Yes — Colorado provides some narrow exemptions from CLE, chiefly an age exemption at 72 and exemptions for certain license types (Foreign Legal Consultant, Pro Bono Counsel).
Under Colorado’s MCLE rules (C.R.C.P. 250), all “active” attorneys under age 72 must comply; in the compliance period in which an attorney turns 72 (while remaining active) they become exempt.
Details / Exceptions
- Age Exemption: In the compliance period when an attorney reaches age 72 and remains on active status, they are exempt from the CLE hours requirement.
- License Type Exemptions: Attorneys certified to practice in Colorado as Foreign Legal Consultants (C.R.C.P. 204.2) or Pro Bono Counsel (C.R.C.P. 204.6) are not required to complete or report MCLE in Colorado.
- Inactive / Suspended / Disability Inactive Status: If an attorney’s status is inactive, suspended (for reasons other than MCLE noncompliance), or disability inactive, the obligation to comply is deferred during that period.
- No general employment-based exemptions: Colorado’s rules do not broadly exempt government attorneys, professors, or full-time public employees from CLE simply by virtue of employment.
- Reporting requirement: Even when exempt by age, the attorney may (or must) still enter their MCLE activities or claim exemption in their transcript system, though the hours requirement does not apply.
Key Takeaway
In Colorado, only attorneys turning age 72 (remaining active) and certain license type holders (Foreign Legal Consultant, Pro Bono Counsel) are exempt from CLE; there is no broad practice-based exemption.