Online Learning Environment vs. Brick-and-mortar Learning Environment

Whether you are in an online class or in a physical classroom, your ability to learn the material is exactly the same, according to researcher Thomas L. Russell, author of No Significant Difference. A good online school does not require you to be in class at any specific time. You are provided 24 hour access to the classroom and can work at your own pace when you have the time. If you do not understand a lesson you have plenty of time to read and re-read it. Socially, there is no pressure on you to look or act a certain way. Because you are communicating with your classmates online, there is a much smoother and freer dialogue between online students.

Quality of Education and Certification

If you choose the right online school, the quality of your education is just as good or better than that of a traditional campus-based school. To receive a quality education online, you should choose an online school for your certification that is accredited by a nationally recognized Accreditation Association, such as the MSA which is the organization that the Washington Online Learning Institute is accredited by. Accrediting organizations grant accreditation to online schools as well as the top universities, so there isn’t a question as to whether or not you are receiving a quality education at an excellent nationally recognized online school such as WOLI.

Convenient Learning

There is no question that online schools are much more convenient than going to a traditional school. Because the school does not require you to be physically present, nor attend lectures at specified times, you are free to choose when and where you want to learn and participate. This is particularly appealing to parents, those already in the workforce, individuals who would be required to travel a considerable distance to attend a traditional school’s campus, and those serving in the military.

Summary of Pros and Cons

As you can see, there are many similarities between a really good online school and a traditional campus-based education. When weighing convenience and cost, it is clear that the right online school has more pros and less cons than the traditional campus based school. If you would like to attend a web based school, read more about how to choose the right online school.

The new law does describe paralegal education and/or work experience prerequisites that individuals must meet in order to legally use the title “certified paralegal”. Different people will qualify under different parts of the statute.  The good news is that these requirements can be met by attending an accredited online paralegal school such as our own Washington Online Learning Institute, and enrolling in one of the online paralegal programs.

CLA Paralegal Certification Exam Preparation in California State

One way to satisfy the CA paralegal certification requirements is to earn your Paralegal Certificate Online here at the WOLI online school and then take the CLA/CP (Certified Legal Assistant/Certifed Paralegal) exam offered by NALA.  Additional information regarding the CLA/CP exam for paralegals can be found by clicking on the the NALA website.  Our program meets requirement 1(e).

To qualify to sit for this paralegal certification exam and meet requirement 1(e), we recommend that students enroll in either WOL-PCP: Senior Paralegal Certificate Program or WOL-PCM: Master Paralegal Certificate Program offered here at WOLI. WOLI provides students who enroll in either of these courses with a free CLA Test Prep Course which will prepare students for the CLA paralegal certification exam.

Online Paralegal Schools in California State

Washington Online has the highest level of accreditation (Middle States Association) and has more students from California than from any other state! Washington Online is also approved by California Work Force Investment Act which subsidizes tuition for some CA paralegal certification students. WOLI has hundreds of graduates successfully working as paralegals in California, all of whom have received their paralegal training from our online paralegal school.  When researching California paralegal schools,  know that the combination of WOLI education and paralegal certification will prepare you very well for a successful paralegal career in California State!

For many years,   paralegal work has been recognized as one of the fastest growing areas of professional employment.  Salaries have consistently risen over the past decade. In 2007, the last year for which data is available, paralegals earned an average income of $52,000 in the United States, according to Legal Assistant Today which conducts an annual survey of paralegal salaries.    Keep in mind this is an average; compensation ranged from about $23,000 for a freshly minted paralegal working in a rural law office in Iowa to more than $150,ooo salary for a senior paralegal working in a prestigious Manhattan law firm.  When considering paralegal employment, keep in mind that many, if not most, law firms offer excellent benefit packages in addition to salary, and working conditions are often very pleasant compared to “typical” office jobs.  The work environment in a law firm may be challenging; the paralegal profession is not for the weak of heart.

The Department of Labor continues to report that the demand for paralegals is great.  The paralegal profession is expected to grow faster than most other professions over the next decade with demand by law firms and corporations for trained, certified paralegals continues to grow.

What has become increasingly clear is that a paralegal in the 21st century needs to be certified by an institution with regional accreditation.  Anything less may be not sufficient in today’s increasingly competitive job market.  With many online paralegal schools offering certificates, it is more important than ever to choose a school that is regionally accredited.

