LegalStudies.com

Paralegal – Certificate Earns More than a Degree according to NALA Salary Survey

gregs — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:17:20 +0000

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) publishes annual salary and compensation comparisons for paralegal and legal assistants every two years. The 2010 report shows that students that complete a certificate program earn higher salaries and better compensation packages than students who spend time & money in a degree program. Employers know that students completing certificate programs have what they need – relevant job skills.

You can train for a new career as a paralegal in as short as 14 weeks. The Center for Legal Studies, CLS is proud to offer students access to the most affordable, highest quality paralegal training program in the country today. CLS has been partnering with prestigious college and universities since 1980.

Fall sessions for the online Paralegal Certificate Course and many other courses in the legal field begin August 22, 2011. Visit www.legalstudies.com to find a school near you and locate affordable legal training this fall.

Annual Salary and Compensation by
Type of Paralegal Education

Legal Assistant Average Average
Education Salary Compensation % of Responses

Undergraduate Certificate $53,781 $57,224 13%
Post Baccalaureate
Certificate $54,100 $56,422 15%
Associate Degree $50,716 $53,247 32%
Bachelor Degree $49,599 $52,221 10%
Masters Degree $56,000 $56,725 1%
Other $53,522 $55,696 12%
None $53,078 $56,045 17%

http://nala.org/Upload/file/PDF-Files/10SEC4.pdf

“I’ve applied for a Paralegal position & had an excellent interview last Friday. They were really impressed with my knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Proc. One of the attorneys was familiar with CLS & said that she believed we were coming out of it with significant knowledge over some current Paralegals. Of the 95 Resumes they recv’d I was picked to interview based on my Cover Letter & 4.0 GPA.”
- Karyn / Summer 2011 CLS Student

Additional courses are available: Legal Nurse Consultant, Legal Secretary, Victim Advocacy, Mediation, Advanced Paralegal Certificate Course and many other programs – visit our website @ www.legalstudies.com. Students purchase books with the course enabling them to review the material as many times as necessary for full retention of the information. Students benefit from direct interaction with the instructor and other students by way of email and a discussion board. The Online courses are very flexible and available virtually anytime, in the comfort and privacy of your home or office. Students e-mail assignments and exams. Upon completion, certificates are issued from the partner school of their choice, which will allow students to market themselves toward gainful employment.

“I’ve just completed Paralegal I and will begin Paralegal II in June. I am really enjoying this course and can’t wait to continue. Thank you CLS for providing high quality legal education at an affordable tuition with the flexibility of online study.”
- Andreya / Summer 2011 CLS Student

Online programs can be completed in as short as 14 weeks for a Paralegal Certificate for as little as $1189 plus books. This is a dramatic difference when compared to an Associate or Bachelor degree program that can take between 2-5 years to complete and cost anywhere from $3,000 to $50,000. The time and expense involved is not a viable option for individuals who need to get work now. Students interested in gaining more information about the programs offered by The Center for Legal Studies can visit their website www.legalstudies.com or call 1-800-522-7737.

Stephanie Elio
Center for Legal Studies
Business Development Manager
523 Park Point Drive, #320
Golden, Colorado 80401
1-800-522-7737
www.legalstudies.com
Email: saelio@legalstudies.com

Paralegal Certificate: Nationally Acclaimed Education Provider Ramps Up For Summer Classes

gregs — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:07:23 +0000

Golden, Colorado. April 2011. Summer sessions for the online Paralegal Certificate Course and many other courses in the legal field begins May 2, 2011. For more than 30 years, The Center for Legal Studies has been partnering with colleges and universities across the country to provide the most flexible and affordable legal training available. They currently offer Paralegal, Legal Nurse Consultant, Legal Secretary and many other programs through more than 100 institutions nationwide.

Students are able to choose any one of the many prestigious schools that are partnered with the center. Upon completion, certificates are issued from the student’s school of choice to market themselves toward gainful employment. The mission of The Center for Legal Studies has never been more relevant than it is today. With unemployment numbers across the nation continuing to rise, it is critical that workers in transition gain the skills they need to secure employment in new fields with documented growth patterns. The US Department of Labor reports that the Paralegal Profession will rise 28% by the year 2018.

