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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:
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 2025-2026 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 Semester -
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
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 15, 2025
Spring 2026
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is December 31, 2025
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.In-progress students who anticipate completing their bachelor’s degree before the admit term but will not be able to provide their final transcript by the application deadline may be admitted based on anticipated graduation. Applicants must submit transcripts with 120 or more credits.
After submitting transcripts, monitor your To Do List for instructions on how to contact the Program Director to discuss your status in the program. This additional step must be completed by the application deadline.
- Fall: August 15th
- Spring: December 31
If admitted based on an anticipated graduation, final transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree must be received by the following deadline based on the term you applied for:
- Fall: August 31
- Spring: January 15
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
2022 2023 2024 Number of Program Graduates 19 26 22 Number of Surveys Sent 19 26 22 Number of Surveys Returned 15 14 18 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 13 13 17 Percent Available for Employment 86.7% 92.9% 94.4% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 13.3% 7.1% 5.6% Available for Employment
2022 2023 2024 Graduates Employed 13 10 16 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 76.9% 94.1% Employed in Related Occupation 12 10 11 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 92.3% 100.0% 68.8% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 1 0 5 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 7.7% 0.0% 31.3% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 3 1 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 23.1% 5.9% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2022 2023 2024 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.9 3.9 3.8 Number of Satisfaction Responses 15 14 18 Very Satisfied (4) 13 12 14 Percent Very Satisfied 86.7% 85.7% 77.8% Satisfied (3) 2 2 4 Percent Satisfied 13.3% 14.3% 22.2% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2022 2023 2024 Number of Primary Reason Responses 15 14 18 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% 0.0% 5.6% When Employment was Obtained
2022 2023 2024 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 13 10 16 Before Enrollment 2 0 5 Percent Before Enrollment 15.4% 0.0% 31.3% While Attending the College 4 5 5 Percent While Attending the College 30.8% 50.0% 31.3% After Training at the College 7 5 6 Percent After Training at the College 53.8% 50.0% 37.5% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2022 2023 2024 Number of Employment Location Responses 13 10 16 In College District 11 8 10 Percent In College District 84.6% 80.0% 62.5% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 2 5 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.0% 20.0% 31.3% Outside of Wisconsin 2 0 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 15.4% 0.0% 6.3% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2022 2023 2024 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 12 10 9 Average Monthly Wage $4,140 $3,697 $4,388 Average Hourly Wage $24.07 $21.49 $25.51 Average Work Hours per Week 40.0 42.9 40.1 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 2 Average Hourly Wage $18.00 Average Work Hours per Week 15.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions City of Madison Police Dept Records Service Clerk Collins Law Office Remote Paralegal Pewaukee Collins Law Office Estate Planning Paralegal Wauwatosa Foley and Lardner Legal Assistant Hale Skemp Hanson Skemp & Sleik Legal Assistant La Crosse Office of Lawyer Regulation Program Associate Quarles & Brady Legal Assistant Smiley Law Office Legal Assistant/Paralegal Portage Strang Law Paralegal Middleton Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Law Firm Paralegal Milwaukee Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office Public Defender Investigator Portage * - 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
In as little as a year, you could be working in a legal related job or know you want to go to law school.
Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate
Program Number: 311101
Your Degree:
Technical Diploma
Area of Study:
Law, Protective and Human Services
Delivery Method:
100% Online
Some Online/Some In Person
Estimated Time to Complete:
30 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 year
Estimated Program Cost
$5,042.20
Financial Aid
Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.