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Associate Degree

Legal Studies/Paralegal

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Legal Studies/Paralegal Overview

Interested in a career in law? CVTC’s Legal Studies/Paralegal program is the perfect start to finding a job in this fast-paced, rewarding field.

Our two-year, flexible, associate degree led by CVTC’s experienced instructors will help you explore a wide variety of legal disciplines, including criminal, family, immigration, employment, real estate, and administrative law.

Learn to research, write, and draft legal documents to assist attorneys in the courtroom during hands-on in-class experiences and an internship at an area law office or legal department. 
Your degree can lead to job opportunities working with lawyers in governmental agencies and private firms in many different specialty areas.

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CVTC’s Legal Studies/Paralegal program has been training students for five decades and is the only program in Northwestern Wisconsin approved by the American Bar Association. Waiting to start your future? Overruled! Apply today and start as soon as this fall!

In CVTC’s Legal Studies/Paralegal program, you will learn to:

  • Investigate facts of a legal case
  • Research legal issues
  • Perform case management tasks
  • Prepare legal documents
  • Assist attorneys in courtroom trials and hearings

You will gain the following skills:

  • Legal writing
  • Preparing for hearings and trial
  • Legal research

Please note that paralegals cannot give legal advice, represent clients in court, or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law. The practice of law by non-attorneys is strictly prohibited by law.

* Please Note: Some course work offered through synchronous online learning in a fully online program. Program students must take a minimum of nine-semester credits of legal specialty coursework through remote synchronous instruction

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Join Us for the Fall Open House!

Thursday, November 7, 2024  //  3:30 – 7 p.m.  //  View Event Details

Earn credit for prior learning! Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning.

Explore This Program

Just the Facts

Legal Studies/Paralegal
63 Credit Associate Degree

Program Length
Two Years

Delivery Method
Online

Program Location
Online

Start Months
August

 

Financial Aid Eligible

 

Non-Traditional Occupation

Estimated Program Cost 

Learn more about the cost of attendance.

Term 1

$

2,469

Term 2

$

2,469

Term 3

$

2,469

Term 4

$

2,964

Books

$

843

 What are estimated program costs? Estimated Total: $11,214

Program Courses Admission Information I'm Ready to Apply

Career Opportunities

Judicial Assistant

Legal Assistant

Legal Specialist

Legal Secretary

Paralegal

Graduate Employers

Eau Claire County

Otto Family Law, S.D.

CORRE, Inc.

State Public Defender's Office

Bakke Norman, S.C.

Jennifer Heinz Law, LLC

Program Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking several questions related to employment. Here are the program outcomes and job data.

// Program Scorecard
 

$42K Yearly Salary

Our recent Legal Studies/Paralegal graduates reported an average starting salary of $42,118.

 

80% Employed

80% of our recent Legal Studies/Paralegal graduates got a job in the industry.

 

53 Regional Jobs

There are 53 job openings in the CVTC district for the Legal Studies/Paralegal industry.

Transfer

Credits to Other Institutions

Should you choose to continue your education after you leave CVTC, we have agreements in place with several institutions to ensure an easy transfer.

View Transfer Options

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you will take in this program. Courses and the recommended sequence change from year to year; once you are enrolled in a program at CVTC you will be given a recommended course sequence that outlines what courses you should take and the order in which to take them.

You may search for available courses. If you are ever unsure of what courses to take, talk to your academic advisor. If you are looking for course information for previous years, check out our past catalogs.

Here are a few of the courses you can take in the Legal Studies/Paralegal program.

Sample Courses

Family Law
Basic legal concepts in the area of family relations, including premarital agreements, parental rights, and divorce.

Legal Writing
An advanced writing course concentrating on legal correspondence, forms, memoranda, and briefs.

Legal Aspects of Business Organizations
Legal aspects involved in the formation, operation, and dissolution of the principal types of business organizations.

View Full Course List

Request More Information

Please provide your contact information and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you ASAP with more information about this program.

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Your future is waiting…Are you ready to get started?

Apply Now

My time at CVTC was great. Instructors took a genuine interest in their students not only in the classroom, but also in their future place of employment. I'm thankful that I chose the CVTC Paralegal Program to further my education.

Legal Studies/Paralegal Graduate

Related Programs & Certificates

Whether you're looking to continue your learning to another program or to gain continuing education credit, CVTC offers a variety of learning opportunities for students.

Degrees & Diplomas

Criminal Justice, Associate Degree

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Academy, Technical Diploma

Legal Studies/Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate, Technical Diploma

Certificates

Technical Writing

Continue Your Learning

CVTC can help you achieve your learning goals whether you are looking to advance your career or enrich your personal life.

// Explore Continuing Ed Opportunities

  Unsure of which program you'd like to go into? Learn more about our Career Assessment to help narrow down your options.

Additional Admissions Resources

Admission Requirements

Each program requires specific requirements a student must meet to be considered for admissions to this program.

// View Admission Requirements

Advising Tips

We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.

// View Advising Tips

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