Best Online CLE – CALIFORNIA CLE REQUIREMENTS – EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS
Who is considered an Experienced Attorney in CALIFORNIA?
Attorneys are considered “experienced” in California if they are actively practicing law after completing their New Admission requirement.
What are the CALIFORNIA CLE Requirements for Experienced Attorneys?
Attorneys practicing law in California must complete 25 CLE credit hours every three (3) years. CLE credits should include the following:
- At least four (4) hours in Ethics
- At least one (1) hour on Competence Issues
- At least one (1) hour of Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession
- The remaining 19 hours can be in any CLE topic of the attorney’s choosing
How can Experienced Attorneys in CALIFORNIA fulfill their CLE Requirements?
Attorneys may receive CA CLE credit for attending CLE courses that have been approved by the California State Bar, or that are given by providers who have been approved by the State Bar to offer MCLE programs. Some examples of approved participatory activities are:
- Live Webcasts
- On-Demand CLE Courses
- Audio MP3, CD, etc. (courses must be from an approved provider)
- Traditional In-Person Courses
How many credits can California attorneys complete on CLE Companion?
Attorneys can complete 12.5 credits on CLE Companion via our Self Study On Demand Bundle found here. Our California course applications are pending and should be approved soon. You may take all of your required CLE Credits on CLE Companion and Self Apply for Approval. Our courses would qualify for CA credit approval pursuant to the Rules of the California State Board of Continuing Legal Education. CA attorneys can self-apply for course approval of CLE Companion programs by filling out this form: MCLE Credit Request.
All courses on CLE Companion qualify for Participatory Credit.
Are there other ways Experienced Attorneys in CA can earn CLE credit?
Yes! Attorneys can receive credit towards their CLE requirement through the following:
- Self-Study: Attorneys can earn up to 12.5 CLE credits (half the credits required in a reporting period) though completing non-verified MCLE programs or taking open or closed book self-test exams and submitting to the provider to grade. Some examples of self-study include:
- Writing: Attorneys will be awarded CLE credit if they have written or co-wrote published articles or materials that contributed to their legal education (including but not limited to articles, chapters, or books).
- Completing MCLE activities where attendance is not verified by a provider.
- Taking an open- or closed-book self-test and submitting the test to a provider to grade.
- Teaching Law School Classes: Hours for teaching a law class approved by the California Bar Association can be computed by multiplying the number of units granted by the law school for completing the class by twelve (12). For example, if the class taught is offering two (2) units, you will be eligible for 24 hours of credit
- Teaching CLE Activities: You can earn credit if you teach or speak on an approved CLE activity. A speaker can claim actual speaking time multiple by four (4) for their first presentation. Repeat presentations may claim only actual speaking time.
What is the deadline for Experienced Attorneys in CA to complete their CLE credits?
The deadline to complete CLE credits in California is January 31 of the third year of the attorney’s reporting cycle.
What are the compliance groups in CA?
Attorneys admitted on or before February 1, 1992 were assigned to a compliance group based on the first letter of their last name.
Attorneys admitted after February 1, 1992, are assigned to a compliance group based on the first letter of the last name on their admit cards
The compliance groups are as follows:
- Group 1: (A-G) — Compliance period: 2/1/16 – 1/31/19
- Group 2: (H-M) — Compliance period: 2/1/18 – 1/31/21
- Group 3: (N-Z) — Compliance period: 2/1/17 – 1/31/20
Can attorneys in CA carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another?
No, attorneys practicing in California cannot carry over CLE credits into the next reporting period.
CA CLE REQUIREMENTS – NEWLY ADMITTED ATTORNEYS
Who is considered a CA Newly Admitted Attorney?
Newly Admitted Attorneys are attorneys who are still in their initial compliance period. The initial compliance period begins in the month in which the attorney was admitted and ends when the compliance period ends for the attorney’s reporting group. For more instructions on how to report your attendance, please see attached instructions below:
California CLE Companion Reporting Instructions
What are the CA CLE Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys?
Newly Admitted California attorneys must complete the New Attorney Training Program offered by the State Bar of California within their first year of admission plus any additional CLE credits needed based upon their admission date.
