PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE and PARALEGAL POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE STUDENT HANDBOOK (Revised 2009)
TABLE OF CONTENTS PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE & POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE Paralegal as a Career Choice Program Outcomes Faculty and Administration Contact Information Paralegal Associate Degree Admission & Exit Requirements (FAQ s) Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Admission & Exit Requirements (FAQ s) Legal Specialty Course Requirement (Traditional v. Online Classes) Paralegal Associate Degree Course Checklist Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Course Checklist Paralegal Associate Degree Program & Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Academic Policies Academic Requirements Advanced Standing Experiential Credit Online Classes Attendance Failure, Withdrawal and Re-Entry Student Statement of Understanding 2
PARALEGAL AS A CAREER CHOICE MATC s Paralegal Program prepares students for highly responsible entrylevel positions as paralegals or legal assistants. Students take courses that provide them with the basic competencies to begin a career as a paralegal or legal assistant. A paralegal is a person qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity who performs specifically designated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals are not authorized to practice law. The Paralegal Program includes core course work in the following areas: ethics, legal procedures, the American legal system, delivery of legal services in law offices and related environments, the paralegal profession, legal research and writing, law-related computer skills, legal interviewing and investigation, and substantive areas of legal practice. The Paralegal Program assists students in acquiring these essential related competencies: critical thinking skills (analysis, judgment, research and problem solving), communication skills (oral, written, non-verbal and interpersonal), computer skills, computational skills, understanding of ethics and organizational skills. 3
PROGRAM OUTCOMES Graduates of the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate will be able to: 1. Communicate effectively orally and in writing. 2. Work collaboratively while demonstrating individual initiative and responsibility. 3. Make ethical decisions in a legal environment. 4. Use critical thinking skills to solve problems in a legal environment. 5. Use legal terminology effectively. 6. Effectively organize legal information. 7. Provide assistance to lawyers by performing delegated legal work in various fields of law. 8. Conduct accurate, effective and efficient legal research using both traditional and computerized research techniques. 9. Generate work product using a variety of computer software applications typical in a modern legal environment. 4
FACULTY & ADMINISTRATION CONTACT INFORMATION 1. Paralegal Program Director Anne W. Schacherl, Esq. Office: 392C - Truax 608-246-6631 aschacherl@matcmadison.edu 2. Paralegal Faculty Norma Kropp Office: 378 Truax 608-246-6520 nkropp@matcmadison.edu 3. Paralegal Administrative Assistant Fran Moritz Office: 245 - Truax 608-243-4233 fmoritz@matcmadison.edu 4. Business & Applied Arts Dean Turina Bakken Office: 369 Truax 608-246-6516 bakken@matcmadison.edu 5
PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE ADMISSION & EXIT REQUIREMENTS (FAQ s) FALL ADMISSION ONLY Students are admitted to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program in the FALL SEMESTER ONLY. This program option has had a waiting list in the past, so students are urged to apply early. The MATC Enrollment Center (608-246-6210) begins processing fall applications in September of the preceding year. Students may call the Enrollment Center for the exact date. Expect to wait approximately 8 weeks from the date on which your completed application is submitted to learn of your acceptance into the program. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FAQ #1: I want to apply for admission to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. How do I begin? If you ARE NOT a current MATC student, you will need to apply for admission to MATC. This is done by completing the Application for Admission. The Application for Admission can be completed online. Start by going to the MATC website at http://matcmadison.edu. The breadcrumbs trail is: A-Z Index (at top of home page) A Apply Now. On the Application, you will identify your Program choice as Paralegal Associate Degree (#10-110-1). If you are a new student and have indicated a Program choice other than paralegal on an Application for Admission already submitted, and you wish to change to paralegal, you will need to write a letter to the MATC Enrollment Center, 3550 Anderson St., Madison, WI 53704, and direct the Enrollment Center to change your Program choice to one of the paralegal program options. If you ARE a current MATC student, you will still need to apply for admission to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. This is done filing the Application for Admission form online described in the previous paragraph. Fill out the form and indicate your Program choice as the Paralegal Associate Degree (#10-110-1). There will be no need to pay the Application Fee, since this is a one-time fee that was paid when you first applied to MATC no matter how long ago that was. Be sure to check with the Enrollment Center to be certain that the transcripts you sent when you first applied to MATC are still on file and are current. If they are not, you will need to have them resent. (See the Checklist below.) 6
