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If you’d like to learn more about the Legal Studies/Paralegal program, we’d love to talk with you.
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Financial Aid Available-
Program Overview
The two-year associate degree Legal Studies/Paralegal program will prepare you for highly responsible entry-level paralegal and other legal positions. You will take courses that provide you with basic competencies, including:
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Oral, written, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Computer skills
- Ethics
The subjects you will cover in the core coursework include:
- Ethics
- Substantive and procedural law
- The American legal system
- Delivery of legal services
- Law offices and related environments
- The paralegal profession
- Legal research and writing
- Law-related computer skills
- Legal interviewing and investigation
You must complete at least 9 credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses in person, online live or classroom live.
Upon completion of Madison College's Legal Studies/Paralegal program, you will be qualified for employment by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity to perform designated and substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Please note that paralegals may not provide legal services to the public, except as permitted by law.
Legal Studies Program Details
The Legal Studies/Paralegal program will prepare you for a good job and with the associate degree, you can transfer to another college to earn your bachelor’s degree. Increase your earning potential with credentials that keep you moving on your own career path.
You may complete the Legal Studies/Paralegal program by taking online and online live classes. Evening classes typically run from 5:30 to 8:20 pm. Saturday and summer classes are also offered.
Students in the Legal Studies/Paralegal program can attend full- or part-time.
Legal Studies/Paralegal classes may be offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Legal Careers
Earning your Legal Studies/Paralegal associate degree at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as a:
- Case Administration Specialist
- Compliance Officer
- Contract Administrator
- Conveyance Examiner
- Corporation Paralegal
- Disability Claims Specialist
- Law Office Manager
- Law Office Paralegal
- Legal Aid Office Paralegal
- Licensing Manager
- Plan Intake Coordinator
- Public/Government Paralegal
- Real Estate Paralegal
- Trust Department Paralegal
- Victim/Witness Advocate
If you're interested in a career in Paralegal or related law field, you'll want to look closely at career data:
- United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics - Paralegal
Local Professional Organizations that offer student and professional memberships:
Paralegal Resources
Connect With Us on Facebook
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2026-2027 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Prior to start of programFirst SemesterChoose one of the following two courses:Second SemesterChoose one of the following two courses:Third SemesterChoose one of the following two courses:Fourth SemesterChoose one of the following two courses:Choose one of the following two courses: -
Admission
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College, or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and then complete the International Admission Process.
Apply Now – Secure Your Spot on the Waiting List!
This program operates on a waiting list. To be eligible to enroll in program classes, students must first complete academic preparedness requirements and go through the declaration process.
Before submitting an application, be sure to:
- Review the Waiting List section
- Review the admission requirements for deadlines, materials, and requirements
- Estimated Wait Time: To be determined
- Program Capacity: 60 spots each Fall semester; 40 spots each Spring semester. It shares this capacity with other programs that have a similar curriculum.
- This program admits students for core classes in the Fall and Spring semesters only. Students may apply and work on academic preparedness requirements in the Summer semester.
Need help? Learn more about the Madison College experience and get support with your application.
Start your application today and take the next step toward your career goals!
Application Dates
Summer 2026
- Application open
- Application deadline is May 15, 2026
Fall 2026
- Application open
- Application deadline is August 15, 2026
Spring 2027
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is December 31, 2026
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
- High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED completion
- College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
- Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission requirements, academic preparedness requirements, and complete the declaration process. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Legal Studies/Paralegal career.
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Waiting List
Beginning Fall 2026
This program uses a waiting list to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program. A waiting list helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.
This program has academic preparedness requirements that must be completed before beginning core classes. When you’ve completed all academic preparedness requirements, you will complete the declaration process.
Pre-core students can run their Degree Progress Report to confirm which pre-program requirements are satisfied/not satisfied and view specific ways to satisfy requirements.
Prerequisites:
- Reading and Writing (testing, college coursework)
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
This program-to-program articulation agreement between UW-W and Madison College allows students to be awarded up to 60 credits toward the Legal Studies B.S. or B.A. after successful completion of the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)-Legal Studies/Paralegal at Madison College and declaring the Legal Studies major at time of admission/upon transfer to UW-W.Wisconsin Private Schools
Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2018, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.Out-of-State Schools
Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
Madison College Legal Studies/Paralegal Program graduates are prepared to:
- Apply ethical principles in a legal environment.
- Process legal documents.
- Perform legal research.
- Demonstrate professionalism as a member of a legal team.
- Synthesize various sources into a supportive legal conclusion. .
Madison Area Technical College offers the only ABA-approved Paralegal Program in our District.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2023 2024 2025 Number of Program Graduates 17 22 12 Number of Surveys Sent 17 22 12 Number of Surveys Returned 8 14 8 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 7 11 6 Percent Available for Employment 87.5% 78.6% 75.0% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 12.5% 21.4% 25.0% Available for Employment
2023 2024 2025 Graduates Employed 7 11 6 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 4 9 4 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 57.1% 81.8% 66.7% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 2 2 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 28.6% 18.2% 33.3% Employed - No Response 1 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 14.3% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 0 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.8 3.5 4 Number of Satisfaction Responses 8 14 8 Very Satisfied (4) 6 11 8 Percent Very Satisfied 75.0% 78.6% 100.0% Satisfied (3) 2 1 0 Percent Satisfied 25.0% 7.1% 0.0% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 14.3% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2023 2024 2025 Number of Primary Reason Responses 8 14 8 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 7.1% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2023 2024 2025 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 6 11 6 Before Enrollment 1 1 1 Percent Before Enrollment 16.7% 9.1% 16.7% While Attending the College 3 7 4 Percent While Attending the College 50.0% 63.6% 66.7% After Training at the College 2 3 1 Percent After Training at the College 33.3% 27.3% 16.7% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2023 2024 2025 Number of Employment Location Responses 7 11 6 In College District 5 5 4 Percent In College District 71.4% 45.5% 66.7% In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 3 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 14.3% 27.3% 16.7% Outside of Wisconsin 0 3 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 27.3% 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 1 0 1 Percent Location Unknown 14.3% 0.0% 16.7% Salary Trend 2023 2024 2025 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 4 6 2 Average Monthly Wage $3,803 $3,897 $4,376 Average Hourly Wage $22.11 $22.66 $25.44 Average Work Hours per Week 39.3 39.3 38.3 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 3 1 Average Hourly Wage $19.33 $23.00 Average Work Hours per Week 21.7 30.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2025 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Centro Hispano of Dane County Immigration Peer Support Laffey, Sebranek, Auby & Ristau, SC Paralegal Sun Prairie Wisconsin Institute For Law & Liberty Paralegal Milwaukee * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
