Lambright & Associates P.C.
Lohmann, Glazer & Irwin L.L.P.

See more of this list here.

The knowledgeable faculty at the Center consists of attorneys, judges, and those with a Master’s Degree at minimum. You can read more about their faculty here.

Furthermore, Doyle Happe (pronounced “happy”), co-founder of the Center, has over 40 years’ experience in the educational field. The Center’s web-site asserts that he is “passionate about providing quality educational programs that permit graduates to perform at a high level.” Having known this man personally for the last several years, I can unequivocally attest to this fact. The same can be said of his co-founder Gail Armatys.

2009 CALS graduate Susan Castleman-Berrera

Additionally, successful graduates of the Center are eligible to sit for NALA’s Certified Paralegal exam, a grueling two-day exam which is arguably the benchmark national certification in the paralegal field.

Best of all, Financial assistance is available at the Center.

Susan Castleman-Berrera, seen in the photo at left, is a 2009 graduate. When asked about the Center, she responded: “I loved going to Center for Advanced Legal Studies. I changed careers and if I can do it, you can do it, too!” I second that sentiment!

For more info: Next in this series, I'll profile the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association. Stay tuned, or sign up for instant email alerts here.

You may submit a contact form to the Center for Advanced Legal Studies here, or email them at info@paralegal.edu.

You can find the Center on the Web at http://paralegal.edu/, or

On Facebook

On LinkedIn

On MySpace

RSS Feed

* This author should note that while I plan profiles on all reputable, legitimate Houston-area paralegal programs, she is a 4.0 graduate of CALS. Additionally, should you wish to continue your post-secondary education, CALS has matriculation agreements with several universities.

Likewise, I was able to transfer nearly all of my CALS’ credits to university.

As always, if you have a school, legal career, or legal organization/association you’d like to see profiled here, feel free to email the author at samihartsfield@gmail.com, or leave a comment in the comments section below.

Author: Sami Hartsfield

Sami Hartsfield is an Examiner from Houston. You can see Sami's articles on Sami's Home Page.

Find out more about Sami:

Sami Hartsfield is a freelance writer and paralegal who works in civil law in Houston. She is currently completing her bachelor's degree in political science with a 3.9 GPA, and is preparing to enter law school. She interned with the 14th Court of Appeals under Chief Justice Adele Hedges, completed the University of Houston Law Center's Summer 2008 Prelaw Institute, and is currently assisting a local legal aid organization in the public benefits department. Sami holds a national advanced paralegal certification, as well as four specialty certifications: Discovery; Trial Practice; Contracts Management; and Social Security Disability Law. You can e-mail her with questions, comments, or ideas at samihartsfield@gmail.com.

More About: Legal Professions/Schools/Organizations

13-Jul-09 4:00 PM

Stimulus package to help with tuition

Eric Happe — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT

By Kim Clark, U.S. News & World Report

Millions of students and parents struggling to raise cash for college this fall could have a happy surprise early next year: a tax credit of up to $2,500.

The new higher-education tax credit, which was part of the stimulus bill signed into law in February, is expected to put hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars into the pockets of millions of Americans who write tuition checks this year. Better yet, students don't have to fill out any extra financial-aid applications to get the new money. They just file their tax returns. Read More

24-Jun-09 10:00 AM

What Does It Really Take To Work as a Paralegal?

Doyle Happe — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Author: Doyle Happe. Doyle Happe has over 40 years experience in the field of education. He is director and co-founder of the Center for Advanced Legal Studies and is passionate about providing quality educational programs that permit graduates to perform at a high level. The focus of this article is on substandard paralegal programs that restrict success through limited curricula and preparedness.

Attorneys completed an undergraduate degree, earned a high enough score on their LSAT to be accepted into law school, entered and graduated from law school, studied for and passed the bar exam. All of this to become eligible to practice law.

Then, as time goes on, they need someone to organize their files, interview clients, conduct research and perform the many other legal duties that would free up their time to take on more clients, litigate more cases and allow the firm grow and prosper. They need a paralegal! This is where you come in.

Paralegals legally perform all the duties of an attorney with the exception of representing clients in court, setting legal fees, and giving legal advice. They work under the supervision of an attorney and their time is often billed to the client, so if you want to be a paralegal, it would be a good idea if you knew what you are doing.