FAQ #2: What is the difference between the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate? Students who have already obtained a bachelor s degree are eligible to apply for the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. These persons have already taken the general education courses as part of their undergraduate work and only need the Paralegal legal specialty courses. Students without a bachelor s degree will apply for the Paralegal Associate Degree Program, which includes both legal specialty courses and general education courses. Be careful to correctly indicate your Program choice on your Application as only a limited number of students are admitted to each program option (Associate Degree and Certificate) each fall. Once admitted, it is not permissible to transfer from one program option to the other. FAQ #3: Okay, I have chosen the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and completed the Application. What should I do next? You will need to complete the application process by taking care of the following items. Use this as your checklist. These are the standards that must be met and things that need to be taken care of before you can be considered for admission to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. Pay the non-refundable Application Fee to MATC, Payment must be made by credit card online or in the form of a check or money order payable to MATC. This is a one-time-only fee. Obtain your official college and high school transcripts, list of senior subjects and credits (if currently enrolled in high school), and/or GED/HSED scores and have them sent directly to MATC at: Enrollment Center, Madison Area Technical College, 3550 Anderson St., Madison, WI 53704. Note that personal copies of transcripts are not acceptable. Official transcripts must be mailed by your schools to MATC. Be sure you have met the Academic Admission Requirements: Four years of high school English, including one writing course, with no course grade lower than C. If you have not met these requirements, you may be placed on the waiting list and required to take an English course or courses and attain certain grades before advancing into the program. You will be advised of these requirements by our department office. 7
Take your entrance skills assessment in math, English and Writing. Call the Assessment Center, (608) 246-5220, to schedule your skills assessment. (COMPASS) Be proficient in Windows and Microsoft Word. We do not test for proficiency as an application requirement. However, since all legal specialty courses require extensive document preparation and there is a program keyboarding requirement which must be attained during Summer Orientation. Attend a Summer Orientation session where you will register for fall classes and take a keyboarding assessment. No student will be permitted to register for fall classes without attending Summer Orientation. An invitation to attend Summer Orientation will be sent after you are admitted to the program. FAQ #4: I have all of my checklist items done/submitted. How long will it take to find out if I have been accepted? Students will hear from the Enrollment Center within approximately 8 weeks of the time that their MATC application file is complete. This notification means that MATC has received your Application for Admission, your Application Fee, and all of your transcripts. The Enrollment Center will advise you of the receipt of this information and your acceptance as a student at MATC. This communication indicates acceptance to MATC, but it DOES NOT mean you have been accepted into the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. AQ #5: So when I do learn if I have been accepted into the Paralegal Associate Degree Program? After your acceptance to MATC, the Enrollment Center will forward your file to the Business & Applied Arts Center, which is the administrative office for the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. The Center office will then review your file to be certain you have met the paralegal academic requirements. For Associate Degree students, this means examining transcripts and skill assessments. When this is complete, you will receive a letter of acceptance into the Paralegal Associate Degree Program conditioned upon your attendance at Summer Orientation (more on this below). FAQ #6: How many students are accepted into the Associate Degree? At present, we accept up to 50 Associate Degree students each fall. Students are accepted into the Paralegal Associate Degree Program on a first-come, first-qualified, first-served basis. Your acceptance is complete when you register for classes at Summer Orientation. 8
