Paralegal Career Q&A
October 6, 2005
A Q&A session with Dennis Tapia, a paralegal, who owns and operates Legal & Tax Services in Vista, CA. Dennis has been in this field for the last 20 years.
Q: Describe your average daily routine. What types of tasks are you expected to complete as part of your job?
A: Each day is different, I assist many people who wish to either file for a divorce, name change, prepare a will or a living trust. I must contact clients, ask questions and gather data in order to prepare the legal documents. Once the documents are complete the documents must be signed and filed with the proper court. The court requires the documents/forms be submitted in the proper format. I must keep current with laws and procedures in the field of family law and trust and probate law. Time is very important in all cases and if the forms and/or documents are rejected this could cost my clients valuable time and money.
Q: What do you like the most about being a paralegal?
A: I would have to say I like helping people solve their problems and saving them money. It's a very rewarding field and you meet very interesting people.
Q: What do you dislike, if anything, about being a paralegal?
A: The high cost of court filing fees, each year they go up and my clients must pay this before a case can get started.
Q: What is your work environment like?
A: It can be busy but it's very rewarding and sometime it's a bit stressful when you have deadlines to meet.
Q: What is your work schedule like?
A: My normal work day starts around 7:00 am up to 6 pm, five to six days a week. Most people think if you work for yourself it's easy but if you're not completing cases, answering phones, you're not getting paid. But you have the option of taking long weekends, once in awhile.
Q: Where did you get the training necessary for your job?
A: I attended Santa Ana College in Orange County where I received a certificate in Paralegal Studies. The program took 3 years to complete, full time. I learned the basic skills on how to prepare legal documents/forms, procedures, and laws. I would recommend this program because it prepares you to work for attorneys or work for yourself.
Q: Would you recommend your job as a paralegal to another person?
A: Yes, you have the option to work at your own pace, take the case you want and set your own fee schedule.
Q: What is the next step in your career?
A: Right now, continue to grow my business and promote it. I plan to stay in this field, I found out everybody needs some type of legal and/or tax help sometime in their life. We all must follow the law and pay taxes.
Paralegal Schools
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Clarita Career College
Request More Information Locations:
Santa Clarita, CA
/ Lancaster, CA
/ Long Beach, CA
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Legal Assistant (Diploma)
The Legal Assistant program has been designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as legal assistants, assisting attorneys in settings such as law offices, firms, or governmental agencies. The content of the program provides the student with specialized training in legal research and writing, as well as exploration of legal issues, including family law, criminal law, real estate law, and business law.
E
Empire College
Request More Information Locations:
Santa Rosa, CA
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Paralegal (Associate's Degree)
This program is designed to prepare graduates to assume positions as legal assistants/paralegals, legal secretaries or administrative support staff in a law office. Emphasis is placed on the development of legal office skills such as case management, legal research, discovery, docketing, drafting and analyzing legal documents, and alternative dispute resolution. A 75-hour internship is included.
H
Heald College
Request More Information Locations:
Concord, CA
/ Fresno, CA
/ Hayward, CA
/ San Jose, CA
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Paralegal (Associate's Degree)
The Paralegal program is a program through which students may earn an Associate in Applied Science. This program is designed to teach students primary skills in legal research, writing, and technology that provide a foundation for lifetime skills development in the paralegal field.
I
InterCoast College
Locations:
Burbank, CA
/ Carson, CA
/ Orange, CA
/ Riverside, CA
/ West Covina, CA
K
Kaplan College
Request More Information Locations:
Panorama City, CA
/ Palm Springs, CA
/ Bakersfield, CA
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Legal Assistant (Associate's Degree)
Graduates of the Legal Assistant program may be employed as paralegals, legal secretaries, administrative assistants, and title abstractors in law firms, private attorneys' offices, courthouses, government agencies, insurance companies, and legal departments of companies.
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Paralegal Studies (Associate's Degree)
Acquire the knowledge, the technical skills and the work habits required for a wide variety of entry-level paralegal positions with our Associate of Applied Science and General Practice Paralegal programs.
M
MTI College
Locations:
Sacramento, CA
N
O
P
Platt College
Request More Information Locations:
Huntington Beach, CA
/ Ontario, CA
/ Los Angeles, CA
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Paralegal (Diploma)
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Paralegal Studies (Bachelor's Degree)
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Paralegal Studies (Associate's Degree)
Platt College’s paralegal study program delivers a thorough understanding of the judicial system, legal training and technical knowledge complemented by general education courses to help graduates excel as paralegal assistants.
S
Santa Barbara Business College
Request More Information Locations:
Bakersfield, CA
/ Ventura, CA
/ Palm Desert, CA
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Paralegal (Diploma)
This program is designed to comprehensively cover theory and applications of procedures used in law offices by paralegals, enabling graduates to assist attorneys in areas such as research, reporting, and preparation of legal documents, agreements, exhibits, and other relevant tasks prior to trial. Students are also taught client interviewing skills, basic investigative techniques, how to conduct legal research, and the art of briefing case law. Post-graduate employment will primarily target private law offices, but placement opportunities also exist in bank trust departments, insurance companies and government at all levels.
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Paralegal (Associate's Degree)
This program is designed to comprehensively cover theory and applications of procedures used in law offices by paralegals, enabling graduates to assist attorneys in areas such as research, reporting, and preparation of legal documents, agreements, exhibits, and other relevant tasks prior to trial. Students are also taught client interviewing skills, basic investigative techniques, how to conduct legal research, and the art of briefing case law. Post-graduate employment will primarily target private law offices, but placement opportunities also exist in bank trust departments, insurance companies and government at all levels.
South Coast College
Request More Information Locations:
Orange, CA
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Paralegal Studies (Associate's Degree)
Our degree program emphasizes specific areas of the law, such as: torts, civil law, contracts, bankruptcy, workers’ compensation, family law, real property, estates, wills, trusts, and criminal law. Students also develop skills in legal research, writing, and acquire a foundation in general education.
W
Western College of Southern California
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