“I just finished the Paralegal Certificate course, I found the coursework very enjoyable and challenging …. Great course!” – Melissa / Spring 2011

“I completed the Legal Secretary Course in Dec.2010. Since I enrolled online I was able to take my course while I was working. In January I got a job as an Legal Research Assistant, all thanx to CLS.” – Momika / Fall 2010

Departments of Workforce Development provide funding for a wide range of programs and resources for job seekers. Many of the courses provided by The Center for Legal Studies fall under their guidelines for job training and are eligible for financial assistance. Interested students should check with their local workforce office.

Stephanie Elio
THE CENTER FOR LEGAL STUDIES
Business Development Manager
523 Park Point Drive, #320
Golden, Colorado 80401
1-800-522-7737
Website: http://www.legalstudies.com
Email: saelio@legalstudies.com

Top Paralegal Training Center Launches New Courses

gregs — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:05:47 +0000

Golden, Colorado – Beginning January 10, 2011 the top schools listed below, will partner with The Center for Legal Studies to offer new continuing education courses for legal and engineering professionals. CLS is well known nationwide for paralegal training programs.

CLS partners with major colleges and universities nationwide to provide adult students with education and training they can use to move into new careers quickly and, most importantly – affordably.

Visit the CLS website for additional information @ www.legalstudies.com.

ALABAMA – Jacksonville State University

ARKANSAS – Arkansas State University

ARIZONA – University of Arizona

CALIFORNIA – California State University- San Marcos

COLORADO – Aims Community College, Adams State College

FLORIDA – Florida Gulf Coast University

GEORGIA – Chattahoochee Tech, University of Georgia-Athens, University of Georgia-Griffin, West Georgia Tech

HAWAII – Hawaii Community College

IOWA – Iowa Central Community College

ILLINOIS – Eastern Illinois University, University of St. Francis

KANSAS – Kansas State University

LOUISIANA – Southern University

NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina State University, Winston-Salem State University

NEW MEXICO – Eastern New Mexico University

NEW YORK – Niagra County Community College, SUNY – Stony Brook, SUNY – Ulster, Wagner College

OHIO – Ohio University

OKLAHOMA – Oklahoma State University

TENNESSEE – Tennessee State University

TEXAS – Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M Texarkana, University of the Incarnate Word, University of Houston- Clear Lake, University of Texas- El Paso

WASHINGTON – North Seattle Community College

WISCONSIN – University of Wisconsin- Platteville

CLS Courses include: Paralegal Certificate Course, Advanced Paralegal Certificate (14 specialty topics to choose from), Legal Secretary, Legal Investigator, Legal Nurse Consultant, Mediation, Victim Advocacy and Test Prep Courses, Intellectual Property for Engineers, Advanced Legal Research & Writing.
Available Formats: Live Lecture, Online, DVD & Text Only.

Stephanie Elio
Business Development Manager
The Center for Legal Studies
523 Park Point Dr., Ste. 320
Golden, CO 80401
Website: www.legalstudies.com
303-273-9777 ext. 11
303-271-1777 Fax
Email: saelio@legalstudies.com

PARALEGAL TRAINING, Take Control of Your Decision and Understand the Facts

gregs — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:51:27 +0000

Paralegal students are faced with many decisions. Which program should I choose? Is it ABA Approved? How important is that anyway? Will I be “certified”? Will I get a job? So many questions can make the process very confusing. Don’t fall victim to aggressive recruiters and savvy marketing. Understanding keys terms clearly, and how they affect you, will make your choices clearer.

ABA Approval is strictly voluntary. Research has found that law firms do not always consider graduation from an ABA approved paralegal program school the most important factor in hiring a paralegal. ABA approved programs are generally 2-year programs.

” The ABA cannot formally accredit any paralegal program, but will approve a program that meets specific standards for a designated fee.

” ABA approved paralegal schools generally have much higher tuition fees than non-ABA approved paralegal schools.

” No ABA approved paralegal school has a completely online or correspondence option.

” Many non-ABA approved programs are approved by various Paralegal associations such as the NFPA and/or the NALA

” There are more than 1,000 colleges and universities, law schools, and proprietary schools that offer formal paralegal training programs. However, only approximately 260 paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association.

” Nationwide, there are a large number of paralegal programs that meet the ABA standards but do not pursue approval based on the costs associated with the process. These approval costs are often passed on to students through higher tuition costs and cutbacks in student resources at ABA approved paralegal schools.

