Yes — in Arkansas you can effectively obtain more time under a “deficiency cure” process if you fail to report by the July 31 deadline; the CLE Board also may grant extensions in special circumstances such as military mobilization.
Arkansas’ Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education provide that attorneys who fail to meet the required 12 hours by June 30 must file an Acknowledgment of Deficiency by August 31, then complete the deficiency by December 1 and certify by December 15. The Board may grant additional extensions (especially for mobilized service) and may waive certain fees.
Details & Conditions
- The Arkansas CLE Rules (Rule 5 Reporting) state:
• If your final CLE balance is deficient, you’ll receive a “final report” and an Acknowledgment of Deficiency form, which you must sign and return by August 31.
• You then must cure the deficiency by December 1 and submit appropriate documentation by December 15.
• Attorneys serving in the National Guard or reserves who are mobilized during the CLE period may be granted an additional 180 days to meet filing requirements, and the Board may grant further extensions upon request.
• The Board also has discretion to waive fees under Regulation 5.01 in appropriate cases. - What this means: the “extension” is built into the deficiency cure schedule and special relief provisions — there is no open-ended extension beyond these rules.
Key Takeaway
Yes — Arkansas allows you to request extra time via the deficiency cure process and special extensions (e.g. for military service), but you must follow the formal steps (Acknowledgment by August 31, cure by December 1) and seek Board approval.