You probably have come across some paralegal training programs suggesting that after a few short weeks, you too can be a paralegal. Some even claim a few weekends will do the trick! These programs are often presented at prestigious universities that have a long tradition of academic excellence. You usually would not question these institutions, but the inherent inquisitive nature of legal professionals causes you to start wondering why it would take an attorney three years of law school to grasp what you learned last weekend!

This starts your search for a more responsible path to becoming a paralegal and you find educational standards already established. Your search leads you to AAfPE, the largest paralegal educators' association in America. They state, "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."
There's more, but I'm trying to be nice here.

In retrospect, it's not reasonable to believe that after a few weeks of training you could be much help to someone who spent all those years preparing to practice law. Instead of freeing up their time, the opposite happens.

So, what does it really take to work as a paralegal? Getting properly prepared is a good way to start. Perhaps your first legal research assignment should be to discover the most appropriate educational path for you to take to arrive at your destination. Your success as a paralegal may depend on how you do on this project.

5-Jun-09 11:00 AM

Paralegal Trends Defy Unemployment Rate

Tami Riggs — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Written by Tami Riggs, a Training and Career Placement Specialist. Focus is on Employment Development with specialty in paralegal and law-related professions. Tami is a speaker, event organizer, and career coordinator and has assisted hundreds of the Center's graduates in beginning their careers. 5.26.2009

Students and Graduates have Reasons to be Optimistic

Students and graduates want to know one thing: Will I find a job?

Unemployment rates are soaring. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the national unemployment rate at 8.9%. Every news medium has facts and figures to support the decline of our economy. And yet, in the midst of this unwelcome recession we continue to see trends that give our students and graduates several reasons to be optimistic.

First, the paralegal profession continues to be recognized as one of the fastest growing occupations. In many ways it is a recession-proof career. Legal demands, and in turn legal jobs, tend to increase in a diminished economy. As bankruptcies, foreclosures and lawsuits rise, so does the need for qualified paralegals. While other professions look to outsource positions, the roles of paralegals are becoming more defined and more important.

Second, law firms of all sizes are seeking more efficient and economical alternatives to hiring new associates. This trend has opened doors for paralegals who, with proper training and education, can assume the same responsibilities formerly handled by lawyers.

Third, graduates of the Center For Advanced Legal Studies leave this institution with complete and specialized training and lifetime placement assistance. The Texas Workforce Commission has documented our employment rates above 80% for four consecutive years. This is possible, in part, because we have a designated Placement Director whose primary role is to network within the legal community and maintain close contact with prospective employers.

Even in a weak market, the number of available positions has continued to rise and there remains a great demand for paralegals within the profession. This means increased opportunities and job security. While it is impossible to predict the future, it is a sure bet that our graduates will continue to be successful!

27-May-09 10:00 AM

Paralegals as Mediators

Sami Hartsfield — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

by Sami K. Hartsfield

Mediation is defined as "a method of nonbinding dispute resolution involving a neutral third party who tries to help the disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable solution," Black's Law Dictionary 1003 (8th ed. 2004). As juxtaposed to an arbitrator, whose decision is usually binding on the parties, the mediator is "a neutral person who tries to help disputing parties reach an agreement," Id. Because a mediator can be a non-attorney, ¹ this is one area that paralegals may consider for further professional or pro bono vocation. A quick Google™ search turns up a plethora of informational resources; but sometimes the best way to get to the heart of the matter is to speak to someone who has already mastered the experience. For that, I turned to Mary Beth Jones, a volunteer paralegal mediator who has mediated cases through the Jefferson County Dispute Resolution Center (hereinafter "DRC") since 1996, and asked her to share her experiences with us.

Mary Beth Jones has been a practicing paralegal since 1983, and is employed by the law firm of Jenkins & Martins, LLP. After completing the Paralegal Certificate Program at Lamar University in the spring of 1984, Mary Beth achieved the designation of CLA in January 1985. She received a Bachelor of applied Arts & Sciences in 2008 from Lamar University. In addition to mediating, she currently serves on the Ethics Review Committee, and is a member of the Speaker Bureau and Training Team of the Jefferson County DRC. Mary Beth is also an active member and volunteer of the Division.