Certificate vs. Certified:
A “certificate” designates that a student has successfully completed a program. “Certified” means that a student has taken a qualifying exam to prove they have acquired the skills necessary to do a specific job. The most common exam to “certify” a paralegal or legal assistant in the United States is given by the National Association of Legal Assistants, ( NALA). The only state in the US that has specific educational requirements for paralegals is California. ( See California Business & Professions Code 6450 ) The NALA exam is strictly voluntary. Students should check to make sure the program they choose will consist of enough hours to sit for the exam if they want to have the option available to them.
Based on a survey conducted every two years by NALA, paralegals graduating from certificate programs are compensated at a higher rate than those graduating from degree programs. Attorneys know that certificate program students are trained in one thing: Specific legal assistant skills.

For-Credit, Non-Credit vs. Accredited and Financial Aid – For-credit means that coursework earns “credit hours” to be applied towards the fulfillment of a degree. Non-Credit courses are offered through college and universities continuing education or professional studies departments specifically for students who already have a degree, or have no intention of seeking one at this time. Students must be pursuing a degree and be enrolling in a “for-credit” program to qualify for Federal Financial Aid.

Accredited refers to the school itself. It means that the institution has been officially recognized as meeting the essential requirements, as of academic excellence.
The legislature is currently cracking down on for-profit colleges that use predatory enrollment practices. You know the kind, you call once for information, they call you back 60 times to convince you that – “their program is the best program for you, and, by the way don’t worry about the cost – that’s what financial aid is for”. What if you could get top-notch training without ending up in debt?

The Center for Legal Studies has been partnering with accredited colleges and universities for more than 30 years to bring students the highest quality and most affordable paralegal training in the country. Students can gain all the education and training they need to go out and get a job in a little as 6 weeks for only $1189.

Stephanie Elio
Business Development Manager
The Center for Legal Studies
523 Park Point Drive, Suite 320
Golden, Colorado 80401
http://www.legalstudies.com
1-800-522-7737

Legal Investigator

gregs — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 01:46:39 +0000

Paralegal Training Provider Increases Availability in US – Colorado Company Continues To Grow

Since 1980, The Center for Legal Studies has partnered with Colleges and Universities across the country to offer courses in legal studies that are both flexible and affordable. As of August 15, 2010, The Center for Legal Studies has finalized new partnerships with several new schools which will make their programs more available to students in every state. The new institutions now offering paralegal training and other legal studies programs are:

Prairie View A&M University – Texas
California State University / Chico – California
York College, CUNY – New York

“We are extremely pleased to bring affordable paralegal training to more locations, and look forward to the doing our part to assist anyone who wishes to gain entry into the legal field in the most cost and time effective manner possible.”, says Gary Knippa, President of The Center for Legal Studies.

The Paralegal Certificate Course through The Center for Legal Studies can be completed in as short as 6 weeks for as little as $1189. There is a dramatic difference when this is compared to an Associate or Bachelor degree program that can take between 2-5 years to complete and cost anywhere from $3,000 to $50,000. The longer and more expensive programs are not a viable option for most individuals who need to find employment quickly. Students interested in gaining more information about paralegal training and other programs offered by The Center for Legal Studies can visit their website http://www.legalstudies.com or call 1-800-522-7737 for immediate assistance.

The certificate, once earned, is issued by the partnering College or University which gives it more credibility when presented to a prospective employer. In the past thirty years the center has graduated thousands of students who are now working in the legal field. The mission of the Center to provide quick, intensive, low cost programs has never been more relevant than it is today. With the high unemployment numbers across the nation it is critical that workers in transition gain the skills they need to secure employment in fields with documented patterns of strong growth.

Paralegal Training Provider Increases Availability in US – Colorado Company Continues To Grow

gregs — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:01:22 +0000

Prairie View A&M University – Texas
California State University / Chico – California
York College, CUNY – New York

Paralegal Training

gregs — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:06:55 +0000

Most Affordable Paralegal Training Maintained In Tough Economy
GOLDEN, COLORADO – July 8, 2010 The Center for Legal Studies takes great pride in bringing students the highest quality paralegal training possible for the best price in the nation.
Due to increasing administrative costs associated with teaching and maintaining their programs, the Center has increased the tuition price for a number of their courses. Despite increasing costs, The Center for Legal Studies has not changed tuition prices since 2006. At $1189 plus books, the tuition is still very reasonable and well below the cost of competing programs, which students will find ranging from 3,000 – 30,000 for basically the same education.
Based on a survey conducted every two years by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), paralegals graduating from certificate programs are compensated at a higher rate than those graduating from degree programs. Attorneys know that certificate program students are trained in one thing: specific legal assistant skills.