FAQ #7: Is Summer Orientation required? Yes. Students who are accepted into the Paralegal Associate Degree Program will be notified of the dates for Summer Orientation. Orientation is required of all Associate Degree students. It is the time when our students receive one-on-one academic advising and register for their fall classes. This will also provide an opportunity for students to take a baseline timed keyboarding test. Computer Applications Legal (106-141), a legal specialty course, may be taken as a first semester Associate Degree/Certificate class. It is important to student success in this course--and in the program--that entering students have mastered basic keyboarding skills (30 wpm/5 errors). A timed typing assessment will give students the opportunity to learn their keyboarding skill level which will assist in appropriate first-semester scheduling. Students who do not attend an Orientation session will be dropped from the Associate Degree, making room for the next person wait-listed. FAQ #8: What if I am not accepted because the Paralegal Associate Degree Program has already been filled? Is there a waiting list? Once the program is filled, additional applicants will be contacted and asked whether they wish to be placed on a waiting list. Students who indicate that they would like to be wait-listed may take non-legal specialty (general studies) courses while they wait for admission, which occurs only in the fall semester. ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER FOR PARALEGAL SPECIALTY COURSES (COURSES #10-110- XXX). AQ #9: I ve heard that there is a keyboarding entrance requirement for the Associate Degree. What is this? Students are required to pass a test which demonstrates keyboarding competency at 50 WPM with no more than 5 errors. This is verified by completion of a timed keyboarding assessment at MATC during new student Summer Orientation. Students who do not meet this requirement will be advised to take a summer keyboarding class to ensure their entrance into the program in the fall. FAQ #10: After I begin my Paralegal Associate Degree Program course work, what academic standards must be met? A grade of C or better must be achieved in 10-110-101 Intro/Legal Ethics in order to proceed with legal specialty courses (those numbered 10-110-XXX). A grade of C or better must be achieved in each legal specialty course (those numbered 10-110- XXX) in order for the course to count toward the Associate Degree. 9
FAQ #11: What about online course options for my legal specialty classes? The Madison Area Technical College Paralegal Program requires that both Associate Degree and Post-Baccalaureate paralegal students take a minimum of four (4) 3-Credit legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time" format on our campus. This means that 12 legal specialty credits must be taken in a traditional classroom format. You will not be granted a degree unless you comply with this requirement. It is critical that you plan your course work accordingly. If you have any questions about compliance with this requirement please contact the Program Director Anne Schacherl (246-6631). Legal Specialty Courses Madison Area Technical College has designated the following courses as legal specialty courses: 10-110-101 Intro to Paralegal & Ethics 10-110-114 Administration of Estates 10-110-102 Civil Litigation I 10-110-115 Administrative Law 10-110-103 Civil Litigation II 10-110-122 Debtor-Creditor Relations 10-110-104 Legal Research 10-110-142 Paralegal Internship 10-110-105 Legal Writing 10-110-160 Employment Law 10-110-107 Legal Aspects of Business Organizations 10-110-168 Criminal Law 10-110-106 Family Law 10-110-170 Intellectual Property Law 10-110-110 Real Estate Law 10-110-171 Law/Cont. Problems: Immigration Law 10-106-141 Computer Applications Legal As you plan your schedule, be sure to consult this table to ensure that you have taken at least four legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time format on our campus. FAQ #12: What about financial aid? Is there a difference between the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate as far as eligibility for financial aid is concerned? Good question. Generally, Associate Degree programs are fully eligible for financial aid and Certificates are not. You will want to confirm eligibility with the MATC Office of Financial Aid by contacting that office at (608) 246-6170. 10
FAQ #13: Where can I get the most current information about the Paralegal Associate Degree Program? Check the MATC website. This website provides the most up-to-date information on our program. 11
PARALEGAL POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (FAQ s) CERTIFICATE ADMISSION DATES Students are admitted to the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in the BOTH THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. This program option has had a waiting list in the past, so students are urged to apply early. Applications for the Post- Baccalaureate Certificate ARE NOT processed by the MATC Enrollment Center. They are processed by the MATC Marketing Department Office (608-243-4233). Call the Marketing Office for the exact dates. Expect to wait approximately 8 weeks from the date of your submission to learn of your acceptance into the certificate. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FAQ #1: I want to apply for admission to the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. How do I begin? All Current MATC Students and New MATC Students should follow this process: Begin by completing the Application for Admission. The Application for Admission can be obtained online, but MUST BE FILED OUT IN HARD COPY and FILED WITH the MATC Marketing Department Office. To obtain a copy of the Application, go to the MATC website at http://matcmadison.edu. On the Application, you will identify your Program choice as Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (90-110-1). If you have previously applied to MATC and indicated a Program choice other than Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and wish to change to Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, you will need to reapply to the Marketing Department Office by filing a new Application for Admission. FAQ #2: What is the difference between the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate? Students who have already obtained a bachelor s degree will apply for the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. Post-Bac students have already taken their general education courses as part of their undergraduate work and only need the Paralegal legal specialty courses. Students without a bachelor s degree will apply for the Associate Degree, which includes both legal specialty courses and general education courses. Be careful to correctly indicate your Program choice on your Application as only a limited number of students are admitted to each program option (Associate Degree and Certificate) each fall. Once admitted, it is not permissible to transfer from one program option to the other. 12
