I wrote a couple days ago and no one has responded. I joined thinking I could meet students from Penn Foster, and get opinion..Could someone please read it and give me their ideas aand thoughts..Thank you,,,,,Angel

angel33:

I am new to the school and I have a couple concerns that maybe someone can help me with..I am concerned that when I do graduate and go to find a job that an employer may not take my degree as serious as if I would of gone to an actual college? I am taking the paralegal course..I am also concerned that the ABA and my home state bar will not recognize me as a graduate of paralegal.I hope that makes sense..I love the conveince of studying at home, I am just concerned and I guess alittle scared that I am spending all this time and money and it will not pay off..

 

Penn Foster is certainly not ABA accredited.  Make sure of your state's licensing requirements to A.) see if this is really necessary and B.) to discover if there are any other requirements you may not be aware of, such as minimum credit hours, etc.

You kinda lost me I need to see if what is really necessary? I am just wonderig the success rate of people finding jobs and not having problems wit employers thinking it is not a real degree because it was acquired online...I tend to over think and worry more than I should....Thanks

The ABA does not "certify" paralegals.  Some firms may prefer that their legal assistants, etc. graduate from an ABA-approved paralegal course, but I can say that a lot of my peers working as paralegals/legal assistants (in Texas) etc did not go to ABA schools.  Some have their Bachelors or Associates degrees; some went to business schools; a lot of them just started as secretaries years ago and became certified and worked hard.  ABA approval is voluntary; and a lot of college programs are based on the ABA's requirements, but are not ABA approved.  California has some different requirements for legal assistants, I think, that you might want to check into if you live there.  Paralegals/legal assistants/legal secretaries are certified through organizations such as NALA (CLA certification) and NALS..the Assoc. for Legal Professionals (ALS, PLS and PP certifications).  Both organizations have different requirements in order to sit for the testing to be certified.  You might want to check out those websites.  Graduating from a paralegal program does not make you "certified".  Having a certification after finishing a paralegal program would be a plus in your job search.  Go to the wants ads in the area where you live, and see what law firms are requiring in their job postings.       

Nana,

Thank you so much for your response..It really helped me feel better and understand more..I will check the want ads and see what I find...You have been a tremendous help, more than you know..I live in TN so CA laws will not apply to me which may be a good thing...Thank you so much,

             Angel

marjie14:

Terry,

WOW! I was told that some university do not consider penn foster a reputable school because of its accreditation issues. You proved that theory false. I have never heard of California Coast University. Is California Coast regionally accredited?

California Coast University is nationally accredited by the DETC, just like Penn Foster College.  If a school will not accept credits from PFC, it may be that some of the courses you are trying to transfer are not reviewed by ACE, or the college you are trying to transfer to does not accept ACE-reviewed credit (or accepts a limited amount).

angel33:

Nana,

Thank you so much for your response..It really helped me feel better and understand more..I will check the want ads and see what I find...You have been a tremendous help, more than you know..I live in TN so CA laws will not apply to me which may be a good thing...Thank you so much,

             Angel

 

Actually, California is a bit easier to work with when it comes to distance learning studies and studying to be a lawyer or paralegal.  For example, distance learning law schools are located in California because that is the only state which will let distance learning students sit for the bar exam and practice law.  

Cajun gave you some pretty sound advice.  Find out what the requirements in your state are.  Some may require education at an ABA-recognized school.  Other states may simply require a certain number of hours of training.  I know that in my area, law offices want a paralegal with several years of experience and/or a BA degree.

 

See this is kind of scaring me that  am not going to be able to find a job when I do complete the courses..Maybe I am taking the advice the wrong way but it almost sounds like because PFC is not ABA recognized I will have a hard time..I don't want to invest all this time if that is the case..Where do I need to look to see what my state (Tennessee) requires? I am just worried..I really want to work in the legal field..

Maybe I am taking the advice the wrong way but it almost sounds like because PFC is not ABA recognized I will have a hard time..

 Angel33, I don't know anything about PFC's paralegal program personally.  That being said, in a lot of states going to an ABA-approved program could be a plus at some firms, but I believe any type of training is an +plus.  I do know that experience and good skills are a plus.  Even the University of Texas' paralegal program at UTSA is NOT ABA approved.  It is also offered on-line.  The only ABA programs I know that are partly distance are at Peirce College (or University) and maybe South University (is that in TN, by the way?).  They require you to take a few basic courses at a school, and then take the rest on-line (or at least they used to).   

Go to www.legalassistantoday.com, a magazine for paralegals, and find their information for students, including schools, etc.  Also, do a search for the Tennessee Association of Legal Professionals (may be www.talp.org) (part of NALS...the association for legal professionals) and email the president or other officers in that organization and ask questions about working in TN as a legal assistant.  

 I actually looked at some job postings for TN paralegals and out of 6 I saw, not 1 had a requirement to have graduated from any paralegal school (ABA or otherwise) or even a requirement for an associates or bachelors degree.  Good secretarial, Microsoft applications, etc. skills were needed.   

 Nana

 

 

Nana,

Thanks for all your advice and help. I was online for like 3 hrs last night doing alot of research for paralegals in TN...One of the schools they recommend for online is actually Penn Foster which made me feel alot better..They also said that having a degree is a plus but lots of lawyers go for other quaifications also..I can get my license thru a TN association and NALA recognizes Penn Foster also..I am feeling better after all the reading I did do..All the web sites people have given me have been extremely helpful..Thanks again

You are taking the right step in doing your homework.  That's great!  A couple of other suggestions:  contact the state bar association in your state and ask about what kind of qualifications paralegals in that state need.  Of course, they will probably try to steer you toward ABA approved schools, but ask if that is REQUIRED in Tennessee.  Also, try calling a couple of different law offices in your area and just tell them you are considering becoming a paralegal, and ask them what they look for in an employee in terms of education and experience. 

By the way, I checked the jobs board on the Tennessee Paralegal Association web site, and none of the ads mentioned education.  They were more concerned with experince and work ethic.  I say get the best training you can at the best price, whether at PFC or someplace else, and start to get the experience you need, even if it's working part-time as a secretary in a law office while you study at PFC.

Angel33, be sure and go to NALA's website and check out the clock hours needed to sit for their test.  They have several options which include whether you have a Bachelors, Associates, certificate, etc.  I believe Penn Foster's has the amount of clock hours needed to be able to sit for that test.  Also, check out NALS' (www.nals.org) requirements, which are different from NALA.  You could start out with the ALS, and then do the PLS; then PP.  I am in a small Texas law firm and only two of us have certifications.  I am certified through NALS; another co-worker in certified through NALA.  And yes, to be on the safe side, ask about ABA requirements for TN, if there are any.   

Angel33, I have posted your questions to a member board I'm on.  When I get the response back from TN paralegals/legal assistants, I'll post it here for you and others to see.

 

Nana,

Thanks that will be great..I can't wait to see how they respond..You are great..

Tcord,

Thanks for your advice and input too. You have been a great help also..I have been checking into all the things you and Nana have suggested and it is really helping..Thanks again