Legal Studies/Paralegal

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Associate Degree

Program Number:

101101

Credits:

61.00

Financial Aid Eligible

Typical Start:

Fall

A promising and challenging career awaits you in a career field that continues to grow. Becoming a paralegal will immerse you in all facets of the law while working under the direction of a licensed attorney. To excel in this role, a paralegal must possess strong communication skills, enjoy collaborating with diverse individuals, demonstrate attention to detail, excel in problem-solving, and uphold ethical standards.

Western's program is proudly approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). According to the ABA, a Legal Assistant/Paralegal is defined as follows:

"A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible."

Our program covers all aspects of legal domains, including criminal, family, real estate, civil, and probate law. Graduates find careers in various sectors, including private practice, corporate legal departments, and government entities.

ABA Approved Paralegal Program

*Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Explore Courses

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Estimated Program Costs

Graduation Employment Stats

	Part Time	Full Time
Responding	1	3
Average Hours Per Week	20	40
Average Hourly Wage	$20.00	$20.06
Hourly Wage Range	$20.00	$18.00-$22.13
Average Annual Salary		$35,360

Program Outcomes

Living responsibly
Refining professionalism
Cultivating passion

Apply ethical principles in a legal environment
Process legal documents
Perform legal research
Synthesize various sources into a supportable legal conclusion
Demonstrate professionalism as a member of a legal team

Admission Requirements

College Requirements

Application

$30 Application Fee

Software and Technology

This program requires specific software and technology to complete classwork. Click here to see the list of items you will need for your courses.

If you do not have access to the items listed for your program, or if the items you have do not meet the requirements, resources may be available. Submit a Student Resource Request using our online form.

Internet access is required to access student accounts from off campus. The Learning Commons can provide information on free, off-campus Wi-Fi spots. Contact them at LearningCommons@westerntc.edu or call 608-785-9198.

For additional specifications, please review Technology and Software Recommendations for Most Classes on Western’s IT Knowledgebase.

Accreditation

The Paralegal Program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is also a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

American Bar Association
541 North Fairbanks Ct.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-988-5617

Additional Information

Transfer Policy for the Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

Legal Studies Paralegal Program(s) will not accept legal specialty credits by examination. Credit for prior learning portfolios must be approved by the Program Director.

The program will accept legal specialty credits by transfer as authorized by the program director, or a qualified faculty member approved by the program director. The program director will review each proposed transfer legal specialty course to ensure it meets the following criteria:

The course can appropriately be classified as a legal specialty course.
The course meets the course objectives for an existing paralegal program legal specialty course in our program.
The course is comparable to an existing paralegal program legal specialty course in our program.
The course requires a similar set of practical skills for an existing paralegal program legal specialty course in our program.

Note: Courses that focus on the laws of states other than Wisconsin will not meet these requirements.

A student may transfer no more than 50% of the legal specialty courses taken within the past seven years. If courses are accepted for transfer, the student must still meet the minimum nine credit traditional instruction requirement as required by the American Bar Association.

Transfer Agreements

Viterbo University

Website

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Winona State University

Website

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Career Pathways

This program is part of a career pathway, a laddered approach to career education. It allows you to earn employer-recognized credentials that lead to job and career advancement.