FAQ #3: Okay, I have chosen Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and completed the Application. What should I do next? You will need to complete the application process by taking care of the following items. Use this as your checklist. These are the standards that must be met and things that need to be taken care of before you can be considered for admission to the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. Obtain your college transcripts, and send them to: Fran Moritz, Paralegal Program Assistant, Madison Area Technical College, 3550 Anderson St., Madison, WI 53704. Photocopies of transcripts are acceptable as long as they are legible and clearly indicate that a bachelor s degree has been awarded. Official transcripts may also be sent directly to the above address by your college(s). NOTE THAT POST-BAC APPLICANTS ARE NOT required to pay the MATC Application Fee. Be proficient in Windows and Microsoft Word. We do not test for proficiency as an entrance requirement, but please note that all legal specialty courses require extensive document preparation. There is a program keyboarding requirement which must be attained during your summer orientation. Attend an Orientation session where you will register for fall classes and take your keyboarding test. No student will be permitted to register for fall classes without attending Orientation. FAQ #4: I have all of my checklist items done/submitted. How long will it take to find out if I have been accepted? Students will hear from the Program within approximately 8 weeks of the time that their MATC application file is complete (properly completed Application for Admission and copies of official college transcripts). FAQ #5: Certificate? How many students are accepted into the Post-Baccalaureate At present, we accept up to 50 Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate students each term, fall and spring. Students are accepted into the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate on a first-come, first-qualified, first-served basis. Your acceptance is complete when you register for classes at Orientation. 13
FAQ #6: Is Orientation mandatory? Yes. Students who are accepted into the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate will be notified of the dates for Orientation. Orientation is mandatory for all Paralegal Post- Baccalaureate Certificate students. It is the time when our students receive one-on-one academic advising and register for their fall classes. Students who do not attend an Orientation session will be dropped from the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, making room for the next person wait-listed. FAQ #7: What if I am not accepted because the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate has already been filled? Is there a waiting list? We do not maintain a waitlist for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PARALEGAL POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER FOR PARALEGAL SPECIALTY COURSES (COURSES #10-110-XXX). AQ #8: I ve heard that there is a keyboarding entrance requirement for the Post- Baccalaureate Certificate. What is this? Students are required to pass a test which demonstrates keyboarding competency at 50 WPM with no more than 5 errors. This is verified by completion of a timed keyboarding assessment at MATC during new student Orientation. Students who do not meet this requirement will be advised to take a keyboarding class to ensure their entrance into the program in the upcoming semester. FAQ #9: After I begin my Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate course work, what academic standards must be met? A grade of C or better must be achieved in each legal specialty course (those numbered 10-110-XXX) in order for the course to count toward the Paralegal Post- Baccalaureate Certificate. FAQ #10: What about online course options for my legal specialty classes? The Madison Area Technical College Paralegal Program requires that both Associate Degree and Post-Baccalaureate paralegal students take a minimum of four (4) 3-Credit legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time" format at our campus. This means that 12 legal specialty credits must be taken in a traditional classroom format here at MATC. You will not be granted a degree unless you comply with this requirement. It is critical that you plan your course work accordingly. If you have any questions about compliance with this requirement please contact the Program Director Anne Schacherl (246-6631). 14
