Program Description

The Legal Studies/Paralegal Associate Degree program prepares learners to draft and interpret legal documents; select, compile and use technical information; analyze and resolve legal procedural problems; and recognize and manage potential ethical conflicts. In addition, graduates of this program will be able to provide support and prepare attorneys for investigation and interviews.

Topics covered in this program include legal research, legal technology and law office management. This program includes a Paralegal internship where learners will practice the skills and knowledge gained in the program.

Please Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Approximate Program Cost

$10,321
Tuition & Fees: $9,880
Books & Supplies: $441

Starting Salary

$23,691–$51,924
Average, according to Economic Modeling Specialists International

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).

Available

100% Online

Please note: students need to take 9 credit hours of Legal Specialty Courses through synchronous education at NTC. These courses are available remotely and on campus.

An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
100%
at Antigo
100%
at Medford
100%
at Phillips
100%
at Spencer
100%
at Wittenberg
100%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Perform legal research
  • Examine rules of legal ethics and substantive and procedural law
  • Identify and analyze practical and theoretical legal issues and prepare legal documents
  • Utilize technology to prepare legal documents
  • Apply course content to an occupational learning experience

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Paralegal
  • Court Clerk
  • Legal Secretary
  • Litigation Support Analyst
  • Pro Bono Program Coordinator
  • Contracts Administrator

Courses

The Legal Studies/Paralegal Associate Degree is a 61 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

Transfer of legal specialty coursework credit is accepted, subject to review by the Program Coordinator for course compatibility, from another accredited paralegal program. Transfer is limited to a maximum of 12 credit hours of Legal Specialty Courses. All students need to take 9 credit hours of Legal Specialty Courses through synchronous education at NTC. These courses are available remotely and on campus.

First Term

Paralegal Intro/Legal Ethics 3.00
Legal Computer Applications 2.00
Oral/interpersonal Communication 3.00
Psychology Of Human Relations 3.00
Intro To Psychology 3.00
Contracts And Consumer Law 3.00
College 101 1.00

Second Term

Written Communication 3.00
English Composition 1 3.00
Civil Litigation 1 3.00
Math With Business Applications 3.00
Legal Research And Writing 3.00
Real Estate Law 3.00

Third Term

Estates And Probate 3.00
Intro To Ethics: Theory & App 3.00
Paralegal Criminal Law 3.00
Family Law 3.00
Law Office Administration 3.00

Fourth Term

Think Critically & Creatively 3.00
Paralegal Internship 2.00
Legal Aspects Of Business Organizations 2.00
Civil Litigation 2 / Torts 3.00
Legal Writing 3.00
Legal Ethics / Professionalism 3.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

School Name Degree Name
Purdue Global Bachelor of Legal Support and Services
University Of Maryland- Global Campus Bachelor of Legal Studies

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Cost of Attendance

2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semesters — Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $3,008 $9,147
Books / Supplies $1,465 $1,465
Transportation $4,017 $4,017
Personal Expenses $3,608 $3,608
Loan Fees $85 $85
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$17,027
Out-of-State
$19,310
In-State
$23,166
Out-of-State
$25,449

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Additional Information

Program Goals and Objectives

Program Goals

The overall program goal of the Northcentral Technical College Legal Studies/Paralegal Program is to prepare learners for careers as paralegals, allowing them to work under the supervision of lawyers in a variety of legal settings.

The goals of the program are to:

  • educate learners to become a valuable part of a legal team,
  • provide learners with practical legal education to enhance their employability,
  • educate learners on both the practical and theoretical aspects of the law,
  • provide the opportunity for learners to apply their education in real world applications,
  • work with the institution and the learners to expand the available pool of educated paralegals in the community, and
  • help meet the goals of those desiring further education by providing courses that may be transferred to other institutions and applied toward a four-year degree.

Program Objectives

The program objectives are:

  1. Apply ethical principles in a legal environment.
  2. Process legal documents.
  3. Perform legal research.
  4. Synthesize various sources into a supportable legal conclusion.
  5. Demonstrate professionalism as a member of a legal team.

Licensure/Certification Information

NTC’s Paralegal Associate Degree is designed to meet education requirement for the Wisconsin Bar Association’s optional “State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal” certification program. Students should contact the Wisconsin Bar Association website for more details. However, NTC has not made a determination whether this program meets licensure/certification requirements in states other than Wisconsin. Students who may be seeking professional licensure or certification in states other than Wisconsin should contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to verify that the NTC program meets licensure or certification requirements.

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.