Best Online CLE – INDIANA CLE REQUIREMENTS – EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS
Who is considered an Experienced Attorney in Indiana?
Experienced Attorneys are those who have been admitted to practice in Indiana for at least 3 years and have completed the requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys.
What is the CLE requirement for Experienced Attorneys in Indiana?
Experienced Indiana must complete 36 total credit hours, including at least 3 hours of Ethics credit, every three years.
How can Experienced Attorneys in Indiana complete their CLE Requirements?
Attorneys may complete their CLE requirement by attending courses that have been approved and accredited by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Courses may be completed in a number of formats, including:
Distance Education (maximum of 18 credits per reporting period)
- Online CLE courses (On-Demand Videos, Webcasts, etc.)
Traditional CLE
In-House CLE (maximum 3 credits per reporting period for non-governmental or non-academic attorneys; governmental or academic attorneys can receive unlimited in-house credits)
- CLE Classes held in a private organization or law firm that are designed to exclusively benefit its own employees
Note: Attorneys must complete at least 6 CLE credits in each year of the Educational Period. Attorneys cannot complete all 36 credits in one year.
Are there other ways Experienced Indiana Attorneys can earn CLE credits?
Yes! Indiana Experienced Attorneys can earn CLE credits in the following ways:
- Attending Courses. Attorneys can receive up to 24 credits for attending the following types of courses:
- Regularly scheduled courses at an ABA-accredited law school
- Bar Review courses
- Basic Mediation Training course approved by the Commission for mediation training
- Courses on Court Administration/Docket Management
- Law Firm Management Courses that focus on trust accounting, ethical client contact, and/or ethical use of staff and resources
- Teaching CLE Courses. Attorneys will receive 4 CLE credits for every 1 hour spent teaching in an approved CLE course. If the attorney is presenting in one session of a multi-session program, the attorney can also receive 1 CLE credit per hour spent in attendance at the other sessions.
- Preparing Materials for a CLE Course. Attorneys can also receive credit for preparing materials for a CLE course without actually presenting the information. Attorneys can be awarded 1 CLE credit for every 4 hours spent preparing materials for a program, up to a maximum of 6 credits.
- Non-Legal Subject Matter Courses. Attorneys can also attend programs in non-legal subject matters, so long as they are approved and accredited (maximum 12 credits per reporting period). Some examples of topics that may be approved are:
- Law Firm Management other than those that focus on trust accounting, ethical client contact, and/or ethical use of staff and resources. Courses that focus on profit enhancement or marketing of services will not be approved.
- Medicine, such as Anatomy or Orthopedics, for Lawyers
- Accounting for Lawyers
- Wellness courses
- Teaching administrative skills
What is the deadline for Experienced Attorneys in Indiana to complete their CLEs?
Experienced Indiana Attorneys must complete their CLE requirements every 3 years by December 31st. The year in which an attorney is due to complete their requirement depends on the year in which they are admitted. For instance, if an attorney is admitted in October of 2017, then their first 3-year Educational Period begins on January 1st, 2018 and ends December 31st, 2020. Their next Educational period would end in 2023, 2026, etc.
Can Experienced Indiana Attorneys carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another?
No, Indiana attorneys cannot carry over any excess credits into the next reporting period.
How many credits can IN attorneys complete on CLE Companion?
Attorneys can complete 9 of the required On-Demand CLE Courses via self-study.
You can complete all of your required CLE Credit Hours on CLE Companion via self-application. We believe our courses qualify for Indiana credit approval pursuant to the Rules of the Indiana State Board of Continuing Legal Education. IN attorneys can self-apply for course approval of CLE Companion programs by following this link: Indiana Self Study Application
Can IN attorneys self-apply for course approval?
Yes! Attorneys can self apply for course accreditation using the form below:
Indiana Self Study Application
INDIANA CLE REQUIREMENTS – NEWLY ADMITTED ATTORNEYS
Who is considered a Newly Admitted Attorney in Indiana?
