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Remaining informed about changes in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements is crucial for legal professionals to uphold their licenses and remain relevant in the ever-evolving field of law. Several states have recently implemented updates to their CLE regulations, aiming to enhance attorney competence, professionalism, and ethical standards. Lawline has compiled a running list of all the CLE rule changes going into effect in 2024 and beyond. We will continue to update this article as new changes are announced.
Without further ado, here's a breakdown of the most recent 2024 changes by state:
Alaska
When?
Starting January 1, 2025.
What Changed?
Previously, Alaska attorneys were only required to complete 3 credits in Ethics as mandatory credit and the remaining 9 credit hours were recommended. Now, all 12 hours will be mandatory.
California MCLE Rule Changes
When?
Effective immediately.
What Changed?
Beginning with the compliance period ending on January 31, 2025, California attorneys are required to complete 25 credits every 3 years, including:
- At least 4 hours in Ethics
- At least 2 hours of Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession (1 of these must specifically be in Implicit Bias)
- At least 2 hours on Competence Issues (1 of these must specifically focus on prevention and detection);
- At least 1 hour of Technology
- At least 1 hour of Civility in the Legal Profession
For more information, please visit our California CLE Requirements page.
Florida 2024 CLE Rule Changes
All Florida attorneys with reporting cycles ending in April 2024 and beyond must begin adhering to the new 2-hour Professionalism course produced by the Florida Bar.
We broke down the new requirement below in case you missed it:
- CLE credit requirements are reduced to 30 per compliance period.
- FL Bar members are no longer required to fulfill a “bias elimination” requirement.
- FL Bar members are now required to complete a two-hour legal professionalism course produced by the Florida Bar. This is a free course that replaces the current one-hour professionalism requirement.
For more information, please visit our Florida CLE Requirements page.
Minnesota 2024 CLE Rule Changes
- Starting January 1, 2024, the number of permitted on-demand CLE credits became unlimited. MN attorneys can complete their requirements with Lawline’s On Demand courses this year and beyond.
- Effective July 1, 2024, attorneys must complete at least 1 credit in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder.
- Compliance Group 1 (due 6/30/2024) is not required to complete courses in the new credit type until their new compliance term begins.
For more information, please visit our Minnesota CLE Requirements page.
New Jersey 2024 CLE Rule Changes
When?
Effective January 1, 2024.
What Changed?
- Effective January 1, 2024, the definition of Live Instruction has been expanded to include Webcasts. Although the COVID amendment waiving the live requirement is still in effect, Lawline’s Webcast programs will satisfy the live requirement once the waiver is lifted.
- During COVID, New Jersey temporarily allowed attorneys to complete their entire requirement through any format, but implied that they would eventually return to having an in-person requirement.
- Effective March 29, 2024, the COVID waiver has officially been lifted, and NJ attorneys once again need to complete their requirements through live instruction. However, with the above rule change, NJ attorneys can satisfy their live requirement via live webcasts, and therefore, can fulfill their entire CLE requirement with Lawline.
- Additionally, New Jersey added 3 new subject areas for Newly Admitted attorneys: NJ Administrative Law, NJ Labor and Employment Law, & NJ Workers’ Compensation Law. Attorneys must complete 16 credits in at least 6 of 12 subject areas, including at least 1 credit in New Jersey Attorney Trust & Business Accounting Fundamentals. For more information, please visit Lawline’s NJ Newly Admitted Attorneys CLE Requirements page.
New Mexico 2024 MCLE Rule Changes
When?
Changes will start with the 2024 compliance period, February 2nd, 2024 - February 1st, 2025.
What Changed?
- The New Mexico Supreme Court has added the Equity In Justice credit type to the CLE requirement. New Mexico attorneys will now take 12 credits, with at least 2 in Ethics and 1 in Equity in Justice, every compliance period.
- The New Mexico Supreme Court has lifted the live requirement, starting with the 2024 compliance year. New Mexico Attorneys can now complete their entire CLE requirement with Lawline through on-demand courses.
For more information, please visit our New Mexico CLE Requirements page.
New York 2024 CLE Rule Changes
New York has extended the changes to format restrictions, enabling newly admitted attorneys to meet their Skills requirements via Lawline’s Live Webcast format. This extension is in effect until June 30, 2024.
For more information, please visit our New York CLE Requirements page.
North Carolina 2024 CLE Rule Changes
When?
Starting March 1st, 2024.
What Changed?
- The North Carolina Supreme Court is moving to a 2-year reporting cycle with the new compliance period from March 1st - February 28/29th. The compliance groups are based on the attorney's admission year (even/odd year).
- The North Carolina Supreme Court has also increased the CLE requirements to 24 hours, including 4 in Ethics, 1 in Technology, and 1 in Professional Well-Being. (Professional Well-Being replaced the Substance Abuse requirement.)
- The even-year compliance group begins with the new 2-year, 24-hour CLE requirements, while the odd-year compliance group will have temporary 1-year, 12-hour CLE requirements until March 1, 2025.
For more information, please visit our North Carolina CLE Requirements page.
Rhode Island 2025 CLE Rule Changes
When?
Starting July 1st, 2025.
What Changed?
- All Rhode Island attorneys will now be required to complete 1 credit in diversity, equity, and inclusion for each compliance cycle;
- Newly admitted Rhode Island attorneys will need to complete Rhode Island’s Bridge the Gap program within 90 days of bar admission.
For more information, please visit our Rhode Island CLE Requirements page.
State CLE Deadlines
JANUARY 31:
California
FEBRUARY 1:
New Mexico
FEBRUARY 28:
North Carolina, South Carolina
MARCH 31:
Montana, Grace Period Ends for Georgia
APRIL 30:
Oregon, Pennsylvania (Group 1)
JUNE 30:
Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia
JULY 31:
Mississippi
AUGUST 31:
Pennsylvania (Group 2)
OCTOBER 31:
Virginia
DECEMBER 31:
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (Group 3), Tennessee, Hawaii, Washington, Wisconsin, US Virgin Islands
Staying informed about these changes is essential for legal professionals to ensure compliance with their state's CLE requirements. For more detailed information, visit Lawline’s CLE requirements page. Stay updated, stay compliant, and stay ahead in your legal career!
