Mark Geller, Dean of National Paralegal College discusses
their distance ducation paralegal training program.
Tell us about the
distance learning programs offered at National Paralegal College.
National Paralegal College offers
a 24-credit paralegal certificate program, and a 60-credit
associate
of paralegal studies degree program.
What is the typical duration of each of your programs?
Students typically
complete our certificate program in 7 months and our degree program in 15
months.
What would you say
makes National Paralegal College programs different and better than other
comparable online programs?
National Paralegal
College offers a completely interactive internet based program. Each course
lasts 8 weeks and includes 15 online lectures where the students hear and see
everything the instructor says and puts up on his blackboard. Students can
communicate with the instructor and with other students during the lectures.
For students who cannot attend the live class, the lectures are recorded in
full audio/video format and can be viewed on the students’’ PC at any time.
How important would
you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?
Accreditation is very
important. Firstly, some states require accreditation for individuals to
practice as paralegals. Secondly, employers demand a quality paralegal
education when hiring paralegals and therefore look to the source of the
paralegal certification or degree. In the U.S., the system for maintaining basic
standards in college or postsecondary institutions is the responsibility of
independent accrediting agencies. The U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes only
one agency dedicated to accrediting distance education institutions, the
Distance Education and training Council or the DETC. National Paralegal College
is accredited by Distance Education and
Training Council, (202) 234-5100, which is listed by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a
nationally recognized accrediting agency.
There is some debate
as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees.
What steps does National Paralegal College take to ensure that online students
are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?
Students who graduate
National Paralegal College have an identical passing rate on the national
Certified Paralegal Examination as students from traditional colleges. Students
at National Paralegal College are actually trained more vigorously than at many
traditional colleges because at National Paralegal College, each student
receives a personal account for accessing the LexisNexis libraries, the leading
online law library, which is used by all the prestigious law firms throughout
the U.S. A student graduating form National Paralegal College with an associate
degree will have completed 60 research assignments requiring extensive legal
research utilizing the LexisNexis database.
What would you say are
some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional
classroom?
Online education
enables students who are unable to attend a brick and mortar college to receive
a college education at home. Online education is for people too busy working,
taking care of children or for people who live far away from a traditional
college. Anyone who can attend a classroom should take advantage of face to
face learning. For those who cannot attend a classroom, National Paralegal
College is there to provide as much of the traditional college experience as
possible online.
If a student enrolled
in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field
in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an
internship position?
We assist all students
in finding internships.
Does National
Paralegal College offer any job placement services to your students and
graduates?
Yes. We assist our
graduates in resume writing, interviewing techniques and in locating available
positions in their area. Currently, approximately 90% of our graduates are
working in the field.
Is financial aid
available to students in your programs?
National Paralegal
College does not participate in the Federal Title IV education programs so
students cannot use Pell Grants. The reason is that administration costs are
very high for these programs and as most of our students are adult learners who
would not qualify for Pell Grants, we feel it is more beneficial for our students
to keep tuition as low as possible. We offer long term loans and payment plans
which enable students to attend NPC for a low monthly
payment.
Do you have any advice
for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?
Online education is
great but is not for everybody. Some students simply must have the face to face
learning experience. It’s important to try a class before making a commitment
to online education. National Paralegal College allows all students to try the
college for two weeks at no charge whatsoever.
What do you enjoy most
about your position at National Paralegal College
Nothing gives me more
pleasure then seeing a student succeed as a result of their education. I’m
really happy when a student receives a job offer and when a student passes the
national Certified Paralegal exam.
For more information on National Paralegal College, visit them online.
Thank you Mark for
sharing and participating with us, this concludes our interview!