Printed on 3/28/2024

Legal Studies/Paralegal

10-110-1 Associate Degree (AAS) Part Time, Full Time 62 Credits Financial Aid Eligible Times of Day: Day, Evening Locations*: Appleton, Online

*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.

Become an essential member of the legal office team with a legal studies/paralegal degree. You'll work under the supervision of lawyers to draft and interpret legal documents; select, compile and use technical legal information; analyze and resolve legal procedural problems; and recognize and manage potential ethical conflicts. Your work will support and prepare attorneys with investigation, interviews and preparation, though paralegals cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. Courses cover legal research, legal technology and law office management. Industry professionals teach the procedures and the laws you need to function effectively in a law office or a related legal field. The program includes an internship where you will practice the knowledge and skills you gained in class.

COURSE LIST

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Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

    Technical Studies (44 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Business Law 1
    10-102-103
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10102103
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces legal principles and standard business law concepts and their implications for business. It emphasizes contracts, sales, commercial paper, bailment, agency and real property, with references to the Uniform Commercial Code and recent consumer legislation.

  • MS Word Introduction
    10-103-180
    1Credit
    36
    18

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10103180
    • Credits: 1.00

    Presents basic features of Microsoft Word. Learn how to create, edit, and save documents; format characters, paragraphs, pages, and documents; apply special features when formatting; and create a merged document.

  • MS Word Intermediate
    10-103-184
    1Credit
    36
    18
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 18
    • Course Number: 10103184
    • Credits: 1.00

    Presents intermediate features of Microsoft Word. Learn how to use styles and create multilevel lists and charts, use advanced table features and editing tools, build documents from reusable content, and revise documents using markup tools.

  • Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to
    10-110-100
    4Credit
    72
    144
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 144
    • Course Number: 10110100
    • Credits: 4.00

    Provides students with an introduction to the legal profession, court system, legal ethics, legal terminology, research, law office management concepts and procedures, and the role of paralegals.

  • Legal Research & Writing, Introduction
    10-110-115
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110115
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the application of legal research and writing techniques using traditional and computer-assisted resources and federal and state materials. Incorporates writing skills that cover various internal and external legal documents.

    Coreq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Accounting, Principles of
    10-101-107
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10101107
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces basic concepts and general principles of accounting to non-accounting students. Topics include financial statements, merchandising accounting for cash, inventory, payroll, budgeting and accounting software.

  • Law Office Management and Technology
    10-110-118
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10110118
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides students with the fundamentals of law office organization and technology. Topics include organization and utilization of support personnel, time and billing systems, budgets, case and file management, calendaring and docket control, and accounting systems in a law office. Students will demonstrate knowledge of these topics from an ethical perspective.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Civil Litigation Procedures
    10-110-151
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110151
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides students with outlines of the stages of civil litigation including initial client contact, investigation, pleadings, and motions. Covers the civil litigation procedure during discovery, trial, and appeal.

    Coreq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Business Law 2
    10-102-157
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10102157
    • Credits: 3.00

    Discusses employment, business organizations, ethics, social media and internet law, and insurance.

    Prereq: Business Law 1 (10102103)
  • Family Law
    10-110-106
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110106
    • Credits: 3.00

    Familiarizes the student with basic legal concepts involved in the area of family relations. Primary emphasis is in the field of divorce. Additional topics include children in need of protection and services, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, and court procedures relating to family law.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101 AND Legal Research & Writing, Intro 10110115
  • Administration of Estates
    10-110-114
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110114
    • Credits: 3.00

    An in-depth course dealing with wills, trusts, estates, and probate. Identifies techniques for fact gathering, income and death tax principles, use of trusts, probate, and administration of terms of wills.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Legal Research & Writing, Advanced
    10-110-117
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110117
    • Credits: 3.00

    Builds upon existing knowledge of legal research and writing techniques using traditional and computer-assisted resources and federal and state materials. Incorporates advanced writing skills that cover various internal and external legal documents.

