Paralegal
Program Number: 10-110-1
School Year: 2012-2013
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Campus: Fond du Lac, Shared With Lakeshore Technical College
Program Description
Paralegals work under the supervision of lawyers in a range of tasks–researching the law; investigating; preparing for hearings, trials and real estate closings; interviewing clients and witnesses; and preparing legal documents and other legal correspondence. Paralegals cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. If you are detail-oriented, organized, and strong in communications and enjoy researching and analyzing facts, you might find a career as a paralegal very rewarding.
Statewide Salary Range for Recent Graduates
$14,975 $74,874
Approximate Costs
- $111.85 per credit (resident)
- $167.80 per credit (out-of-state resident)
- *Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.
Program Outcomes
- Provide assistance to lawyers by performing specifically designated legal work in various fields of law.
- Analyze and solve legal procedural problems.
- Resolve ethical issues by applying legal rules of professional responsibility.
- Analyze and draft legal documents.
- Locate legal research material using both traditional and computerized techniques.
- Explain and use proper citation format.
- Generate work product using a variety of computer software typical in a modern law office.
- Apply substantive legal knowledge to solve legal problems.
- Locate facts and evidence through interviews and investigations.
Career Opportunities
- Paralegal or legal assistant in any of the following:
- Law Office
- Government Agencies and Departments
- Corporate Human Resources or Legal Department
- District Attorney's Office
- Insurance Company
- Title Company
- Trust Department of a Bank
- Legal Aid Office
- Public Defender's Office
- Legal Advocate
The admission process for a shared program should be completed at the host college granting the degree. Please submit the following to Lakeshore Technical College:
- College admission application
- $30 one-time fee
- High school and other official college transcripts
- College assessment test (ACCUPLACER, ACT or other). Note: The ACCUPLACER assessment can be taken at MPTC.
- Meet with a representative at the host college to review course sequencing.
- Check with the host college if any additional steps are required.
Courses
| Number | Title | Crds |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | ||
| MPTC Courses | ||
| 101-112 | Accounting 1 | 4 |
| - OR - | ||
| 101-155 | Accounting for Professionals (LTC) | 3 |
| 105-160 | Business Law | 3 |
| 801-195 | Written Communication | 3 |
| 801-196 | Oral and Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| 804-107 | College Mathematics | 3 |
| - OR - | ||
| 806-112 | Principles of Sustainability | 3 |
| 809-122 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| - OR - | ||
| 809-166 | Introduction to Ethics: Theory and Application | 3 |
| 809-195 | Economics | 3 |
| 809-196 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| 809-198 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Lakeshore Courses | ||
| 110-101 | Introduction to Paralegalism and Legal Ethics (Prerequisite to all specialty courses) | 3 |
| 110-130 | Real Estate Law — Paralegal* | 3 |
| 110-102 | Civil Litigation I | 3 |
| 110-104 | Legal Research | 3 |
| 110-106 | Family Law* | 3 |
| 110-103 | Civil Litigation II (Prerequisite is 110-102 Civil Litigation I) | 3 |
| 110-105 | Legal Writing (Prerequisite is 110-104 Legal Research) | 3 |
| 110-107 | Legal Aspect of Business Organizations | 3 |
| 110-114 | Administration of Estates* | 3 |
| 110-142 | Paralegal Internship | 2 |
| - OR - | ||
| 110-145 | Paralegal Studies (LTC) | 2 |
| 110-168 | Criminal Law-Paralegal * | 3 |
| 110-160 | Employment Law | 3 |
| 105-125 | Portfolio Introduction | 1 |
| 105-128 | Career Exploration - Paralegal | 2 |
| 110-179 | Portfolio Assessment - Paralegal | 1 |
| Total | 66 | |
Transfer Opportunities
Check out the Credit Transfers page for more information.
Additional Information
The following classes may be substituted for * courses:
- 110-115 Administrative Law - 3 credits
- 110-122 Debtor and Creditor Relations – 3 credits
- 101-123 Accounting Income Tax 1 – 4 credits
ABA-approved specialty courses that teach skills specific to Paralegals are bold faced. Student must take four of these courses face-to-face or IVC.