Can I request an extension for CLE reporting in Minnesota?

Yes — under Minnesota’s CLE rules, lawyers may elect a “restricted status” (aka partially nonpracticing) in which they are exempt from fulfilling CLE obligations, so long as they do not practice law in the state.

In Minnesota, active-status lawyers must comply with CLE rules, but a lawyer in restricted status is relieved from the educational and reporting requirements.

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 attorneys must complete 45 CLE credit hours every reporting cycle, which spans three years. Within those 45 hours, they must include at least 3 hours in ethics, 2 hours in elimination of bias, and 1 hour in mental health/substance use.

Cycle & Reporting

• Reporting period: 3 years
• Compliance deadline: June 30 at the end of the period
• Reporting deadline: August 31 following the end of the period

Credit Requirements & Rules

• Total required: 45 credits every 3 years
• Ethics requirement: 3 credits
• Elimination of bias: 2 credits
• Mental health / substance use: 1 credit
• No credit carryover: excess credits beyond 45 in the reporting period do not roll over
• On-demand credit cap removed starting for courses reported after January 1, 2024 (i.e. newer cycles may have no limit)

Key Takeaway: In Minnesota the CLE reporting cycle is three years requiring 45 CLE hours, including ethics, bias, and mental health credits, with no carryover allowed.