Legal Specialty Courses Madison Area Technical College has designated the following courses as legal specialty courses: 10-110-101 Intro to Paralegal & Ethics 10-110-114 Administration of Estates 10-110-102 Civil Litigation I 10-110-115 Administrative Law 10-110-103 Civil Litigation II 10-110-122 Debtor-Creditor Relations 10-110-104 Legal Research 10-110-142 Paralegal Internship 10-110-105 Legal Writing 10-110-160 Employment Law 10-110-107 Legal Aspects of Business Organizations 10-110-168 Criminal Law 10-110-106 Family Law 10-110-170 Intellectual Property Law 10-110-110 Real Estate Law 10-110-171 Law & Contemporary Problems: Immigration Law 10-106-141 Computer Applications Legal As you plan your schedule, be sure to consult this table to ensure that you have taken at least four legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time format on our campus. FAQ #11: What about financial aid? Is there a difference between the Paralegal Associate Degree Program and the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate as far as eligibility for financial aid is concerned? Good question. Generally, Associate Degree programs are fully eligible for financial aid and Certificates are not. You will want to confirm eligibility with the MATC Office of Financial Aid by contacting that office at (608) 246-6170. FAQ #12: Where can I get the most current information about the Post- Baccalaureate Certificate? Check the MATC website. It is the most current source of information about our program. 15
LEGAL SPECIALTY COURSE REQUIREMENT Please Be Advised: The Madison Area Technical College Paralegal Program requires that both Associate Degree and Post-Baccalaureate paralegal students take a minimum of four (4) 3-Credit legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time" format. This means that 12 legal specialty credits must be taken in a traditional classroom format. You will not be granted a degree unless you comply with this requirement. It is critical that you plan your course work accordingly. If you have any questions about compliance with this requirement please contact the Program Director Anne Schacherl or the MATC Marketing Department Office. Legal Specialty Courses Madison Area Technical College has designated the following courses as legal specialty courses: 10-110-101 Intro to Paralegal & Ethics 10-110-115 Administrative Law Debtor-Creditor 10-110-102 Civil Litigation I 10-110-122 Relations 10-110-103 Civil Litigation II 10-110-142 Paralegal Internship 10-110-104 Legal Research 10-110-160 Employment Law 10-110-105 Legal Writing 10-110-168 Criminal Law Legal Aspects of Business Intellectual Property 10-110-107 10-110-170 Organizations Law Law & Contemporary 10-110-106 Family Law 10-110-171 Problems: Immigration Law 10-110-110 Real Estate Law 10-106-141 Computer Applications Legal 10-110-114 Administration of Estates As you plan your schedule, be sure to consult this table to ensure that you have taken at least four legal specialty courses in a live, synchronous "real time format on our campus. 16
PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE COURSE CHECKLIST 66 Credits for Program Completion First Semester 18 Cr. 10-101-106 Accounting Concepts (3 Cr.) 10-106-141 Computer Applications Legal (3 Cr.) 10-110-101 Intro to Paralegal & Legal Ethics (3 Cr.) 10-801-195 Written Communication (3 Cr.) 10-809-195 Economics (3 Cr.) 10-809-199 Psychology of Human Relations (3 Cr.) Second Semester 15 Cr. 10-110-102 Civil Litigation 1 (3 Cr.) 10-110-104 Legal Research (3 Cr.) 10-801-196 Oral/Interpersonal Communication (3 Cr.) 10-809-197 Contemporary American Society (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) Third Semester 18 Cr. 10-110-103 Civil Litigation 2 (3 Cr.) 10-110-105 Legal Writing (3 Cr.) 10-804-122 Math of Finance (3 Cr.) OR 10-806-177 Intro to Anatomy & Physiology (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Elective Course (3 Cr.) 17
Fourth Semester 15 Cr. 10-110-107 Legal Aspects of Business Organizations (3 Cr.) 10-110-142 Paralegal Internship (3 Cr.) 10-809-155 Intro to Ethics: Theory & Applications (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) *PARALEGAL SELECTIVES 10-110-106 Family Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-110 Real Estate Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-114 Administration of Estates (3 Cr.) 10-110-115 Administrative Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-122 Debtor & Creditor Relations (3 Cr.) 10-110-160 Employment Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-168 Criminal Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-170 Intellectual Property Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-171 Law & Contemporary Problems: Immigration Law (3 Cr.) TYPING REQUIREMENT (Date Passed) 18
PARALEGAL POST-BAC CERTIFICATE COURSE CHECKLIST 27 Credits for Certificate Completion First Semester 10-110-101 Intro to Paralegal & Legal Ethics (3 Cr.) 10-110-102 Civil Litigation 1 (3 Cr.) 10-110-104 Legal Research (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) 10-106-141 Computer Applications Legal (3 Cr.) Second Semester 10-110-105 Legal Writing (3 Cr.) 10-110-142 Paralegal Internship (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) 10-***-*** Paralegal Selective* (3 Cr.) *PARALEGAL SELECTIVES 10-110-103 Civil Litigation 2 (3 Cr.) 10-110-106 Family Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-107 Legal Aspects of Business Organizations (3 Cr.) 10-110-110 Real Estate Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-114 Administration of Estates (3 Cr.) 10-110-115 Administrative Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-122 Debtor & Creditor Relations (3 Cr.) 10-110-160 Employment Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-168 Criminal Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-170 Intellectual Property Law (3 Cr.) 10-110-171 Law & Contemporary Problems: Immigration Law (3 Cr.) TYPING REQUIREMENT (Date Passed) 19
