The Verdict
August, 2010
For students, graduates, and interested candidates.
http://www.americanparalegal.edu
1-800-553-2420
Editor: Renee Sova
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August 23 registration date
Our next session begins on August 23, with a registration deadline of August 20. Class sections for new students are strictly limited to ten to insure ample personal attention.Click here to register.
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ADVANCED SPECIALTY CERTIFICATES
Our next session for the advanced specialty courses for all Paralegal Certificate holders will begin on September 13, 2010. Register now. AIPS currently offers six advanced specialty certificates. There are four courses required for each specialty. You will receive credit for the corresponding courses you took in your basic paralegal certificate program.
All courses are taught at the graduate level and were developed by experts in their field of law. Students are awarded a specialty certificate upon successful completion of the required courses in a given area. Most courses are five weeks in length. Click here to register.
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For more information about the Institute and its programs, contact our Admissions staff at 800-553-2420. You can also e-mail info@americanparalegal.edu.
Copyright 2010 American Institute for Paralegal Studies, Inc. The Institute is licensed by the states of Michigan and Illinois.
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Making the Transition from Legal Secretary to Paralegal
There are several different ways to become a paralegal. Some legal secretaries transition from their current position to a paralegal position with the help of their employer. With time and proven ability, legal secretaries gradually take on more responsibility until they are a full-fledged paralegal in their employers mind. Some advantages to this method include not having to pay tuition and the ability to earn a salary right away. However, the disadvantages of this method far outweigh the advantages of going to school and earning your paralegal certificate. This article will discuss those advantages.
Performing entry level legal secretarial work may not be of interest to you. Knowing you have to start out as a legal secretary and work until someone gives you the opportunity to perform paralegal duties could take a long time. Legal secretaries provide invaluable services to attorneys, but their duties are primarily clerical. You may be disappointed in this type of clerical work and how long you have to wait to become a paralegal. Why not obtain the paralegal certificate through traditional methods by attending paralegal school and start working and performing the job skills you enjoy!
Attorneys don’t have a lot of time to train their staff. To gain entry into the law firm or corporation as a legal secretary will require you to compete for jobs with individuals that have experience. Therefore, you may have to go to school anyway to learn legal or secretarial skills just to earn that entry level position. Why not obtain the training for the position you desire in the first place!
Working your way to a paralegal position could take years. There are no guarantees you will even be offered a paralegal position. The firm or corporation could change their hiring practices and decide they want all their paralegals to have a paralegal certificate as a prerequisite to gain entry into their place of business. You may be passed up for that promotion by other hires who come in with that paralegal certificate. Why not just go for it from the beginning!
Unless you are already working in a law office, planning to become a paralegal without special training is probably impractical. There is too much risk either way. Why not get your specialized training from the get go and follow your passion and start earning the rewards and salary of a full-fledged paralegal.
For more information about the Institute and its programs, please contact Annie Fisher at the American Institute at annie.fisher@americanparalegal.edu.
