Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in West Virginia?

Yes — judges in West Virginia are subject to a separate Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) requirement distinct from attorney CLE.
The CJE program is administered by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia through the Administrative Office and applies specifically to judicial officers.

Under Rule 7 of the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure, every full-time judge must complete a minimum of 50 hours of approved judicial education every two years. These hours must include instruction in judicial ethics, substantive law, and other areas essential to judicial competence. The Administrative Director of the Courts oversees compliance and may grant extensions or waivers for good cause.

Summary of Judicial Education Obligations

Key Takeaway

Judges in West Virginia must complete 50 hours of Continuing Judicial Education every two years under the Supreme Court’s judicial disciplinary rules, separate from the attorney CLE system.

In West Virginia, CLE credit is earned via approved courses, self-study, teaching, pro bono service, and certain “Bridge the Gap” programming—all governed by Rule 6 of the West Virginia State Bar’s MCLE regulations.

Attorneys must complete 24 credit hours every two years, including 3 hours in ethics, office management, substance abuse, or elimination of bias.

Qualifying CLE activities

• Approved live or interactive courses (in-person or webcast) — credit for instruction time, measured in 50-minute hours.
• On-demand / recorded digital courses that are accredited — subject to a cap.
• Teaching, lecturing, or presenting approved CLE programs (including preparation) upon prior approval by the MCLE Commission.
• Authorship or publication of legal materials when approved under Rule 6.05.
• Pro bono legal service, through specified approved organizations — one CLE credit for every three hours of qualifying service (up to 6 CLE credits per cycle).
• Bridge the Gap (new lawyer) seminar attendance is required for newly admitted attorneys and counts toward CLE.

Limits, caps & special rules

• No more than 12 hours of CLE credit may be earned via recorded / on-demand courses in a reporting period.
• A maximum of 6 pro bono CLE credits may be earned per reporting period; pro bono credits do not carry over.
• Attorneys may carry over up to 6 non-ethics CLE credits into the next reporting period; ethics, office management, substance abuse, and elimination-of-bias credits may not carry over.
• CLE must be completed by June 30 of even-numbered years; reporting deadline is July 31 of those years.
• In calculating credit, one hour of CLE credit is given for each 50 minutes of instruction in an approved course.
• For courses by non-presumptively accredited providers, attorneys must seek individual course approval.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, you can satisfy your 24-hour biennial CLE by attending approved live or recorded courses, teaching, publishing legal works, performing pro bono service (within limits), and attending Bridge the Gap if new—just be sure to meet the ethics requirement, respect the cap on recorded credit, and comply with carryover and reporting rules.

Yes – West Virginia provides CLE exemptions and deferments for attorneys who are on inactive or retired status and not engaged in the practice of law. While inactive attorneys are exempt from completing CLE during their inactive period, CLE obligations resume if they return to active practice.

West Virginia CLE Rules for Inactive Attorneys

• Inactive exemption: Attorneys on inactive or retired status who are not practicing law are exempt from West Virginia’s MCLE reporting and credit requirements.
• Reactivation requirement: Upon returning to active status, attorneys must complete CLE requirements for the current reporting period and any additional credits the MCLE Commission or Supreme Court may require.
• Standard active requirement: Active attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits every two years, including 3 credits in legal ethics, office management, substance abuse, or elimination of bias.
• Administrative oversight: The West Virginia State Bar’s MCLE Commission maintains the records of active, inactive, and retired attorneys and applies exemptions or deferments based on written requests.
• Pro bono credit option: Active attorneys may earn up to 6 CLE credits for approved pro bono service, though this benefit does not apply while on inactive status.

Key Takeaway

West Virginia exempts attorneys on inactive or retired status from CLE obligations during their inactive period. When reinstating to active practice, attorneys must meet current CLE requirements and any reinstatement conditions imposed by the MCLE Commission.

If you miss West Virginia’s CLE deadline, you may incur late-reporting penalties and risk referral for suspension if the deficiency persists. West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits (including 3 in ethics/office management/substance abuse/elimination of bias) every two years, with all credits earned by June 30 of even-numbered years and reports submitted by July 31.

West Virginia CLE Deadline & Reporting

• June 30 (even years): Deadline to complete required CLE credits.
• July 31 (even years): Deadline to report credit compliance.

Consequences & Suspension Risk

• Attorneys who fail to timely report may face late-reporting penalties (e.g. a “late reporting penalty” in fee schedule).
• Continued noncompliance may lead to referral to the West Virginia MCLE Commission or Supreme Court for suspension until compliance is restored.
• Reinstatement will require completing all deficient CLE hours, paying assessed penalties, and filing proof of compliance.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, missing your CLE deadline exposes you to late-reporting penalties and possible suspension unless you promptly cure the deficiency and file your compliance report.

Yes — West Virginia requires attorneys to complete at least 12 hours of “live” programming (in-person or synchronous) in each biennial CLE reporting period.

The total CLE obligation is 24 credit hours every two years, and up to 12 hours may be earned via prerecorded or on-demand programs.

Details

• West Virginia attorneys must earn 24 CLE credits in a two-year cycle, including 3 hours in ethics, office management, or similar mandated content.
• The rules specify a minimum of 12 credit hours must come from live programs — this includes in-person seminars or fully interactive live webcasts.
• The remaining 12 hours may be satisfied via prerecorded or asynchronous formats, but those are capped at 12 hours per period.
• For newly admitted attorneys, the “Bridge the Gap” program must include live seminar attendance as part of its requirement.

Key Takeaway

West Virginia enforces a live-format floor: attorneys must earn half of their CLE credits (12 of 24) through live or real-time instruction, with the rest eligible via prerecorded formats under the state’s rules.

No — West Virginia’s CLE rules do not admit a reduced requirement for part-time versus full-time attorneys; all active attorneys must meet the same standard (subject only to status-based exemptions).

West Virginia requires each active attorney to complete 24 CLE credit hours in every two-year compliance period, including at least 3 hours in ethics, office management, attorney well-being, or elimination of bias.

Details:

• A minimum of 12 credit hours must be earned through “live” or interactive formats, and up to 12 hours may be taken via pre-recorded or distance learning formats.
• Excess credits may be carried forward (up to 6 credits), but not for ethics or the special subject categories.
• Newly admitted attorneys must complete a “Bridge the Gap” program within 24 months of admission.
• If admitted in the first year of a compliance period, an attorney must complete 12 credits (including 3 in ethics/special categories); if admitted in the second year, the attorney is exempt from that period.

Key Takeaway: West Virginia applies uniform CLE obligations — whether you are part-time or full-time has no impact on your CLE requirement.