The table below can be used to look up the amount of CLE credits Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete based on their admission date:
| Admitted | Group 1 [A-G] 2/1/16 – 1/31/19 Due: Feb. 1, 2019 | Group 2 [H-M] 2/1/18 – 1/31/21 Due: Feb. 1, 2021 | Group 3 [N-Z] 2/1/17 – 1/31/20 Due: Feb. 1, 2020 |
| June 2016 | 23 hours including: 4 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | Regular 25 hour requirement | Regular 25 hour requirement |
| December 2016 | 19 hours including: 3 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | Regular 25 hour requirement | Regular 25 hour requirement |
| June 2017 | 14 hours including: 3 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | Regular 25 hour requirement | 23 hours including: 4 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues |
| December 2017 | 10 hours including: 2 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | Regular 25 hour requirement | 19 hours including: 3 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues |
| June 2018 | 6 hours including: 1-hour ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | 23 hours including: 4 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | 14 hours including: 3 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1hour competence issues |
| December 2018 | N/A | 19 hours including: 3 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues | 10 hours including: 2 hours of ethics 1-hour bias 1-hour competence issues |
What is the New Attorney Training Program?
The State Bar of California requires attorneys admitted after February 1st, 2018 to complete the New Attorney Training Program. This program is only available through the State Bar and consists of 9 courses (currently only 8 are available) and covers:
- 4 hours of Ethics
- 3 hours of Basic Skills
- 1.5 hours of Competence Issues
- 1.5 hours of Elimination of Bias
Newly Admitted Attorneys can sign up for free via the email they received from the CA State Bar. If they did not receive the email, they should reach out to the State Bar at 888-800-3400 or email (NewAttorneyTraining@calbar.ca.gov).
How can CA Newly Admitted Attorneys complete their CLE Requirements?
Attorneys may receive CA CLE credit for attending CLE courses that have been approved by the California State Bar, or that are given by providers who have been approved by the State Bar to offer MCLE programs. Some examples of approved participatory activities are:
- Live Webcasts
- On-Demand CLE Courses
- Audio MP3, CD, etc. (courses must be from an approved provider)
- Traditional In-Person Courses
Are there other ways Newly Admitted Attorneys in CA can earn CLE credit?
Yes! Attorneys can receive credit towards their CLE requirement through the following:
- Teaching Law School Classes: Hours for teaching a law class approved by the California Bar Association can be computed by multiplying the number of units granted by the law school for completing the class by twelve (12). For example, if the class taught is offering two (2) units, you will be eligible for 24 hours of credit
- Writing: Attorneys will be awarded CLE credit if they have written or co-wrote published articles or materials that contributed to their legal education (including but not limited to articles, chapters, or books). Included as part of the Self-Study maximum 12.5 CLE credits (half the credits required in a reporting period).
- Teaching CLE Activities: You can earn credit if you teach or speak on an approved CLE activity. A speaker can claim actual speaking time multiple by four (4) for their first presentation. Repeat presentations may claim only actual speaking time
- Self-Study: Attorneys can earn up to 12.5 CLE credits (half the credits required in a reporting period) though completing non-verified MCLE programs or taking open or closed book self-test exams and submitting to the provider to grade.
What is the deadline for CA Newly Admitted Attorneys to complete the New Attorney Training Program?
The New Attorney Training Program must be completed within the 1st year of an attorney’s admission to CA. The deadline is calculated based on the last day of the month they were admitted.
E.g. An attorney admitted May 10, 2018, would have until May 30, 2019, to complete the courses.
What is the deadline for CA Newly Admitted Attorneys to complete their CLE credits?
The deadline for Newly Admitted Attorneys to complete their CLE credits is January 31st. The year is based upon the compliance group they are assigned.
- Group 1’s (A-G) deadline is January 31st, 2019
- Group 2’s (H-M) deadline is January 31st, 2021
- Group 3’s (N-Z) deadline is January 31st, 2020
Can Newly Admitted Attorneys in CA carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another?
No, attorneys practicing in California cannot carry over CLE credits into the next reporting period.