Newly Admitted Attorneys in Indiana are those who are still within their first 3-year Educational Period after admission by Bar Exam.
What are the IN CLE Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys?
Newly Admitted Attorneys are required to complete 36 total credit hours, including at least 3 hours of Ethics credit, in their 3-year Educational Period. They also need to complete an approved 6-hour Applied Professionalism program or a mentoring program approved for applied professionalism credit.
How can Indiana Newly Admitted Attorneys complete their CLE Requirements?
Newly Admitted Attorneys in Indiana can complete the 36-hour CLE requirement by attending courses that have been approved and accredited by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Courses may be completed in a number of formats, including:
Distance Education (maximum of 18 credits per reporting period)
- Online CLE courses (On-Demand Videos, Webcasts, etc.)
Traditional CLE
In-House CLE (maximum 3 credits per reporting period for non-governmental or non-academic attorneys; governmental or academic attorneys can receive unlimited in-house credits)
- CLE Classes held in a private organization or law firm that are designed to exclusively benefit its own employees
The Applied Professionalism Program is offered from a variety of different sponsors. Attorneys can find available programs to meet this requirement by going to the search feature on the Indiana Courts website and narrowing results to show only courses approved for Applied Professionalism credit.
Newly Admitted Attorneys can also satisfy the Applied Professionalism requirement by participating in a Mentoring Program. For more information about this option, please click here.
Note: Attorneys must complete at least 6 CLE credits in each year of the Educational Period. Attorneys cannot complete all 36 credits in one year.
What is the deadline for Indiana Newly Admitted Attorneys to complete their CLE credits?
Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete their entire requirement, including the Applied Professionalism or Mentoring program, by December 31st of the third year of their Educational Period. For example, if an attorney is admitted in October of 2017, then their first 3-year Educational Period begins on January 1st, 2018 and ends December 31st, 2020.
Can Newly Admitted Attorneys in IN carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another?
No, Newly Admitted Attorneys may not carry over credits from one cycle to another.
INDIANA CLE REQUIREMENTS – COMPLIANCE & REPORTING
How do IN attorneys report attendance?
In Indiana, sponsors of approved programs are responsible for submitting attendance information to the Commission within 30 days after the course was attended. Attorneys are also able to report their own credits on the Indiana Courts website by logging in, going to the “My Continuing Education” section, and clicking “Report legal education credits”. For more instructions on how to report your attendance, please see attached instructions below:
Indiana CLE Companion Reporting Instructions
How do IN attorneys certify compliance?
Every year, the Commission for Continuing Legal Education sends each Indiana attorney a statement with the approved courses currently on their record for the current year and the current Educational Period. If the statement shows that the attorney is not in compliance for the year or for the Educational Period, but the attorney believes this is an error, the attorney must submit the following:
- A letter of explanation
- A Sponsor certificate of attendance
- A personal affidavit of attendance
- A course application for accreditation
- Any required fees
What is the deadline for IN attorneys to certify compliance?
The documentation required to correct an incorrect transcript needs to be submitted by December 31st of the year or Educational Period in question. Then the Commission will send a notification to the attorney either stating that they are in compliance for the year or Educational Period, or that the Commission has denied the request for credit. From there, the attorney will have 30 days to comply with the Continuing Legal Education requirement.
ADDITIONAL CLE RESOURCES FOR INDIANA ATTORNEYS
State Contact Info
Indiana Commission for CLE
251 N. Illinois Street, Suite 550
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-232-2552
Fax: 317-233-1442
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/cle/
Indiana Search for Approved Programs
https://courtapps.in.gov/courses/cle
Indiana List of Accredited Sponsors
https://courtapps.in.gov/Reports/api/SponsorReport
Attorney Application for Accreditation of CLE Activity
Indiana Courts Portal
Indiana State Bar Mentor Match
http://www.inbar.org/?page=mentor_match
Newly Admitted Attorney FAQ