Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in Minnesota?

Yes — Minnesota permits you to request a “credit deadline extension” if you cannot finish CLE by the August 31 reporting deadline, but you’ll still owe the late-filing fee and must show a plan for completion.

The Minnesota CLE rules allow attorneys to complete missing credits during July–August (without a formal extension) or formally request extra time via their OASIS account or in writing.

Detailed Explanation

• Minnesota attorneys must report CLE compliance by August 31 following the end of the reporting period.
• The rules allow completion of CLE courses from July 1 through August 31 even if they fall after the formal period, without requesting an extension.
• If you still cannot finish by August 31, you may request a credit deadline extension:
    • Via your OASIS account (under “Request Credit Deadline Extension”)
    • Or in writing to the Board office
• Even with extension approval, you will incur a $75 late fee.
• If requesting extension after December 31, you must also submit a detailed plan; otherwise, extension may be limited to December 31.
• During the extension period, your license remains in good standing so long as the request is approved.

Key Takeaway

Yes — you can request a credit deadline extension in Minnesota, but only under limited conditions, and you still must pay the $75 late fee and submit a plan if asked.

Minnesota’s CLE “grace period” allows attorneys to complete missing credits between July 1 and August 31 and report them by August 31 — with no formal extension required. The compliance deadline is June 30 of the reporting period, but the rules permit post-deadline CLE through August 31 before late fees apply.

Key Facts & Process

• Compliance must be earned by June 30 each reporting cycle.
• Attorneys may continue taking courses and accrue credits during July and August.
• Reporting is due by August 31 via the OASIS portal or affidavit.
• A $75 late fee is assessed if reporting occurs after August 31, even if an extension was approved.
• Attorneys can request a formal extension through OASIS or by writing to the CLE Board, though the late fee still applies.

Key Takeaway: Minnesota permits a built-in post-deadline window until August 31 to complete and report CLE; attorneys who miss that date face a $75 late fee and may seek a formal extension during that period.

No — Minnesota’s CLE rules treat all active attorneys the same; there is no special reduction or alternative for part-time status.

Minnesota requires active attorneys to complete at least 45 CLE credit hours in each three-year reporting period, including minimum credits in ethics, elimination of bias, and mental health/substance use.

Details:

• Of the 45 required credits, at least 3 must be in ethics or professional responsibility; at least 2 in elimination of bias; and at least 1 in mental health/substance use.
• On-demand (self-study) credits were capped (30 credits) for courses reported before January 1, 2024, but that cap no longer applies for credits reported in reporting periods beginning in 2024 or later.
• Attorneys are grouped into reporting categories (Category 1, 2, or 3) for CLE scheduling and deadlines.
• If a lawyer elects restricted or emeritus status, different rules apply, but those are status-based, not workload-based.

Key Takeaway: Being part-time does not reduce or change Minnesota’s CLE obligations — all active attorneys are held to the same 45-credit, three-year requirement regardless of how much they practice.

No — judges in Minnesota do not have a separate CLE requirement apart from the state’s attorney CLE system.

Judges, like all active attorneys, are subject to Minnesota’s mandatory CLE rules under the Board of Continuing Legal Education; there is no distinct judicial-only continuing education mandate.

Details

• Minnesota law imposes CLE on licensed attorneys — 45 approved credit hours every three years, including credits in ethics, elimination of bias, and mental health/substance use.
• The Minnesota Judicial Branch’s “Lawyer & Judge Regulation” materials indicate that all attorneys (which includes judges) are required to comply with CLE.
• The official Rules of the Board of Continuing Legal Education make no carve-out or separate rule for judges.

Key Takeaway

In Minnesota, judges are governed by the same CLE obligations as other attorneys — there is no special judicial CLE program or separate credit requirement.

Minnesota does not use a status called “inactive” in CLE rules—rather, lawyers may elect voluntary restricted status, and those in restricted status are excused from CLE obligations.

Voluntary restricted status (and retirement) is formally treated as “restricted status” under MN CLE rules, not “inactive,” and CLE is not required while in restricted status.

Details:

• Minnesota CLE rules define voluntary restricted status as a status for lawyers who elect not to maintain an active license; such lawyers “do not need to comply with the educational and reporting requirements” of CLE.
• The Supreme Court’s Lawyer Registration rules require that to transfer from inactive or restricted status to active status, a lawyer must “complete all continuing legal education (CLE) requirements and be transferred to CLE active status.”
• Retirement status (via a Retirement Affidavit) places a lawyer on restricted status; retired lawyers who seek emeritus status must satisfy a reduced CLE requirement (5 credits within 90 days before applying, including ethics, bias, and substantive credits).
• Lawyers must complete 45 credit hours every three years when active, including at least 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of elimination of bias, and 1 hour of mental health/substance use credits.

Key Takeaway:
In Minnesota, attorneys who elect restricted (inactive-like) status are excused from fulfilling CLE during that period, but upon returning to active status they must complete all active CLE requirements.