    Prereq: Legal Research & Writing, Intro 10110115
  • Legal Aspects/Business Organizations
    10-110-107
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110107
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the formation, operations, and dissolution of types of business organizations, and substantive and procedural law involving business organizations.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Legal Studies Internship
    10-110-119
    2Credit
    144
    0
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10110119
    • Credits: 2.00

    Provides attorney-supervised work experience in a legal environment. Each student completes a minimum of 144 hours working as an intern. Course is designed for the student to take during the final semester of the program.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Employment Law for Legal Professionals
    10-110-160
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110160
    • Credits: 3.00

    Provides students with an understanding of the analysis of federal and state laws governing employment relationships, job discrimination, sexual harassment, workplace privacy, labor standards, and human resource management.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101
  • Criminal Procedures for Legal Professionals
    10-110-168
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110168
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focus is on substantive and procedural criminal law, the role of legal professionals in both the prosecution and defense of criminal actions, with emphasis on investigations and preparation of legal documents.

    Prereq: Legal Studies & Legal Ethics, Intro to 10110100 OR Intro to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics 10110101

    General Studies (15 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Written Communication
    10-801-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801195
    • Credits: 3.00

    Teaches the writing process which includes prewriting, drafting and revising. Through writing assignments, students analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Class sessions and assignments involve giving oral presentations and using computers.

    Prereq: HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL Read 54+/Sent 83+, Next Gen Read 250+/Sent 250+, ACT Read 18+/Engl 18+ OR Read Prep 10838105/Sent Prep 10831103 OR Not pursuing a degree
  • Oral/Interpersonal Comm
    10-801-196
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801196
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.

    Prereq: HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL Read 54+/Sent 83+, Next Gen Read 250+/Sent 237+, ACT Read 18+/Engl 15+ OR Read Prep 10838105/Sent Prep 74851745 OR not pursuing a degree
  • Intro to Sociology
    10-809-196
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809196
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the basic concepts of the intercultural discipline of sociology. Emphasis is placed on culture, socialization and social stratification. The course also looks at five institutions: family, politics, economics, religion and education. Additional topics include demography, deviance, technology, environmental social issues, and social change and organization.

    Prereq: HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL Read 54+/Sent 83+, Next Gen Read 250+/Sent 237+, ACT Read 18+/Engl 15+ OR Read Prep 10838105/Sent Prep 74851745 OR not pursuing a degree
  • Math w Business Apps
    10-804-123
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10804123
    • Credits: 3.00

    Covers real numbers, basic operations, linear equations, proportions with one variable, percents, simple interest, compound interest, annuities, applying math concepts to the purchasing/buying process, applying math concepts to the selling process, and basic statistics with business/consumer applications.

    Prereq: Arith – HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL 46+, Next Gen 250+, ACT Math 16+ OR Arith Prep 10834109 OR Not pursuing a degree
  • Intro to Psychology
    10-809-198
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809198
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the theoretical foundation of human functioning and looks at learning, motivation, emotions, personality, deviance and pathology, physiological factors and social influences. Students consider the complexities of human relationships in personal, social and vocational settings.

    Prereq: HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACPL Read 54+/Sent 83+, Next Gen Read 250+/Sent 237+, ACT Read 18+/Engl 15+ OR Read Prep 10838105/Sent Prep 74851745 OR not pursuing a degree

    Suggested Electives (3 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Real Estate Law
    10-110-110
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110110
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focus is on the law of real property, forms of ownership, land description methods, public and private encumbrances, real estate contracts, deeds, financing sources, title evidence, and the closing process.

  • Insurance Law for Legal Professionals
    10-110-111
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10110111
    • Credits: 3.00

    Study of laws and states regulation of insurance. Topics include the insurance contract, the role of insurance agents, insurable interest, insurer's defenses, forfeiture and exclusion of risk, election and waiver, no-fault statutes, and the various types of insurance.

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Expected Competencies


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