Mary Beth explains that mediation is a process in which trained neutrals, such as herself in this case, work with parties involved in a dispute. Ideally, this is done to help them work through their issues and reach a mutually agreeable resolution. She believes the process is very satisfying
to those who participate, even though they may not get everything they want, or even any of the things they actually want. What they do all receive, however, is an opportunity to sit down in a non-adversarial setting and, with the help of trained mediators, participate in a meaningful dialogue regarding the situation at hand.² Says Mary Beth, "Because those at the table help to work out the solution, they feel a sense of ownership and satisfaction with the outcome."

So how can we become involved with this process? Mary Beth explained that she's been a paralegal for the same attorneys for 25 years, although the firm has undergone some changes over the years. Her work experience has been mostly in the area of various types of toxic tort cases, and she became familiar with the concept of mediation in that capacity. She appreciated the concept and saw it could work well. After her children left for college, she realized she had a little time available and, wanting to use it constructively, considered pro bono work. Perhaps serendipitously, she saw an interview with the Executive Director of the Jefferson County DRC, Cindy Bloodsworth, discussing an upcoming training session, as well as providing particulars about the application process. Mary Beth had received her sign. She applied to her local DRC, and was chosen for a 1996 training session.

How does one become involved with a local DRC? The first step is to find one's local DRC. One can find a comprehensive list at the ADR Section of the State Bar of Texas web-site,³ located at http://www.texasadr.org/links.html. In addition to completing an initial application at the Jefferson County DRC, Mary Beth was required to write a short essay explaining why she wanted to become a mediator. While the requirements may differ for different DRCs and/or locales, typically at least two letters of reference are obligatory, as well as a personal interview. Upon completion of these steps, the selection is made from the applicants based on the Center's needs at the time. Generally, Jefferson County has a training class consisting of approximately 25 mediators every two years for basic 40-hour training.

Mary Beth explains that mediators are statutorily required to have 40-hour basic training, and an additional 24 hours of family training for cases involving familial issues. The Jefferson County DRC requires a further five hours of training for victim offender cases, and another five hours of training for court-annexed cases. Finally, an annual continuing education requirement of 10 hours per year is assessed.⁴

The Jefferson County DRC also maintains an Ethics Review Committee and a Peer Review Committee. The members of each are elected by their mediator peers. This is yet another option for paralegal mediators, as Mary Beth has been honored to serve several terms on the Ethics Review Committee. She states it's imperative to the Jefferson County DRC mediators that the high quality of their services remains faithful to its intended purpose.

So what does the paralegal mediator actually do?⁵ Mediators perform mediations, of course, but in addition to that, the Jefferson County DRC has an active Speakers Bureau, of which Mary Beth is also a member. When the need arises, members of the Speakers Bureau address various civic groups to provide information about mediation specifically, and about the DRC generally. One of the biggest challenges facing DRCs is getting the word out to residents that the DRCs are available to help. In that regard, members of the Speakers Bureau often man booths at various functions to distribute literature and speak to local residents, or at college classes, as well as many other functions. One of Jefferson County's local television stations partners with the DRC once a year, allowing them to man a telephone bank at the station . This is a huge public service that is always well received by the community. Moreover, Mary Beth participates in the DRC training program as well by assisting in the training of new mediators.

The mediation process actually begins well before anyone gets to the table. Typically, interested parties initiate contact with a DRC and speak with a case manager, who subsequently notifies all parties involved of the time and place for a scheduled mediation. The mediators are provided with the paperwork requesting the mediation, along with a brief description of the type of case to be mediated. Once the parties arrive, they are shown to the area where the mediation will take place (in Jefferson County, it is often in one of the courtrooms), so the process can begin.

Mary Beth's usual procedure is to begin the session with a brief opening statement explaining the process and outlining how the negotiations will work. Mediators typically introduce themselves, welcome the parties, and let them know that their attendance is appreciated. Mediators characteristically assure the parties that they look forward to working with the parties in order to resolve the dispute that exists between them.
It is further stressed that mediation is an informal meeting, and everyone is encouraged to speak openly and freely. The proceeding is private and absolutely confidential, thus the mediators can confidently assure the parties that what happens in mediation will not be disclosed, nor can it be used against the parties in court ⁶ by the mediators (other than to report whether an agreement was reached, or to report that, when ordered by the Court, the parties reported as scheduled).

Says Mary Beth:

Since many who come to mediation are not familiar with the process, we explain our role as trained neutrals, advising them that we are not attorneys (or for those who are - that we are not functioning as an attorney for this process), nor judges, and we will not make decisions for them. Our role is to help them clarify the issues that exist between or amongst them, and to explore options that might settle the matter for them.

