While CLE requirements differ by state, it’s possible for you to complete your continuing education requirements via online law courses, thereby eliminating or reducing the burden of in-person CLE. That’s great for busy attorneys that have better things to do than to attend law classes during their busy work days, instead opting for law courses online that can be done from the comfort of home or the office.
Furthermore, the best online law courses may even allow you to learn asynchronously via prerecorded material and information, meaning that you may not even need to log on at a certain date and time to meet your CLE needs. That said, it all depends on your state and how your state’s bar allows you to satisfy your CLE requirements. Some require self-reporting and clearing certain law courses before you can submit your credits while others may have defined requirements that are easier to follow.
Fulfilling CLE Requirements With Online Law Courses
The good news is that online law courses are available in every practice area imaginable to help you meet your state’s CLE requirements. Many CLE websites — including ours! — even offer packaged deals that include all the important courses and credits you’ll need to satisfy CLE requirements, all organized in a convenient set that is much easier to manage than doing the work offline.
With online law classes, attorneys can fulfill their CLE requirements via two main approaches.
The first uses the convenient packages to satisfy a CLE need. Commonly referred to as compliance bundles, you’ll get a preselected group of the best online law courses available in your state. Forget about searching for courses or counting your credits — everything is accounted for and the only thing you need to do is complete your CLE according to the schedule.
Another way to satisfy CLE credits with online law courses is to obtain access to a CLE catalog and cherry-pick the courses that appeal to you. While each state requires certain practice areas and requirements to be fulfilled for every CLE period, a portion of your credits can come from general education, meaning that you may be able to study whatever you’d like.
Minimum CLE Requirements by State
Alabama – 12 hours of CLE required each year. Of that, 1 hour must be in the ethics field of study.
Alaska – 3 required hours each year. All 3 must be in ethics, though 9 additional hours in any field are encouraged.
Arizona – 15 hours each year with 3 in professional responsibility.
Arkansas – 12 hours per year with 1 in ethics.
California – 25 hours every 3 years with 4 hours in ethics, 1 hour of competence and 1 hour of removing bias in the legal profession. Half of all credits must be participatory while the rest can be self-study.
Colorado – 45 hours every 3 years with 7 hours of ethics. Credit hours follow a 50-minute hour.
Connecticut – 12 hours every year with 2 hours in ethics or professionalism.
Delaware – 24 hours every 2 years with 4 hours in ethics.
District of Columbia – No requirements, though newly admitted attorneys must complete Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice within 12 months.
Florida – 33 hours every 3 years with 5 hours in ethics, professionalism, substance abuse or mental illness awareness. The state also has a 50-minute hour.
Georgia – 12 hours each year with 1 hour in ethics, 1 hour in professionalism and 3 hours of practice for trial attorneys.
Hawaii – 3 hours each year with 1 hour in ethics.
Idaho – 30 hours every 3 years with 2 hours in ethics or professional responsibility.
Illinois – 30 hours every 2 years with 6 hours in professional responsibility.
Indiana – 36 hours over three years with at least 6 hours per year. 3 hours of ethics required.
Iowa – 15 hours each year with 3 hours of ethics every 2 years including substance abuse and mental health law courses.
Kansas – 12 hours each year with 2 hours in ethics.
Kentucky – 12 hours each year with 2 hours in ethics.
Louisiana – 12.5 hours each year with 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism.
Maine – 11 hours each year with 1 hour in ethics or professional responsibility. Half of the credits (up to 5.5 hours) can be via self-study or recorded programs.
Maryland – No CLE requirements.
Massachusetts – No CLE requirements.
Michigan – No CLE requirements.
Minnesota – 45 hours over 3 years with 3 hours in ethics and 2 hours in elimination of bias.
Mississippi – 12 hours each year with 1 hour in ethics, professional responsibility, professionalism, malpractice prevention, substance abuse or mental health. Up to 6 hours can be done via online law courses.
Missouri – 15 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics, professionalism or malpractice prevention, each of which must be taken live. Up to 6 hours can be done via recorded online law courses. Credit hours in the state are based on a 50-minute hour.
Montana – 15 hours each year with 2 hours in ethics or professionalism. Up to 5 hours can be from recorded courses.
Nebraska – 10 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics or professional responsibility.
Nevada – 12 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics and 1 hour in substance abuse, addictive disorders or mental health.
New Hampshire – 12 hours each year with 2 hours in ethics, professionalism, substance abuse, prevention of malpractice or attorney-client relations. Up to 6 hours via recorded law courses.
New Jersey – 24 hours every 2 years with 4 hours in ethics or professionalism (50-minute hour).
New Mexico – 12 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics or professionalism. Up to 4 hours of recorded classes.
New York – 24 hours every 2 years with 4 hours in ethics and professionalism (50-minute hour).
North Carolina – 12 hours every 2 years with 2 hours in ethics and professionalism. 1 additional hour required every 3 years in substance abuse or mental illness.
North Dakota – 45 hours every 3 years with 3 hours in ethics.
Ohio – 24 hours every 2 years with 2.5 hours in professional conduct.
Oklahoma – 12 hours per year with 1 hour in ethics (50-minute hour).
Oregon – 45 hours every 3 years with 5 hours in ethics or professionalism. Also required 1 hour in reporting child abuse and 3 hours in elimination of bias.
Pennsylvania – 12 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics.
Rhode Island – 10 hours per year with 2 in ethics (50-minute hour).
South Carolina – 14 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics and professionalism. Additional 2 hours on substance abuse or mental health every third reporting period.
South Dakota – No CLE requirements.
Tennessee – 15 hours per year with 3 hours in ethics and professionalism and no more than 8 hours through recorded online law courses.
Texas – 15 hours per year with 3 hours in ethics or legal professional responsibility.
Utah – 24 hours every 2 years with 3 hours in ethics or professional responsibility and 1 hour in professionalism and civility. Allowed up to 12 hours of online law courses through accredited programs.
Vermont – 20 hours every 2 years with 2 hours in ethics.
Virginia – 12 hours per year with 2 hours in ethics or professionalism.
Washington – 45 hours every 3 years with 6 hours in ethics and professional responsibility.
West Virginia – 24 hours every 2 years with 3 hours in ethics, office management, substance abuse or elimination of bias (50-minute hour).
Wisconsin – 30 hours every 2 years with 3 hours in ethics and personal responsibility (50-minute hour).
Wyoming – 15 hours each year with 2 hours in ethics.
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