Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in Kansas?

Missing the Kansas CLE deadline subjects you to late fees, a notice of noncompliance, and possible suspension if you do not cure. Kansas attorneys must complete 12 credit hours (including 2 ethics) by June 30 and report those hours by July 31.

Noncompliance Notice & Suspension Process (Rule 800)

• The Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) must notify you by certified mail if you appear not to meet CLE requirements or fail to pay the CLE registration fee.
• If you do not request a hearing or respond within 30 days, your name is certified to the Kansas Supreme Court for suspension.
• To avoid suspension, you may present proof of compliance or request a hearing under Rule 800(c).
• If suspension is entered, reinstatement requires completing the deficient hours, paying any fees, and having OJA certify your compliance to the Court.

Key Takeaway: In Kansas, failing to complete or report CLE by the deadlines triggers certified notice under Rule 800 and potential suspension unless you respond or cure within the 30-day period.

No — Kansas’s CLE rules apply equally to all active attorneys; there is no special reduced requirement for part-time lawyers.

An active Kansas attorney must complete 12 CLE credit hours per compliance period (July 1 to June 30), including at least 2 hours of ethics and professionalism.

Details:

• Rule 804(a) defines the 12-hour minimum for active attorneys.
• Excess general attendance credits (up to 10) can be carried forward to the next compliance period.
• Ethics/professionalism hours in excess of 2 hours convert to general attendance credit when carried forward.
• Exemptions exist: newly admitted attorneys (until the first full compliance period), inactive/retired/disabled attorneys, and certain judges not practicing law.
• The rules include a “good cause” exception for hardship or disability.
• Serving in the Kansas Legislature allows a 6-hour reduction of the general attendance requirement for that compliance period.

Key Takeaway: Kansas does not distinguish part-time vs full-time practice — all active attorneys must satisfy the same CLE obligations (unless exempt or eligible for special relief).

No — Kansas does not require attorneys to complete a specific number of in-person classroom CLE hours.

Kansas allows all required CLE hours to be earned via approved live (in-person or live interactive webcast) or prerecorded formats, subject to verification and accreditation rules.

Details

• Kansas attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours annually, including at least 2 hours in ethics and professionalism.
• All 12 hours may be obtained online or in person under Kansas rules.
• “Live program” in Kansas includes in-person, live webcasts, or teleconference with interactive features and is accredited the same way as in-person courses.
• “Prerecorded program” (on-demand) is acceptable if it meets Kansas verification standards, but self-study programs are not eligible for credit.
• Providers must independently verify attendance (e.g. pop-ups, polling questions, login tracking), not rely solely on affidavits.

Key Takeaway

Kansas mandates CLE credit but imposes no rule requiring a minimum number of in-person classroom hours — attorneys may fulfill their requirement via approved live or recorded formats if the program meets Kansas accreditation standards.

In Kansas, CLE credit counts when earned through approved attendance, teaching, authorship, law-school coursework, and limited law-practice-management programming.

Qualifying credit must meet the standards and limits in Kansas Supreme Court Rules 804 and 808, including format definitions, daily caps, and exclusions.

Approved activities that count

• Attendance at approved programs (in-person, electronic live, or approved prerecorded); credit is for actual attendance only.
• Teaching at an approved program; up to five credit hours may be awarded for each 50 minutes taught based on preparation and instruction time; the audience must be primarily attorneys.
• Authorship of a legal publication that substantially contributes to attorney education; publication must occur in the compliance period; credit may be awarded at one hour per 50 minutes of preparation.
• Enrollment in an ABA-accredited law-school course (for credit or audit) (one hour per 50 minutes of class time).
• Law-practice-management programs (up to two general attendance hours per compliance period).

Limits and exclusions

• No more than eight credit hours may be earned in one day of attendance.
• Self-study programs do not qualify for credit.
• Duplicate attendance within the same compliance period does not earn credit.
• Carryover: up to 10 unused general attendance hours; ethics hours carry over as general; teaching, authorship, and law-practice-management hours do not carry over.

Reporting snapshot

Attendance must be reported in the manner required by the rules; in most cases providers report attendance for approved programs, and attorneys submit affidavits where required. Sprout Education supports reporting by submitting attendance for its approved programs and providing documentation for attorney filings where applicable.

Key Takeaway: Approved attendance, teaching, authorship, law-school coursework, and limited law-practice-management hours count toward Kansas CLE; self-study is excluded, daily and carryover caps apply, and reporting must follow the official rules.

CLE reporting in Kansas is handled primarily by providers, not attorneys. Providers must electronically report attendance within 30 days of the program via the Kansas CLE attendance portal; attorneys review and confirm via the annual transcript notice.

Key Details:

• For provider-approved live or online programs, providers are required to submit attendance through the Kansas CLE system no later than 30 days after the course.
• Individual attorneys do not normally self-report attendance for provider-approved programs.
• Kansas CLE issues an annual transcript notice to attorneys; attorneys have 30 days to dispute any discrepancies.
• CLE must be completed by June 30 of each year; providers must post attendance by July 31 to count toward that year’s credits.

Key Takeaway: In Kansas, reporting is provider-driven via an online attendance portal; attorneys rely on the annual transcript notice to confirm compliance.

Kansas attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each year. That includes at least 2 hours in ethics.

Annual CLE Requirements in Kansas

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per compliance period (July 1 – June 30)
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours
• Compliance deadline: June 30
• Reporting deadline: July 31 following compliance year

Credit Carryover & Limits

• Up to 10 unused general attendance credits may carry into the next period
• Ethics/professionalism credits in excess may carry as general attendance credits—not as ethics credits
• No self-study credit (self-study, defined as unmoderated, does not count)

Exemptions & Special Rules

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from CLE during their initial compliance period
• Inactive, retired, or disabled attorneys, and judges not practicing law are exempt

Provider Support

• Sprout Education tracks your CLE hours and ensures reporting to Kansas CLE Commission for every relevant course on our platform

Key Takeaway: Kansas requires 12 CLE hours annually per attorney, including 2 hours in ethics and professionalism, with carryover of up to 10 general credits, and no credit for self-study.