State Bar of Wisconsin

SCR XX.YY Requirements for Initial Licensure

(a) Except as provided in sec. XX.WW, no person may be licensed as a paralegal unless that person has successfully completed post-secondary education and training that, at a minimum, includes either -

(1) an associates degree or bachelors degree in paralegal or legal assistant studies from an institution of post-secondary education which maintains a program of paralegal or legal assistant studies that is sanctioned by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, sanctioned by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, or approved by the American Bar Association Assembly of Delegates, or which is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education; or

(2)(A) an associates degree or bachelors degree in any discipline from an institution of post-secondary education which is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education; and

(B) not less than 18 credits of qualified paralegal studies courses 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:

(i) 3 credits in legal research;
(ii) 3 credits in legal writing;
(iii) 1 credit in legal ethics;
(iv) 1 credit in Wisconsin litigation practice;
(v) 6 credits in specific areas of substantive law; and
(vi) not less than 4 credits in any of the areas specified in clauses (i) - (v).

(b) "Qualified paralegal studies courses" are courses within a program of paralegal or legal assistant studies offered by an institution of post-secondary education which maintains a post-baccalaureate, two-year, or four-year program of paralegal or legal assistant studies that is sanctioned by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, sanctioned by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, or approved by the American Bar Association Assembly of Delegates, or which is an institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.

(c) A "semester credit" of a qualified paralegal studies course requires a minimum of 14 clock-hours of classroom instruction.

SCR XX.ZZ Maintenance of Paralegal Licensure

(a) No person may maintain a license as a paralegal unless that person -

(1) successfully completes at least 10 hours of approved continuing paralegal education or continuing legal education during each reporting period, a minimum of 2 hours of which shall be in the area of legal ethics and professional responsibility; or

(2) successfully completes with a minimum grade of "C" at least 1 semester credit of a qualified paralegal studies course during each reporting period.

(b) "Reporting period" means the two year period during which a paralegal must satisfy the Wisconsin continuing paralegal education requirements of this section. The reporting period for a paralegal licensed in an even-numbered year shall end on December 31 of each even-numbered year following the year in which the paralegal was licensed initially. The reporting period for a paralegal licensed in an odd-numbered year shall end on December 31 of each odd-numbered year following the year in which the paralegal was licensed initially.

(c) "Hour" means a period of approved continuing paralegal education or continuing legal education consisting of not less than 50 minutes.

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