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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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Program Transfers
Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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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:
- National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Job Analysis Report
- Paralegal Association of Wisconsin (PAW) Salary Survey Summary
- United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics - Paralegal
Local Professional Organizations that offer student and professional memberships:
Paralegal Resources
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2023-2024 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 SemesterThird SemesterFourth SemesterOther Program-Related Courses -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.
Application Dates
Spring 2024
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is December 31, 2023
Fall 2024
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 15, 2024
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
Official transcripts must be sent from the institutions you attended and indicate one of the following:
- High school transcript (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED transcript
- College transcript(s) 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
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
- Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
- Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
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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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete an associates of applied science degree and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis of the Leadership and Organizational Studies at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The terms of the Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who have complete an associates of applied science degree and have been admitted to the Human Services Leadership degree at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.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 the time of admission/upon transfer to UW-W.Wisconsin Private Schools
A student who completes an associate of arts, associate of science or associates of applied science is considered part of the ‘advanced core‘. The Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 64 credits of transfer. If students transfer prior to completion or with less than 64 credits they will be considered part of the standard core and credits will be evaluated on a course by course basis.Students will be granted admission to a bachelors degree program upon completion of an approved transfer program at Madison College. Students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater while at Madison College. Regardless of the number of credits transferred students must complete at least 25% of their baccalaureate degree credits at Herzing University University.Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Any Madison College student who has successfully completed an associate degree in applied science after 2015, and meets admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Technical Sales at MSOE by successfully completing the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Business Administration program. --- In particular, any Madison College student who successfully completes all technical courses and general education courses in their AAS program with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; successfully completes all other specified courses, as defined in this transfer agreement, with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; and meets the MSOE admission requirements for transfer students into the BBA Program at MSOE, minimum 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from the last regionally accredited school will be admitted into the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at MSOE.Students who complete the paralegal program can transfer up to 60 credits toward the Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership offered through the College of Adult and Graduate Studies.Out-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement. This applies to students who are pursuing a bachelors of arts, bachelors of science or bachelors of fine arts at Bellevue University.Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring. Articulation agreement is for students who graduate from appropriate program and wish to pursue one of the following degrees at Capella: Bachelor of Science in Business specializations, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety specializations, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (must hold a valid RN license) and Bachelor of Science in Psychology.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.Students who complete the Paralegal degree from Madison college will be guaranteed admission into Roosevelt University if they (1) have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (2) apply for admission and (3) meeting Roosevelt's posted admission requirement deadlines. Transfer students may transfer up to 70 credit hours form an accredited two-year institution. -
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
2020 2021 2022 Number of Program Graduates 10 12 11 Number of Surveys Sent 10 12 11 Number of Surveys Returned 7 12 9 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 7 11 8 Percent Available for Employment 100.00% 91.70% 88.90% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.00% 8.30% 11.10% Available for Employment
2020 2021 2022 Graduates Employed 5 10 7 Percent of Graduates Employed 71.40% 90.90% 87.50% Employed in Related Occupation 5 8 7 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.00% 80.00% 100.00% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 2 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Seeking Employment 2 1 1 Percent Seeking Employment 28.60% 9.10% 12.50% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.4 3.7 3.4 Number of Satisfaction Responses 7 12 9 Very Satisfied (4) 5 8 5 Percent Very Satisfied 71.40% 66.70% 55.60% Satisfied (3) 1 4 3 Percent Satisfied 14.30% 33.30% 33.30% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 1 Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 11.10% Very Unsatisfed (1) 1 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 14.30% 0.00% 0.00% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Number of Primary Reason Responses 7 12 9 Preparation for Getting a Job 2 4 5 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 28.60% 33.30% 55.60% Career Change 2 2 3 Percent Career Change 28.60% 16.70% 33.30% Improvement of Existing Skills 2 3 0 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 28.60% 25.00% 0.00% Preparation for Further Education 1 3 1 Percent Preparation for Further Education 14.30% 25.00% 11.10% Personal Interest 0 0 0 Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Other 0 0 0 Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% When Employment was Obtained
2020 2021 2022 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 5 10 7 Before Enrollment 2 3 0 Percent Before Enrollment 40.00% 30.00% 0.00% While Attending the College 2 1 1 Percent While Attending the College 40.00% 10.00% 14.30% After Training at the College 1 6 6 Percent After Training at the College 20.00% 60.00% 85.70% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2020 2021 2022 Number of Employment Location Responses 4 8 5 In College District 4 8 4 Percent In College District 100.00% 100.00% 80.00% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 20.00% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Salary Trend 2020 2021 2022 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 5 7 6 Average Monthly Wage $3,034 $4,073 $3,693 Average Hourly Wage $17.64 $23.68 $21.47 Average Work Hours per Week 40 42.1 40 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 1 Average Hourly Wage $16.50 $22.48 Average Work Hours per Week 25 20 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Dept of Children and Families Executive Staff Assistant Dept of Justice Operations Program Associate Lori E. Welch Paralegal Statesboro GA QBE Insurance Paralegal Sun Prairie Rock County Reimbursement Case Specialist Janesville Stroud, Willink & Howard Paralegal * - 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