Their role in the process is to tell their side of the story, and to state how they would like to see the matter resolved. The mediators tell the parties that while we must know some of the past history, the reason we are at the mediation is to focus on the future - what can be done from this point forward to resolve the matter for them.

Once the parties reach an agreement (hopefully), the mediators will put it in writing, which all parties can then read and sign.

For Mary Beth, the amount of hours she has worked in mediation varies. She states she has been recognized for volunteering for 100+ hours per year in the past. In recent years, with her school commitments, she had to limit her mediations to about once a month, for a two- to three hour period. Now that she has finished school, however, she may increase the number of times she mediates per month. One consideration for other paralegals interested in this area is the versatility, not to mention the utility.

Mary Beth swears by the mediation process. She feels gratified knowing people have come to a resolution of their own problems, and she can literally see the peace that it provides to them. What is the future for mediations? As far as trends go, Mary Beth is seeing an increase in family cases, as well as court annexed and victim-offender cases. As stated earlier, one of the biggest challenges is making citizens aware of the services that DRCs provide. Regardless, she believes there are many opportunities for paralegals in the mediation field. It is different from what many of us are used to seeing in litigation in that it's not an adversarial practice. It is believed that we will continue to see the use of mediation as a method of alternative dispute resolution rise in the future, particularly in family matters, which often can be further aggrieved by the adversarial nature encountered in courts.

For Mary Beth, she believes that paralegal training will help in a mediation practice by giving a mediator a well-rounded view of many different types of situations and, she avers, by helping the paralegal to relate to the parties that come to the mediation table.

If you think you might be interested in becoming a mediator, or feel that you might be temperamentally suited for it, Mary Beth enthusiastically suggests investigating that feeling. Many counties in Texas now have DRCs. Go online, check out your local bar association, or call your local DRC about the opportunities that may exist for you.

Says Mary Beth, "For me, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made."

"Reprinted with permission from the Texas Paralegal Journal, the official publication of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas."

Sami K. Hartsfield ACP

Freelance writer for Houston Legal Issues Examiner

NOTES
1
Chapter 154 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code deals with "Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures," and mediator qualifications are listed in §154.052: QUALIFICATIONS OF IMPARTIAL THIRD PARTY (located on the web at http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/cp.toc.htm).

2
In 1987, the Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Act, T EX . C IV . P RAC . & R EM . C ODE A NN . 154.001.073. One of the major accomplishments of this legislation was the assurance of confidentiality, coupled with the non-adversarial nature of the negotiations, so as to facilitate a constructive agreement between parties.

3
Paralegals are welcome to join the ADR Section of the State Bar of Texas. For on online application, see http://www.texasadr.org/join_us.html.

4
For paralegals interested in mediation training, one option is taking the course at Texas Women's University, with campuses located in Denton, Dallas, and Houston, though classes are typically held at the Denton location. Information can be found on the Web at http://www.twu.edu/ce/Mediation-Courses.asp. Another option, as illustrated by Mary Beth Jones, is to apply for a training class at a local DRC. For a list of ADR centers currently operating in Texas, and for other ADR resources, please see the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Texas at http://www.texasadr.org/links.html. Interested candidates can also check with their local bar associations for other course options.

5
There is a plethora of web-sites with respect to mediation available, chief among them are the Texas Association of Mediators at www.tcmediator.org and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Texas at http://www.texasadr.org/index.html.

6
See The 1987 Texas ADR Act listed in Note 2.

20-May-09 2:00 PM

Four Trends Will Change the Face of the Paralegal Profession

Chere Estrin — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Four Trends Will Change The Face Of The Paralegal Profession

Paralegals will benefit from changes to the field

By Chere Estrin on 4.24.2009 - 5:00 amComments (0)

About The Author

Chere Estrin is the CEO of the Los Angeles based Estrin Education, Inc. A lively seminar speaker, she is the founder of SUE, The Magazine for Women Litigators and KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals.

Remember when corporations were trusted entities, jobs were obtained after a quick reference check (or none at all) and all those who wanted to could call themselves paralegals?

Today, four trends are reshaping the paralegal field. Ignore these at your peril: if you don't educate yourself about the latest innovations in legal, social and business practices, you'll be left sitting on the dock as the ship pulls away.