Academic Requirements PARALEGAL ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM & POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE ACADEMIC POLICIES 1. A grade of C or better is required in all legal specialty Technical Studies and General Education courses to meet the graduation requirements for the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. 2. The Paralegal Associate in Applied Science Degree Program consists of 66 credits. Madison Area Technical College requires that at least 25% of the credit requirements necessary for obtaining a degree in any program be taken at MATC. However, in some situations, a higher percentage of credit requirements must be taken at MATC. The Paralegal Associate in Applied Science Degree Program requires that 50% of the credit requirements must be taken at MATC. Of the credit requirements must be taken at MATC, a minimum of 12 credits of paralegal legal specialty courses must be taken in a live, synchronous "real time" format (the traditional classroom format). 3. The Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate consists of 27 credits. 24 credits must be taken at MATC for MATC to grant the certificate. A minimum of 12 credits of paralegal legal specialty courses must be taken in a live, synchronous "real time" format (the traditional classroom format). Transfer Credit 1. Associate Degree Paralegal Program Option Students. a. Transfer Credit for Courses Taken at a Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) School. Associate Degree Paralegal program option students may receive Transfer Credit for previously completed courses taken at MATC or another Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) school. Students seeking to apply previously completed courses should be certain that course numbers of their previously completed courses are identical to course numbers in the Paralegal Associate Degree program. Credit for courses completed at Wisconsin Technical College System institutions may be granted in accordance with MATC s policies, which permit transfer of up to one-half of the total 66 program credits (33 credits). To be accepted as transfer credit, a grade of C or better is required for any general education course, and a grade of B or better is required for any legal specialty course. Legal specialty courses accepted as transfer credit must have been taken within 3 years of the date of request for transfer credit at a school with a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. As stated above, a minimum of 12 credits of paralegal legal specialty courses must be taken in a live, synchronous "real time" format (the traditional classroom format) at MATC. b. Transfer Credit for Courses Taken at Colleges Other than Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Schools. Credit for courses completed at non-wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institutions may be granted in accordance with MATC s policies, which permit up to one-half of the total 66 program credits (33 credits). Transfer Credit for legal specialty courses completed at non-wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institutions 20
will be granted only where the courses have been taken at a school with a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association, and is limited to two (2), 3-credit comparable legal specialty classes (6 credits total). To be accepted as transfer credit, a grade of C or better is required for any general education course, and a grade of B or better is required for any legal specialty course. Legal specialty courses accepted as transfer credit must have been taken within 3 years of the date of request for transfer credit. As stated above, a minimum of 12 credits of paralegal legal specialty courses must be taken in a live, synchronous "real time" format (the traditional classroom format) at MATC. 2. Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Option Students. Students admitted to the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program option may receive Transfer Credit for up to one (1), 3-credit comparable legal specialty class (3 credits total) taken at a school approved by the American Bar Association. As stated above, a minimum of 12 credits of paralegal legal specialty courses must be taken in a live, synchronous "real time" format (the traditional classroom format) at MATC. 3. Posting to Transcripts. Transfer Credit credits are not transcribed (made a part of the student s official MATC transcript) until the student is admitted to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program or the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. Additional questions about Transfer Credit should be directed to the Program Director for Paralegal. Portfolio Credit MATC recognizes that some students making application to the Paralegal Associate Degree Program or the Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate have been employed in a legal setting and believe that they have gained expertise in a legal specialty content area by virtue of their work experience. In order to explore experiential/work or portfolio credit, students should review the respective course outcomes for those courses for which portfolio credit is sought. Course outcomes are posted on the MATC website. If after reviewing the course outcomes, a student believes that he/she has mastered the competencies taught in the course through work experience, and this can be verified in writing by the student s employer, the