Despite projected rapid employment growth, competition for jobs is expected to continue as many people seek to go into this profession; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.  A certificate from a regionally-accredited school is the best credential a paralegal can have today.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals entering the job market in the 21st century will have the best chances of success if they obtain certification from a regionally accredited institution.   There are seven regional accrediting agencies in the United States:  Middle States Commision on Higher Education, Middle States Assocation of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges,  The Higher Learning Commission, Northwest Commission, Southern Association of Colleges and Universities,  and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  According to Bertram Kennehan, Esq., Director of  Paralegal Employment for King and Spalding,

Employment change. Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employers are trying to reduce costs and increase the availability and efficiency of legal services by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. Paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.

Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal law, and environmental law. The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services.

Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, but a growing array of other organizations, such as corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, and banks also hire paralegals. Corporations in particular are expected to increase their in-house legal departments to cut costs. In part because of the range of tasks they can perform, paralegals are also increasingly employed in small and medium-size establishments of all types.

Job prospects. In addition to new jobs created by employment growth, more job openings will arise as people leave the occupation. There will be demand for paralegals who specialize in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, and product liability. Community legal service programs, which provide assistance to the poor, elderly, minorities, and middle-income families, will employ additional paralegals to minimize expenses and serve the most people. Job opportunities also are expected in Federal, State, and local government agencies, consumer organizations, and the courts. However, this occupation attracts many applicants, creating competition for jobs. Experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best job prospects.

What is job outlook now, given the recent recession?  To a limited extent, paralegal jobs are affected by the business cycle. During recessions, demand declines for some discretionary legal services, such as planning estates, drafting wills, and handling real estate transactions. Corporations are less inclined to initiate certain types of litigation when falling sales and profits lead to fiscal belt tightening. As a result, full-time paralegals employed in offices adversely affected by a recession may be laid off or have their work hours reduced. However, during recessions, corporations and individuals are more likely to face problems that require legal assistance, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces. Paralegals, who provide many of the same legal services as lawyers at a lower cost, tend to fare relatively better in difficult economic conditions.

This is an intelligent question with a very clear answer.

Choose a  school based on several criteria:

1)  Accreditation:  Make sure the school you choose is regionally accredited.  Regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation.  There are seven regional accrediting agencies in the United States.  They include Middle States Commission, Southern Association of Schools,  the New England Association and three others in different geographical areas. These seven agencies accredit all the best schools in the United States, including Harvard University (New England Association), Columbia University (Middle States) and Duke University (Southern Association).    Regional accreditation is superior to so-called “national” accreditation, which applies a less rigorous standard.  The right online school will hold your hand, guide you through the entire process, and make your time as a student an enjoyable one. The first thing you’ll want to do is perform a little research.  Ask the following questions for each school you are considering:

• Is this online school an accredited school and who awarded the accreditation?  Make sure your online paralegal school is regionally accredited.
• Does the particular online school offer me the flexibility to take the courses according to my own schedule?
• Will the online school help me with career and job placement after I receive my certificate?
• Does the online school maintain an Alumni Association?
• How long has this school been in operation?
• Does this school’s program match my interests well?
• What level of training, education, and experience have the teachers attained?  In general you want to choose, for instance, an online paralegal school that employs attorneys with real world experience.  These teachers know what a lawyer wants from a paralegal employee.

Where do I find online schools with the program I want?

You have probably found an online directory or several directories filled with online schools.  You ask yourself, which school should I look into?  The sad truth is, the most popular websites are actually paid directories that provide little or no real information to the online student; they exist solely to profit from users searching online. The schools that advertise in these directories pay a fee every time a prospective student asks for information about a particular school.

The choices are many these days, and can be confusing.  It’s hard to believe that less than a decade ago, the Washington Online Learning Institute (WOLI) was one of a very select group of schools pioneering online learning.  Today there are literally hundreds of schools to choose from.

Yes, it is difficult and perhaps a little annoying to wade wade through all of the apparent choices out there.  No one wants to be hounded by admissions reps from a bunch of schools.

Your best option to find an online school in the profession  you are interested in.  Immediately check to see the school’s accreditation.  If the school is not regionally accredited, move on to a school that is.  There is no reason to settle for second best.  Surprisingly, tuition at regionally accredited schools is sometimes lower than tuition at nationally accredited schools,  so don’t be tempted to settle for second best in order to save money.

A fast way to find an online school is to do a search for the career you are interested in + “online school”.  For instance, type “online paralegal school.”  Of the schools that come up, choose the ones that have regional accreditation.   Then look through the first couple of pages of results, writing down the regionally accredited schools that seem promising.    Then visit the school’s website,  read about the program you are interested in, and then contact the school.  Check the school’s  reputation.  Call them and speak with a student affairs counselor.  By following these basic steps, you will get a sense of the better schools.