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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:
- 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 2024-2025 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 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is December 31, 2024
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 15, 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
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 B.S in Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S degrees and are admitted to the Human Services Leadership at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherThe terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherThis 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
Students witn an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.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.Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, 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.Bachelor of Science in Business Management and LeadershipOut-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.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.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 are guaranteed admission into Roosevelt University if they have a minimum GPA of 2.5, apply for admission, and meet Roosevelt's posted admission requirement deadlines. Up to 70 credit hours may transfer. -
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
2021 2022 2023 Number of Program Graduates 12 11 17 Number of Surveys Sent 12 11 17 Number of Surveys Returned 12 9 8 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 11 8 7 Percent Available for Employment 91.7% 88.9% 87.5% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 8.3% 11.1% 12.5% Available for Employment
2021 2022 2023 Graduates Employed 10 7 7 Percent of Graduates Employed 90.9% 87.5% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 8 7 4 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 80.0% 100.0% 57.1% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 2 0 2 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 20.0% 0.0% 28.6% Employed - No Response 0 0 1 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 14.3% Seeking Employment 1 1 0 Percent Seeking Employment 9.1% 12.5% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.7 3.4 3.8 Number of Satisfaction Responses 12 9 8 Very Satisfied (4) 8 5 6 Percent Very Satisfied 66.7% 55.6% 75.0% Satisfied (3) 4 3 2 Percent Satisfied 33.3% 33.3% 25.0% Unsatisfied (2) 0 1 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 11.1% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Number of Primary Reason Responses 12 9 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% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2021 2022 2023 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 10 7 6 Before Enrollment 3 0 1 Percent Before Enrollment 30.0% 0.0% 16.7% While Attending the College 1 1 3 Percent While Attending the College 10.0% 14.3% 50.0% After Training at the College 6 6 2 Percent After Training at the College 60.0% 85.7% 33.3% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2021 2022 2023 Number of Employment Location Responses 10 7 7 In College District 8 4 5 Percent In College District 80.0% 57.1% 71.4% In Wisconsin, Not in District 2 2 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 20.0% 28.6% 14.3% Outside of Wisconsin 0 1 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 14.3% 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 1 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 14.3% Salary Trend 2021 2022 2023 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 7 6 4 Average Monthly Wage $4,073 $3,693 $3,803 Average Hourly Wage $23.68 $21.47 $22.11 Average Work Hours per Week 42.1 40.0 39.3 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 1 Average Hourly Wage $16.50 $22.48 Average Work Hours per Week 25.0 20.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Francis Law Center Case Manager Paralegal Rural Insurance Legal Assistant Tracey Wood and Associates Paralegal Middleton Westmont Law Offices SC 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
