Legal Studies/Paralegal
- Associate Degree
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An exciting and challenging career awaits you in a growing field. As a paralegal, you will be involved in all facets of the law while working under the direction of a licensed attorney. A successful paralegal is a good communicator, enjoys working with diverse populations, pays attention to details, is a strong problem solver, and is ethical.
This program is an ABA (American Bar Association) approved program. The current ABA definition of a Legal Assistant/Paralegal is 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. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
This program covers all aspects of law: criminal, family, real estate, civil, and probate. Our graduates find employment in private practice, corporate legal departments, and government entities. Courses are offered in person during the day, fully online, or a blend of the two formats.
*Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.
Program Outcomes
- Living responsibly
- Refining professionalism
- Cultivating passion
- Apply ethical principles in a legal environment
- Process legal documents
- Perform legal research
- Apply critical thinking skills to address legal issues
- Demonstrate professionalism in a legal environment
Admission Requirements:
College Requirements
Application:
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 [1].
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 [2].
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 [3] or call 608-785-9198.
For additional specifications, please review Technology and Software Recommendations for Most Classes [4] on Western’s IT Knowledgebase.
Career Pathways:
Legal Studies/Paralegal
Prior Learning:
Previous education and work experience could qualify for Credit for Prior Learning, saving you time and money. Find out more [5] about what may apply to this program.
Certificates:
Associate Degree:
Courses
The following list is not the official course list for this program. It is intended to give students an idea of what coursework will be required.
Current students should use the MyWestern [6] self-service portal when registering for class.