1. Learn About Social Networks

Even if you don't understand what all the excitement is about (particularly if you are past 40), web-based social networking is hotter than ever. Sites such as Facebook, My Space, Linkedin, and other Web 2.0 communities have enabled millions of people to amass a rich network of old and new friends. With the click of the mouse, you can learn more about them than you could have shared in years.

Once you create a profile that includes your date of birth, home town, high school, college, employer, political views, and marital status, you start inviting people to be your friend. Other people invite you to be their friend, too, including people you don't even know. On business networking sites such as LinkedIn, business "friends" write references for you and people are introduced to potential clients, employers and colleagues. You can even send a virtual martini to a sales prospect to break the ice.

Originally designed for college-age kids, Facebook now boasts that more than half of its 43 million members are of post-college age. Members post pictures of their pets, children and loved ones along with information about their personal lives, hopes, wants, dreams and desires.

Be advised, though: by participating in social networks, you're giving employers and potential employers the opportunity to learn about you and check your references. No employers investigate only the references a potential employee supplies; today, even Googling is but one small component of background checks. Whatever you post on your site becomes available to those who want to learn about you. Make sure that you don't post more about yourself than you'd feel comfortable having your employer know.

2. Offshoring Creates New Opportunities

Mention offshoring and most paralegals and attorneys storm out of the room. But outsourcing does not appear to be fading away. Hiring attorneys in India or the Philippines is a hot trend. Lawyers from large and small firms outsource assignments to workers in other countries. According to a recent article in Business Week magazine, DuPont's legal department, always a legal trendsetter, figures 70% of the labor in a typical insurance or liability case can be outsourced.

U.S. law firms often bill around $150 an hour for document-processing by paralegals; offshore providers charge around $30 an hour—because an attorney with five years of experience can be hired for around $30,000, including benefits, in the Philippines, whose legal system is similar to America's. That's half what a veteran U.S. corporate paralegal earns, and one-fifth what a first-year attorney can fetch in New York.

According to a recent article in The International Herald Tribune, clients are pushing law firms like Jones Day and Kirkland & Ellis to send basic legal tasks to India where lawyers tag documents and investigate takeover targets for as little as $20 an hour. The average Indian lawyer working in an outsourcing organization earns $8,160 per year compared to $160,000 for a first-year associate in a major U.S. law firm. These outsourcing firms or Legal Process Outsourcing (LPOs) are part of a trend that will move about 50,000 U.S. legal jobs overseas by 2015, according to Forrester Research in Boston.

The National Federation of Paralegal Association's Position Statement on the Outsourcing of Paralegal Duties to Foreign Countries, claims that paralegals in India earn from $6.00-$8.00 per hour. This represents a huge bargain for U.S. firms if the quality of the work is on a par with what is being accomplished here.

Companies with corporate legal departments in India include DuPont, Cisco Systems, and Morgan Stanley, according to ValueNotes Database, a company based in Maharashtra, India. The Indian legal services industry will more than quadruple to $640 million by 2010 from $146 million in 2006, ValueNotes said.

Although not every firm will outsource work and certain ethics issues remain to be resolved, the trend will likely continue, following the trajectory of what happened 10-15 years ago when coding was outsourced to the Philippines. Then, too, everyone was concerned that paralegal jobs would be lost, but the field continued to grow and assignments became more sophisticated.

Paralegals claiming outsourcing will never affect them may have their Bates stamps buried in the sand. Corporations will continue to demand that small businesses and individuals lower their legal fees. Firms, especially smaller ones, cannot necessarily hire additional personnel every time a new or different case comes over the transom. Outsourcing gives every size firm an opportunity to capture new work without additional overhead.

Does this mean that paralegal jobs are going away? Not necessarily. It does mean that paralegals have to work smarter and aim for higher level assignments. Leveraging your knowledge, skills and technology abilities is the key to planting your feet firmly on the firm's travertine floors and keeping salaries up.

3. Regulation Is Here To Stay

If only Enron, WorldCom, Computer Associates, Qwest, Comverse, Adelphia and others hadn't generated so many business scandals and provoked a cry for a crackdown on white-collar crime, we probably wouldn't have the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with its rigid and onerous reporting requirements. According to Forbes (October 29, 2007), the number of FBI corporate fraud cases pending has risen 70% since the act's passage in 2002. It's not going to be repealed; in fact, it's considered one of the most important changes in business this country has seen, and is taken so seriously that several privately held corporations have adopted a "Sarbanes-Light" approach to governance in the event they eventually do go public or merge.

