Paralegal Job Description in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s WorkNet service projects that between 2010 and 2020, jobs for paralegals and legal assistants in the state will increase by 16.9 percent, or a total of 1110 jobs. The median annual wage for paralegals in Wisconsin as of 2010 is $41.690, WorkNet says. Not bad for a profession in which education is not mandated, and those who do hold degrees usually hold certificates or associate degrees. Read on to discover how you can become a paralegal in Wisconsin.
 

Wisconsin has yet to regulate paralegal education in the state. As of 2014, aspiring paralegals may enter the Wisconsin work force in any manner they choose – through education, experience or a combination of the two.

Wisconsin Paralegal Online and Campus Schools

There are two types of paralegal programs in Wisconsin – those approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and those that are not. It is your personal choice whether to attend an ABA-approved paralegal program in Wisconsin, as there are no mandates regarding this either.
ABA-approved paralegal programs in Wisconsin are:

• Madison Area Technical College, Madison
• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal
• Western Technical College, La  Crosse
• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal
• Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee
• Associate of Science in Paralegal
• Certificate in Paralegal
• Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire
• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal
• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay
• Associate in Arts in Paralegal
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal
• Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland
• Associate of Science in Paralegal
• Post-Bachelor Certification in Paralegal

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A paralegal internship is a requirement of most ABA-approved paralegal programs in Wisconsin. If your school does not require you to complete a paralegal work experience internship, you may seek volunteer work experience on your own by contacting one of the many legal aid and pro bono agencies throughout Wisconsin, such as:

• Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. in Wausau
• Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. in Milwaukee
• State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Program in Madison
• SeniorLAW of Wisconsin in Milwaukee County
• Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, Inc. in Wausau

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Paralegals need not become certified through any program at the state or national level in order to work in Wisconsin. Many such programs are available, with the most popular being the Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants, and the Registered Paralegal through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Both of those certifications are available by passing an examination and meeting educational criteria. Another certification program popular with many Wisconsin paralegals is through the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. Their American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) program is found in all 50 states, and requires that paralegals meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor degree in any field, or
• Hold an associate degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved or American Association for Paralegal Education-approved program, or
• Hold a certificate from an ABA-approved or American Association for Paralegal Education-approved program

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Paralegal careers in Wisconsin may be found within corporations, law firms, educational facilities, health care facilities, nonprofit organizations, government locales and more. Examples of recent employers of paralegals in Wisconsin are:

• Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee
• IOD Incorporated, Green Bay
• Advicent Solutions, Milwaukee
• Travelers Insurance, Brookfield
• Johnson Controls, Milwaukee
• Dobberstein Law Firm, LLC, Brookfield
• Gendlin, Liverman & Rymer, S.C., Milwaukee
• Lin, Liebmann, Wied LLC , Allouez
• Drake & Co, Madison
• Carthage College, Kenosha
• Sparta Business, Sparta
• CDI, Sun Prairie

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Congratulations! You are now a paralegal working in Wisconsin! Remember to maintain any credentials you have earned through certification by completing the proper continuing legal education (CLE), if applicable. Also, check into the following membership organizations for legal assistants and paralegals in Wisconsin:

• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Association for Legal Professionals
• Paralegal Association of Wisconsin

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