Wisconsin yields much of its economic strength from its insurance, manufacturing, and agricultural industries, and many of the companies headquartered here are major national players. In fact, eight Wisconsin companies made the Fortune 500 list in 2020, including big names like Northwestern Mutual, Kohl’s, and ManpowerGroup. Paralegal jobs in Wisconsin, which totaled about 4,320 in May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are found in the legal departments of major corporations like these, as well as in law firms, nonprofits, and governmental agencies.
As of May 2020, the average paralegal salary in Wisconsin was $50,950, or $24.49 per hour. The top-paid paralegals here (top 10%) earned more than $72,220 during this time.
Wisconsin Paralegal Certification
There is no mandatory licensing of paralegals in Wisconsin. In 2008, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied the State Bar’s paralegal petition designed to establish licensing and regulation for paralegals. There is an ongoing effort to revise and re-submit this petition.
Where to Earn Your Paralegal Certificate or Degree in Wisconsin
Paralegal Certificates
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College‘s paralegal post-baccalaureate certificate is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking to enter the paralegal profession, or increase their knowledge and skills so that they can compete for better jobs. This two-semester program includes course work in substantive and procedural law, legal research and writing and computer technology as it relates to the legal environment, and is offered at both the Truax Campus and the West Madison Campus.
- Estimated Program Cost: $3,666 for state residents; $5,499 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per credit tuition)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree or higher
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Sample required courses:
- Legal Research
- Family Law
- Administrative Law
- Civil Litigation 1 & 2
- Career Building Techniques – Paralegal
- Computer Applications – Legal
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) serves approximately 42,000 students each year. This two-year public institution offers affordable educational programs, as well as advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities. NWTC’s paralegal post-baccalaureate certificate program prepares graduates to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, work collaboratively while showing individual initiative, use critical thinking skills, organize legal information and perform effective and efficient legal research using both traditional and computerized techniques.
- Estimated Program Cost: $2,841 for Wisconsin residents & Minnesota residents who are full-time students; $4,124 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree or higher
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Sample required courses:
- Civil Litigation 1 & 2
- Indian Law
- Legal Aspects/Business Org
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Paralegal Criminal Procedure
Paralegal Associate Degrees
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Located in Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is part of Wisconsin’s Technical College System. Its paralegal associate degree program is taught by a faculty of experienced attorneys and paralegals. Students take courses in both liberal arts and numerous aspect of law, with an emphasis on understanding and reasoning rather than learning by rote. They also take part in an internship or field study to give them hands-on experience.
- Estimated Program Cost: $8,065 for Wisconsin and Minnesota residents; $12,098 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma, GED, High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) or completion of a home school program; entrance assessment such as COMPASS or ACT
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Lakeshore Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) offers a relatively affordable paralegal Associate of Applied Science at both its main campus in Cleveland and at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) via live interactive television. This intensive, hands-on course of study requires that students be available in the afternoons and evenings Monday through Friday. Student learn to analyze legal procedural problems, draft legal documents, conduct legal research, behave professionally and act ethically.
- Estimated Program Cost: $8712 for state residents; $13,068 for out-of-state students (based 2013 per-credit tuition)
- Prerequisties: High school diploma; placement exam
- ABA Approved: Yes
- Format: On campus
Sample required courses:
- Business Law
- Civil Litigation 1 & 2
- Legal Aspects of Business Organizations
- Personal Branding – Paralegal
- Introduction to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics
Paralegal Bachelor’s Degrees
Herzing University in Madison
Herzing University offers a nine-semester Bachelor of Science in legal studies program at its Madison campus. This course of study prepares graduates to take the Certified Paralegal examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Students learn how to assist attorneys by helping to preparing legal arguments, drafting pleadings and motions, preparing case reports and investigating the facts of cases.
- Estimated Program Cost: $53,000 (based on 2013 per-semester tuition)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma, GED or HSED
- ABA Approved: No
- Format: On campus or online
Additional Paralegal Educational Programs
Bryant and Stratton College – Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Degree Offered: Associate of Applied Science
Herzing University Madison Campus
Madison, Wisconsin
Degrees Offered: Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science
Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland, Wisconsin
Degree Offered: certificate
Madison Area Technical College (West Madison Campus and Traux Campus)
Madison, Wisconsin
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Degrees Offered: Associate in Applied Science, certificate
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Degree Offered: associate degree
Rasmussen College-Wisconsin (Appleton Campus, Green Bay Campus and Wausau Campus)
Appleton, Wisconsin; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Wausau, Wisconsin
Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science, certificate
Western Technical College in La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Degree Offered: Associate in Applied Science
Professional Organizations
- The Madison Area Paralegal Association (MAPA) is a group of paralegals, legal professionals and students who live and work in Madison and surrounding areas. It offers Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits through its Lunch & Learn programs, as well as scholarship programs, mock interview programs, student receptions and a mentoring program for new graduates.
- The Paralegal Association of Wisconsin (PAW) promotes the paralegal profession, encourages training, conducts educational seminars, provides forums for discussions, publishes information related to paralegals and the legal system and facilitates networking opportunities. PAW has been working with the State Bar of Wisconsin, paralegal educators, government liaisons and others to develop a regulatory plan for mandatory licensing of paralegals in Wisconsin.
- The State Bar of Wisconsin was created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and membership in it is mandatory for all attorneys licensed in the state. It serves members through continuing education, attorney referrals and public education.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and job market trends for paralegals reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2022.