With the fear of prison and the scalps of white-collar defendants fresh in their minds, corporations began to hire compliance experts—including paralegals—to help keep the corporation in line with government regulations and out of the sight of the SEC. Compliance paralegals are generally hard to find. Few, if any, paralegal schools offer a certificate in the practice specialty, yet the position continues to grow. In all likelihood, the trend for stricter adherence to regulation, tighter accounting procedures and higher corporate morality is not going away. Paralegals gravitating toward this area are likely to find exciting, well-paid positions.

4. E-Discovery Creates Exciting New Positions

Unless you completed your first day in paralegal school only yesterday, you know about e-discovery and the changes it has brought to every practice specialty imaginable. Electronic discovery—how people and businesses conduct themselves, what they write in an e-mail, say in a voicemail or put in a blog or website—has changed the face of the legal field. This also means that the number and type of assignments for paralegals has increased and changed, particularly in the discovery and risk management arenas.

A brand new position, the e-discovery manager, has emerged. This person's first responsibility is to reduce costs by managing vendor selection. E-discovery managers also enable organizations to proactively prepare for litigation. A screw up in e-discovery, such as removing metadata during document productions, can result in sanctions or a court issued adverse inference. Managers also create a consistent process for e-discovery projects that includes data collection, processing and review.

According to Inside Counsel magazine, an organization can expect to pay e-managers between $100,000 and $300,000 a year. There's no reason why this position cannot be handled by paralegals with expertise in the field.

Paralegals Will Be Increasingly Subject To Regulation

At least 12 states have passed or seriously debated legislation regulating paralegals. Laws such as California's Business & Professions Code 6450 came into effect because people with little or no training were delivering inappropriate services directly to the consumer.

These regulations mandate educational background and establish mandatory continuing education requirements, changes that ensure that paralegals stay current on the latest changes in the law, ethics, procedures and techniques.

These educational and regulatory trends are expected to continue. As a result, paralegals will be smarter, better educated, and earn higher incomes. Trends are a fact of business life. How should you handle them? As John Naisbitt, best-selling author of Megatrends and Megatrends 2000 was known to say, "Trends, like horses, are easier to ride in the direction they are going."

Reprinted with permission from KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals (http://www.knowparalegal.com/

1-May-09 11:00 AM

Center For Advanced Legal Studies and Paralegal Education

Gail Armatys — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Interview: Gail L. Armatys, M.S., Co-Founder at Center For Advanced Legal Studies

Gail L. Armatys, M.S., Co-Founder of the Center For Advanced Legal Studies, joins us today to discuss paralegal education.

Tell us about the programs offered at Center For Advanced Legal Studies

The Center specializes in paralegal education. We offer a Paralegal Certificate Program for College Graduates and an AAS Degree for Undergraduates. Students may attend in the morning or in the evening. Morning classes are taught in the traditional manner. The evening classes are provided in a ‘blended’ format where students ultimately attend class only one night a week. This summer, we anticipate that students may begin attending class in a live, interactive, online format as well. This will be something more than a typical distance education class. Students will be able to see the instructor, and the instructor will see the students via webcam and the Wimba learning system. Students and instructor will have the ability to discuss topics, issues, and assignments in real-time. It’s exciting.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

Students in the Certificate program may complete their paralegal education in as little as 7 months. AAS Degree students may graduate in only 15 months. The programs are accelerated but in-depth.

What would you say makes Center For Advanced Legal Studies programs different and better than other comparable programs?

The Center specializes in paralegal education; we are accredited, and approved by the American Bar Association. This means we have met the highest standards of paralegal education that an institution can receive. Employers like that.

Another important service available to students is our life-time Placement Assistance for program graduates. This is a free service to graduates and employers. Our Placement Director prepares graduates for interviews, helps with resumes, and screens applicants for employers. The State reports that in 2008, 86% of our graduates were successfully employed. Of the 14% of graduates that this report assumes are unemployed, a good percentage of them continued their education, remained at a current job, or were international students that went back to their home country. In a nutshell, the Center’s placement services are very successful.

