Continuing Legal Education
Once a lawyer graduates, the learning rarely stops. Like with most professions, lawyers must participate in continuing legal education (CLE) to maintain their license to practice law. Currently there are 46 jurisdictions that require lawyers to take mandatory or minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) courses in order to practice law. Many attorneys find continuing legal education courses though law schools, State and local bar associations, seminars and occasionally seminars on the internet. Regardless of where one earns their CLE credits, they must check with their State’s annual or multi-year credit requirements to ensure they meet their jurisdictions set standards.
The ABA is not an accrediting body or regulatory agency. It’s a provider of continuing legal education to the legal community at large. CLE accreditation is given on a state-by-state basis, not a national basis. Because MCLE programs are administered by the state supreme courts through a special CLE commission or board, there is no nationwide accreditation.
In the chart below you’ll find basic information for each State. For additional information, please see below.
| State | # of Credits Needed | Reporting Cycle Period |
| Alabama | 12 | 1 |
| Alaska | 12 | 1 |
| Arizona | 15 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 12 | 1 |
| California | 25 | 3 |
| Colorado | 45 | 3 |
| Connecticut | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Delaware | 20 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Florida | 30 | 3 |
| Georgia | 12 | 1 |
| Hawaii | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Idaho | 30 | 3 |
| Illinois | 20 | 2 |
| Indiana | 36 | 3 |
| Iowa | 15 | 1 |
| Kansas | 12 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 12.5 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 12.5 | 1 |
| Maine | 11 | 1 |
| Maryland | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Massachusetts | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Michigan | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Minnesota | 45 | 3 |
| Mississippi | 12 | 1 |
| Missouri | 15 | 1 |
| Montana | 15 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 10 | 1 |
| Nevada | 12 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 12 | 1 |
| New Jersey | 24 | 2 |
| New Mexico | 12 | 1 |
| New York | 24 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 12 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 45 | 3 |
| Ohio | 24 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 12 | 1 |
| Oregon | 45 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 1 |
| South Dakota | No State Requirement | No State Requirement |
| Tennessee | 15 | 1 |
| Texas | 15 | 1 |
| Utah | 27 | 2 |
| Vermont | 20 | 2 |
| Virginia | 12 | 1 |
| Washington | 45 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 24 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 30 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 15 | 1 |
Most States require at least one continuing legal education credit to be in the subject of Ethics. Some States require lawyers to take a Professional Responsibility course in addition to an Ethic course. Some States allow for exemptions. Exemptions are generally judges, newly admitted to the bar, inactive, over the age of 65, over the age of 62 but receiving social security, legislators, practicing law in another jurisdiction, members of the bar for 50+ years, active but not practicing and undue hardships. Attorneys who meet exemption criteria are not required to submit continued legal education course credits to their State bar.
For those who are not exempt, other variations of jurisdiction requirements can range from allowing a minimum amount of online CLE credits to satisfy requirements to not needing any CLE or MCLE courses at all. Seven States in all have yet to set any State requirements for the practicing attorneys within their jurisdictions.
Be sure to check with your State Bar regularly to stay updated on the latest news and changes within the law community.
To see a list of the State Bar Associations websites, click here.