Paralegal students are trained to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. The instruction is practice-oriented and relates to those areas of law in which paralegals are in most demand.

For more than 30 years these intensive, nationally acclaimed programs have been available through partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The Paralegal Certificate Course can be completed in 14 weeks on-line, and as quickly as 6 weeks through a live lecture course. Students are able to choose different formats giving them options to find the best fit for their own schedule.
Additional certificate courses offered by many Continuing Education and Professional Studies departments include: Legal Investigator, Legal Secretary, Legal Nurse Consultant, Mediation and Victim Advocacy. Many of the courses can be completed in 7 weeks with the modest tuition price of $575 plus books. No where else can students gain such comprehensive training in such a short amount of time for their money.
Stephanie Elio
Business Development Manager
The Center for Legal Studies
Golden, Colorado
Website: http://www.legalstudies.com
1-800-522-7737

Most Affordable Paralegal Training Maintained In Tough Economy

gregs — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:56:19 +0000

GOLDEN, COLORADO – July 8, 2010 The Center for Legal Studies takes great pride in bringing students the highest quality paralegal training possible for the best price in the nation.

Due to increasing administrative costs associated with teaching and maintaining their programs, the Center has increased the tuition price for a number of their courses. Despite increasing costs, The Center for Legal Studies has not changed tuition prices since 2006. At $1189 plus books, the tuition is still very reasonable and well below the cost of competing programs, which students will find ranging from 3,000 – 30,000 for basically the same education.

Based on a survey conducted every two years by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), paralegals graduating from certificate programs are compensated at a higher rate than those graduating from degree programs. Attorneys know that certificate program students are trained in one thing: specific legal assistant skills.

For more than 30 years these intensive, nationally acclaimed programs have been available through partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Additional certificate courses offered by many Continuing Education and Professional Studies departments include: Legal Investigator, Legal Secretary, Legal Nurse Consultant, Mediation and Victim Advocacy. Many of the courses can be completed in 7 weeks with the modest tuition price of $575 plus books. No where else can students gain such comprehensive training in such a short amount of time for their money.

Stephanie Elio
Business Development Manager
The Center for Legal Studies
Golden, Colorado
Website: http://www.legalstudies.com
1-800-522-7737

Paralegal Certificate

gregs — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:00:39 +0000

CLS School Mission

The Center for Legal Studies is a legal education company focused on providing students the most affordable and effective legal education possible. We deliver our curriculum to our students in live lecture, online, DVD, VHS, and Text-only formats through over 1000 colleges and universities nationwide to provide our students with the flexibility necessary to achieve their academic goals while continuing with their everyday lives.

CLS is a Worldwide Common Law Training Center

The Center for Legal Studies teaches YOU common laws and legal training that is used in many common law countries around the world. It doesn’t matter where you are located because CLS courses are often available in multiple formats!
ONLINE, LIVE Lecture, DVD, VHS, and TEXT Only Formats!

Background

The Center for Legal Studies (CLS) was founded in 1980. Since 1980, The Center for Legal Studies has grown by offering courses in conjunction with over 1000 colleges and universities nationwide on live lecture, online, DVD, VHS, and text-only formats. The curriculum is updated by CLS to remain current and on pace with the newest trends in the legal industry. Recognizing the state of the art technology and ease of use, online courses created by CLS were recently awarded top honors by Thomson West Publishing International.

Legal Nurse Consultant

gregs — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:24:09 +0000

Since 1980 The Center for Legal Studies has graduated more Paralegals, Legal Secretaries, Legal Investigators, Mediators, and Legal Nurse Consultants than any other legal education training facility in the country.

Available in Live Lecture, Online, DVD, VHS, and Text-only formats, The Center for Legal Studies offers the most flexible and affordable programs available!

The Center for Legal Studies has educated thousands of paralegal students through hundreds of accredited colleges and universities across the country. We are the oldest and most respected Paralegal Education Training Center in the country!

YOU select the accredited college or university from which you receive your professional certificate when you enroll in our Online or Independent Study courses. There are hundreds of prestigious colleges and universities around the country to choose from!