Another thing that makes us different is that we believe in not wasting students’ time. Our desire is to prepare a student for paralegal employment in the shortest period of time possible. This, however, is not to be confused with short-term paralegal programs housed in the continuing education departments of prominent colleges and universities where programs are completed in short order due to the lack of content. At the Center, classes are accelerated because of scheduling and because we concentrate solely on what graduates need to know.
Another important aspect to note about the Center is that every student, faculty, and staff member at the Center works toward the same goal focusing on the same profession. Paralegal education is all we do and students appreciate the personal attention that comes with this specialization.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing a college or university?

Accreditation is an important topic of discussion for anyone looking to attend a college or university. Accreditation reveals an institution’s ability to meet certain standards. Students should be aware that continuing education paralegal programs are not accredited although they are taught at an accredited institution.

Other approvals are also important to the stability and excellence of an institution. For paralegal programs, approval by the American Bar Association (ABA) is the highest among these achievements. Attorneys who employ paralegals have invested many years and thousands of dollars in their education. This approval is a standard that they understand and respect from their days in an ABA approved law school. They like the validity that comes with students who have received an ABA approved education.

What qualities or accomplishments do you look for when admitting students to your program?

As far as admission requirements go, all Certificate students must have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to being admitted. AAS Degree candidates must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Beyond that, there are innate qualities that are very significant. Maturity, organization skills, integrity, communication skills are all important. However, in order to truly be successful, students must come to us with an interest in the law. In our 22 years of experience, we see that as students complete their studies with our experienced faculty, this interest develops into a passion for the law. It’s that passion that makes our graduates so successful.

Given the growing popularity of online degrees, what would you say are some of the benefits of a traditional classroom setting?

This is an interesting question based on the fact that we are getting ready to provide classes online. Still, our foundation is the traditional classroom and we know this setting is important to some students. Traditional students are the people that believe they may have more one-on-one communication with their instructors and their classmates. They may prefer the brick and mortar surroundings and perhaps be better able to concentrate and understand in such a setting. Even in this electronic age there will always be a place for traditional education. However, the Center has found a way to provide live, interactive education that mirrors traditional methods of teaching except for the location of the seat in which the student sits.

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

Students enrolled in our programs have every opportunity to gain experience as a paralegal through an internship. In fact, our AAS Degree students are required to complete an internship as part of their program. The Certificate students do not have this requirement but we recommend that they participate in this service as well.

Our Placement Director assists students in acquiring their internship. It is a tremendous opportunity to learn and apply newly acquired skills. In fact, it often happens that the internship turns into full-time employment. Even if it doesn’t, the student now has paralegal experience and a reference to include on their resume.

Does Center For Advanced Legal Studies offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

The Center offers free life-time placement services to our graduates. This means that from the time students graduate through any and all job changes, they can come to our Placement Director and request assistance at no charge.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

Yes. The Center offers a variety of payment options to our students. Financial Aid is among these options and it is available to students who qualify. In addition, we are here to help students navigate the often confusing application process. The Center’s staff includes an experienced Financial Aid Director who guides students through the application and assists in any way she can.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling at a college or university for the first time?

Yes. Your education is the key to so many aspects of your life. Search out the best possible options that provide the service and outcomes you should expect from an educational institution. Quality education can create an enjoyable life for you by allowing you to grow, learn, apply your talents, and reach and exceed your personal and professional goals. Take it seriously. Apply yourself. Be determined to succeed and if you start, make sure you finish. An incomplete education will most likely not get you where you want to be.

What do you enjoy most about your position at Center For Advanced Legal Studies?

As co-founder and administrator of the Center, what I enjoy most is two-fold. First, I enjoy watching our staff and faculty push themselves to excel and provide the highest quality of education and service to our students and their employers. I enjoy the creativity and excitement that is part of this opportunity. Secondly, the satisfaction I receive in watching students graduate while having the privilege of shaking their hands and saying ‘job well done’ cannot be compared. Students who complete their paralegal program go on to do many great things in both big and small ways. As a graduate, they enter a field where they have the opportunity to help others through their skills and knowledge. They make a difference, and I am grateful to be a part of their success.

Posted by EDUguru

March 20, 2009

ARTICLE TOOLS

20-Mar-09 11:15 AM

Should Education and Training Be Required....?