student should contact the Program Director for Paralegal for information on how to obtain portfolio credit. If portfolio credit is granted, the student receives credit for the course which may then be applied to satisfy a program or certificate requirement. This is done at no cost to the student. Both Associate Degree Paralegal Program students and Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program students are limited to portfolio credit for one (1), 3-credit legal specialty course. Transfer credits for legal special classes, if any, are reduced by the number of portfolio credits granted. (EX: An Associate Degree student applies to transfer 33 credits, including 9 legal specialty course credits, from another WTCS school with an ABA-approved paralegal program. S/he also applies for portfolio credit for the 3-credit Debtor-Creditor Relations legal specialty course. If the student is granted portfolio credit for the Debtor-Creditor Relations course, s/he may transfer only 30 other credits for Transfer Credit.) 21
Online Classes 1. Students may elect to take up to six (6) online credits in legal specialty classes toward the Paralegal Associate Degree Program or Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. These online credits may be taken through MATC or through any school offering an American Bar Association approved paralegal course of study. Students are urged to seek approval of online courses from the Program Director for Paralegal prior to registration to assure that they will count toward the Paralegal Associate Degree Program or Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. 2. There is no restriction as to the number of MATC online general education course credits that may be taken by Paralegal Associate Degree students. Students are urged to seek approval of online courses from the Program Director for Paralegal prior to registration to assure that they will count toward the Paralegal Associate Degree Program. Attendance Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled course activities. Attendance rules will be found in course syllabi. In the event of absence from class, it is the student s responsibility to make arrangements for obtaining all announcements, handouts and notes. Failure, Withdrawal & Re-Entry 1. Removal of a Student from the Paralegal Program. A student who fails a legal specialty course or withdraws from a legal specialty course while the course is in progress may re-enroll in that course only once. Please note that it is the student s responsibility to withdraw from any course that s/he chooses to stop attending. It is not the responsibility of faculty to withdraw a non-attending student. Students who stop attending a class may therefore receive a grade of F from the instructor if they stop attending class and fail to formally withdraw. A student who fails the same legal specialty class more than once or withdraws from the same legal specialty course while the course is in progress more than once will be withdrawn from the program/certificate. 2. Re-Entry into the Associate Degree Paralegal Program or Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate: A student who has been withdrawn from the program/certificate can apply in writing to the Program Director for Paralegal for re-entry into the program/certificate. Student readmission may be sought and granted a maximum of two times. Re-admission of a student is dependent on room within the program/certificate at the time that readmission is sought. Academic Advising All program students are required to meet with program faculty and/or administrative staff to plan their next semester s schedule. Students use a Paralegal scheduling grid to plan their courses, and the program checklist to track their completed course work. Paralegal Internship All Paralegal Program students are required to take the Paralegal Internship class as the capstone course in this program. Students must be cleared for admission to this class by the program director, who will verify that all prerequisites have been met and assist students to prepare for and obtain their placement sites. This course consists of a 140 hour site placement which is done between 1/1 5/31 and 2-3 classroom sessions during summer interim. 22
Generally, the Paralegal Internship class is offered only in the spring semester. Students should also be aware that there is substantial work to do in preparation for this class in the 6-8 weeks just before the end of the fall semester when students prepare their cover letters and resumes and secure their placement sites, as well as during the classroom portion of the class that meets 2-3 times in the evening in the 2-3 weeks following the end of the spring semester. Students work closely with the program director preparing for and during this class. For more information, please look at the Paralegal Internship class (10-110-142) on the MATC web site. THE MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE PARALEGAL PROGRAM IS APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/ AND A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PARALEGAL EDUCATION (AAfPE) AAfPE 19 Mantua Road, Mt. Royal, NJ 08061 Telephone: (856) 423-2829, Fax: (856) 423-3420 Email AAfPE at: info@aafpe.org 23
STUDENT STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED AFTER READING THE STUDENT HANDBOOK (initial) I have read and I understand the policies and procedures for paralegal students in the Student Handbook and agree to be bound by them. Name of Student Please print Signature of Student Date Signed 24