Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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Program Overview
The Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate program will prepare you for highly responsible entry-level paralegal and other legal positions. This one-year technical diploma will provide you with basic competencies that include:
- 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 MATC's Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate program, you will be qualified for employment by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity to perform specifically designated 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.
Program Details
You may complete the Legal Studies/Paralegal program by taking online live and online classes. Evening classes typically run from 5:30 to 8:20 pm. Saturday and summer classes are also available.
Students in the Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate program can attend full or part time.
Paralegal classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:
- Madison - Truax
Legal Careers
Earning your technical diploma in Madison College's Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate program 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:
Resources
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Program Video
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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 first semesterFirst SemesterSecond 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
An official transcript must be sent from the institution you attended and indicate completion of a bachelor’s degree. College seniors may submit an in-progress transcript, but a college transcript that confirms a bachelor’s degree must be submitted to Madison College by the application deadline. Applicants who do not meet this deadline may have the option to transfer their application to the Legal Studies/Paralegal Associate Degree program.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 Post-Baccalaureate career.
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Career Outcomes
Madison College Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate 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 20 18 19 Number of Surveys Sent 19 18 19 Number of Surveys Returned 15 16 15 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 15 15 13 Percent Available for Employment 100.00% 93.80% 86.70% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.00% 6.30% 13.30% Available for Employment
2020 2021 2022 Graduates Employed 13 13 13 Percent of Graduates Employed 86.70% 86.70% 100.00% Employed in Related Occupation 8 11 12 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 61.50% 84.60% 92.30% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 5 2 1 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 38.50% 15.40% 7.70% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Seeking Employment 2 2 0 Percent Seeking Employment 13.30% 13.30% 0.00% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.5 3.6 3.9 Number of Satisfaction Responses 15 16 15 Very Satisfied (4) 7 10 13 Percent Very Satisfied 46.70% 62.50% 86.70% Satisfied (3) 8 6 2 Percent Satisfied 53.30% 37.50% 13.30% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Very Unsatisfed (1) 0 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Number of Primary Reason Responses 15 16 15 Preparation for Getting a Job 2 7 2 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 13.30% 43.80% 13.30% Career Change 9 5 5 Percent Career Change 60.00% 31.30% 33.30% Improvement of Existing Skills 2 1 6 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 13.30% 6.30% 40.00% Preparation for Further Education 2 1 2 Percent Preparation for Further Education 13.30% 6.30% 13.30% Personal Interest 0 2 0 Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 12.50% 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 12 13 13 Before Enrollment 3 2 2 Percent Before Enrollment 25.00% 15.40% 15.40% While Attending the College 2 0 4 Percent While Attending the College 16.70% 0.00% 30.80% After Training at the College 7 11 7 Percent After Training at the College 58.30% 84.60% 53.80% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2020 2021 2022 Number of Employment Location Responses 13 10 13 In College District 12 8 11 Percent In College District 92.30% 80.00% 84.60% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Outside of Wisconsin 1 2 2 Percent Outside Wisconsin 7.70% 20.00% 15.40% 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 6 10 12 Average Monthly Wage $3,339 $3,652 $4,140 Average Hourly Wage $19.41 $21.23 $24.07 Average Work Hours per Week 39.3 40 40 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 2 Average Hourly Wage $18.61 Average Work Hours per Week 23 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Army National Guard Paralegal DAIS Legal Advocate Dept of Transportation Paralegal Eastbridge Law Group LLP Paralegal Estate Law Partners Paralegal Foley and Lardner Assistant Francis Law Center Paralegal Murphy Desmond Law Legal Assistant Preti Flaherty Environmental Litigation Paralegal Portland ME Reinhart Boerner Van Dueren SC Legal Assistant Strang Law Paralegal Middleton Swift Currie Paralegal Atlanta GA * - 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