James Scheffer — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Should education and training be required prior to being vested with the title paralegal?
By James D. Scheffer

It is a debate that ensues within the occupational field, the national paralegal organizations, and all areas of employment of paralegals. It has been my personal position at times, and expressed often by others, that "If an individual has experience and/or certification, they don't need formal education and should be exempt." While there is merit to this position, at what point do exemptions from formal education expire? How long should paralegal organizations continue to perpetuate exemptions while promoting education as a hallmark of professionalism? Grandfather-type clauses are usually put in place to allow those already in a profession time to achieve new standards or complete their careers prior to full implementation. The paralegal profession has, by conservative calculations, surpassed the 30 year mark and practically all paralegal organizations maintain a clause that allows for exemption from formal education for membership.

Review of Occupational Outlook Statistics published by the U.S. Department of Labor reveals that the "Paralegals and Legal Assistants" occupation is firmly established and is "projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations." How is such growth to be managed? From where should the new paralegal come? On the job training, formal education, or a combination of both — what should the standard be? Who should train these paralegals and according to which criteria? Should paralegal organizations develop and recommend standards or should they rely upon institutions of higher learning? Pioneers, like the membership of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar have led and provided clear vision and leadership throughout the years. However, the profession is reaching a point of full maturity. The time has come for guidance in the area of training and education in order to receive proper recognition from institutions of higher learning and the working world. This recognition can only come through education and training that clarifies who is and who is not a paralegal.

Standards for education and training will allow career schools and institutions of higher learning to design coursework based on input from those practicing in the profession so they may better prepare paralegals to meet future employer demands. Currently there is no true academic model for paralegal training so attempts are made to fit training into historical academic models. Does paralegal education belong within the school of business, political science, criminal justice or should there be a discipline specifically dedicated to paralegals just as there is with nurses, educators, counselors, and other skill based occupations? Development of education standards supported by paralegals is the first step to finding paralegal education's proper place in the world of academia because consulting paralegal organizations is usually the first step most take in learning how to become or train paralegals. Standardized education may also facilitate the promotion and development of new ideas and concepts, while refining knowledge, skills, and abilities expected from paralegals. Standard credentials for those who train paralegals could also be developed.

To date, many paralegal organizations have not developed and/or recommended specific standards for education and the result has been the proliferation of programs all over the map with various criteria that may confuse those contemplating entering the profession as well as those hiring paralegals. Paralegal training programs are housed within career schools, community colleges, four year universities, and continuing education programs. Proof of completion of a paralegal program comes in just as many varieties, to include Certificates with no other educational criteria, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, Bachelor Degrees, Certificates for College graduates, and even Master Degree programs. How does a prospective student, employer, or even a professional paralegal organization offering a path to certification decide which credentials are legitimate and/or preferred? Clear guidance is needed and desired.

The American Bar Association and American Association for Paralegal Education have set substantial standards which are acceptable for membership in most of the paralegal associations.

Basic American Bar Association Guidelines require a paralegal program of education to be:

At the postsecondary level of instruction;
At least sixty semester hours, or equivalent, which must include general education and legal specialty courses; and Offered by an institution accredited by an institution accrediting agency acceptable to the committee.

The American Association for Paralegal Education advises that paralegal education programs should be able to demonstrate that their graduates possess:

Critical Thinking Skills
Organizational Skills
General Communication Skills
Legal Research Skills
Legal Writing Skills
Interviewing and Investigation Skills
The Paralegal Profession & Ethical Obligations
Law Office Management Skills

The guidance above is solid and appears to be industry standard. However, such standards are only embraced as long as they are recognized by the professionals within the paralegal occupation. The paralegal career field is on the cusp of full maturity and may only reach a full level of respect, full understanding of what a paralegal is versus what it is not, and proper place within the academic setting when clear standards are set as they are in other professions.

What is a profession? According to Encarta, it is "an occupation that requires extensive education or specialized training." Competent paralegals require extensive education and specialized training; therefore, education and training should be required prior to being vested with the title paralegal.

James D. Scheffer, Senior Chief Legalman, U.S. Navy (Ret.) is the Director of Admissions at the Center for Advanced Legal Studies in Houston, Texas.

"Reprinted with permission from the Texas Paralegal Journal, the official publication of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas."

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P.O. Box 1375 Manchaca, Texas 78652
Telephone: (512) 280-1776 — Fax: (512) 291-1170

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1-Mar-09 11:00 AM