​​​​​Education and Work Requirements for Paralegal Certification


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

  • Chippewa Valley Technical College
  • Lakeshore Technical College
  • Madison College
  • Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
  • Western Technical College
  • 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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In addition to meeting the educational requirements, you must also have completed a minimum of 2000 hours working as a paralegal under the direct supervision of a licensed Wisconsin  attorney and 15 hours of CLE, 3 hours of which are in legal ethics and professional responsibility in the previous 12 months. ​
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Apply For the paralegal certification​​​​​​​
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