Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in Michigan?

Michigan has no mandatory CLE requirement, so attorneys are not required to report CLE credits. Because there is no MCLE rule, there is no reporting format such as an affidavit, transcript, or online portal.

Key Details:

• Michigan attorneys are not required to complete or report CLE hours.
• The State Bar of Michigan encourages voluntary continuing education, but it is not mandatory.
• Since there is no requirement, attorneys do not file CLE reports, maintain compliance logs, or submit affidavits.

Key Takeaway: Michigan attorneys do not have to report CLE because the state does not have a mandatory CLE system.

Yes — judges in Michigan now have a separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirement, even though attorneys in Michigan are not subject to mandatory CLE.

Michigan adopted rules establishing mandatory continuing judicial education for judicial officers effective January 1, 2024, as part of an administrative order by the Supreme Court.

Details

• Administrative Order No. 2021-7 sets forth mandatory continuing judicial education rules for all judicial officers in Michigan.
• Each judicial officer (other than retired judges serving by assignment) must complete 24 hours of continuing judicial education every two years, divided into 6 hours in integrity and demeanor, and 18 hours in judicial practice and related substantive areas.
• Retired judges serving by assignment must complete 8 hours every two years (2 hours in integrity and demeanor + 6 hours in judicial practice).
• Credits generally may not be carried over between reporting periods.
• Michigan does not have a mandatory CLE requirement for attorneys — there is currently no MCLE imposed on lawyers in Michigan.

Key Takeaway

Michigan requires judges to satisfy a distinct, mandatory continuing judicial education program (24 hours per two years), while attorneys remain free of mandatory CLE obligations.

There is no CLE deadline in Michigan because Michigan does not require attorneys to complete or report CLE for licensure.

Key Takeaway: Missing a CLE deadline in Michigan has no consequence because Michigan does not mandate CLE compliance for attorneys.

Michigan attorneys have no mandatory CLE (MCLE) requirement.

There is currently no rule or statute requiring Michigan lawyers to complete a set number of continuing legal education hours for licensure maintenance.

Details

• CLE in Michigan is voluntary; attorneys may take courses to maintain competence, but no state mandate exists.

• For lawyers handling indigent defense work, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) requires 12 hours of training per year under its Standard 1, but that is specific to indigent defense, not a universal bar requirement.

• Any CLE credits earned are discretionary, and there is no state system for reporting or auditing them in the context of mandatory compliance.

• Because there is no mandatory CLE rule, CLE providers (including SproutEducation) offer courses for professional development rather than to satisfy a state requirement.

Key Takeaway: Michigan imposes no general CLE requirement on attorneys, though certain practice roles (e.g. indigent defense) may have specialized training obligations under separate rules.

You do not report CLE credits in Michigan because the state does not currently mandate continuing legal education or CLE reporting.
Michigan attorneys are not required by rule to certify CLE, though CLE may be useful for multi-state compliance or professional development.

Overview of Michigan CLE Status

Michigan is one of the states without a mandatory CLE requirement for attorneys. Some specialty areas (e.g. indigent defense) require CLE under specific statutory or administrative schemes, with reporting via the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) using CE Broker.

Steps (If You Have to Report for a Specific Program)

• Register for a free CE Broker account and link it to Michigan’s reporting program (e.g. MIDC).
• Check that your completed courses are listed in CE Broker’s Course History and record your CLE compliance status.
• If a course is missing, submit it through CE Broker or send required forms to MIDC (often via email).
• Maintain your own records (certificates, agendas) as backup for any reporting audits.
• Confirm that SproutEducation-delivered credits (if applicable) appear in your CE Broker history; where provider reporting is allowed, we support transmission, but you remain responsible for monitoring your record.

Key Takeaway: In Michigan there is no general requirement to report CLE credits—attorneys do not certify CLE. For certain programs mandated by commission (e.g. MIDC), you use CE Broker for tracking and reporting. Sprout Education supports reporting where permitted, but your responsibility is to monitor and ensure credit visibility.

There is no mandatory CLE requirement for attorneys in Michigan—so there is no separate rule for inactive attorneys.

Because Michigan imposes no MCLE obligations, attorneys may choose inactive status without affecting CLE obligations (since none exist).

Details:

• Michigan currently has no rule requiring attorneys (active or inactive) to complete CLE credits.
• Attorneys in Michigan are nonetheless encouraged to engage in continuing education to maintain competence, under the professional responsibility norms (e.g., Michigan’s Rules of Professional Conduct).
• Inactivity status in Michigan affects eligibility to practice and membership privileges (e.g. inactive attorneys are not authorized to practice).

Key Takeaway:
In Michigan, inactive attorneys have the same CLE status as active ones—that is, there is no CLE requirement at all, so going inactive does not change any CLE obligations.