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American bar association (ABA) APPROVED 

LEGAL STUDIES/Paralegal Education
in Wisconsin



Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

620 West Clairmont Avenue

Eau Claire, WI 54701

Director: Mark Barker

Telephone: 715.833.6355

Fax: 715.833.6470

e-mail: mbarker4@cvtc.edu


Type of Institution: Public

Degrees Offered: Associate Degree (2yr); Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma (1yr)

Internships: Mandatory



Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

700 West State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Director: Michael Sujecki

Telephone: 414.456.5508
Fax: 414.456.5437
e-mail: SujeckiM@matc.edu

Type of Institution:  Public

Degrees Offered: Associate Degree (2yr); Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma (1yr)

Internships: Mandatory




Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

2740 West Mason Street
P.O. Box 19042

Green Bay, WI 54307-9042
Director: Beth Pless & Anne Oestreicher 

Telephone: 920.498.6306
Fax: 920.498.6811
e-mail: Beth.Pless@nwtc.edu or Anne.Oestreicher@nwtc.edu

Type of Institution: Public

Degrees Offered: Associate Degree (2yr); Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma (1yr)
Internships: Mandatory


Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

1290 North Avenue

Cleveland, WI 53015-9761

Director: Donna Meiselwitz

Telephone: 920.693.1202

Fax: 920.693.8515

e-mail: donna.meiselwitz@gotoltc.edu


Type of Institution: Public
Degrees Offered: Associate Degree (2yr); Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma (1yr)

Internships: Mandatory


Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

1701 Wright Street
Madison, WI 53704
Director: Christopher Shattuck 

Telephone: 608.246.6520

Fax: 608.246.6948
e-mail: cshattuck@madisoncollege.edu

Type of Institution: Public, 2-year
Degrees Offered: Associate Degree; Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma

Internships: Mandatory




Legal Studies/Paralegal Program

304 Sixth Street N
P.O. Box C-0908

La Crosse, WI 54602-0908

Director: Wendie L. Witzke
Telephone: 608.789.6122
Fax: 608.785.9205
e-mail: witzkew@westerntc.edu

Type of Institution: Public

Degrees Offered: Associate Degree (2yr); Post-Bachelor Technical Diploma (1yr)

Internships: Mandatory

Legal Studies/Paralegal Program



State bar of wisconsin 

certified paralegal (SBWCP)


In 2018, the State Bar of Wisconsin launched a voluntary certification program for paralegals.  In the following three years, nearly 300 paralegals have received the SBWCP designation.

*CHANGE TO RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS*

The total number of continuing legal education (CLE) credits required has increased from 12 to 15 (including 3 ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits). Certifications up for renewal on July 1, 2024, will require 15 CLE credits (included 3 ethics credits) by that date. Please see the Recertification Process page for additional information. (Posted 8/17/2023.)

To maintain the SBWCP certification, paralegals must obtain 15 continuing legal education (CLE) credits, including 3 credits of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (EPR) every biennium ending June 30.  The webinars provided by the Paralegal Association of Wisconsin qualify as CLE for SBWCP renewal purposes.  Also, the Paralegal Association of Wisconsin, Inc.'s Annual Seminar provides 6 CLE (including 1 EPR) credits.

To become a State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal, all paralegal applicants must:

  • Be employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, or agency

  • Be directly supervised by a Wisconsin-licensed lawyer

  • Consent to a criminal history background check

  • Meet the program’s education OR experience requirements

The complete Rules Governing Certification can be found here. 

Find the Application for SBWCP here. 


Education Requirements

Applicants must have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a qualified paralegal studies program at one of the above institutions or any other institution:

    • Sanctioned by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board or the U.W. Board of Regents
    • Approved by the American Bar Association House of Delegates
       OR
    • That is a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education
       AND
    • That teaches Wisconsin-based substantive and procedural law content as required by the State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal program
    If you have not graduated from a paralegal studies program, you may be eligible if you have:
    • An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any discipline from any post-secondary educational institution that is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education
    • AND

    • Not less than 18 semester credits of coursework offered by a qualified paralegal studies program with a minimum grade of “C” in each course, any portion of which may be a part of or in addition to the credits earned toward the foregoing degree in the following areas:
      • Three semester credits in legal research
      • Three semester credits in legal writing
      • One semester credit in legal ethics
      • One semester credit in Wisconsin litigation practice
      • Six semester credits in specific areas of substantive law
      • Not less than four additional semester credits in any of the areas specified in this list

    If your educational program lacked the necessary Wisconsin-based content, you may meet the educational requirements for certification by earning at least 21 CLE credits in Wisconsin law topics (seven of these credits must be in Wisconsin litigation practice) from one of the following institutions:

    • The State Bar of Wisconsin
    • Chippewa Valley Technical College
    • Lakeshore Technical College
    • Madison College
    • Milwaukee Area Technical College
    • Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
    • Western Technical College



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    Paralegal Association of Wisconsin, Inc.

    a 501(c)6 non-profit

    P.O. Box 71

    Kimberly, WI 54136

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