Can I submit CLE credits online in New York?

If you miss the CLE deadline in New York, you may face audit and disciplinary referral rather than automatic suspension. New York attorneys do not file CLE separately — they certify CLE compliance on their biennial attorney registration, and failure to do so may lead to report to the Appellate Division.

New York CLE Deadline, Reporting & Extension

• Experienced attorneys must complete 24 CLE hours every two years (including 4 in ethics, 1 in diversity, and 1 in cybersecurity).
• Certification occurs via the attorney registration form, filed within 30 days after your birthday in your reporting year.
• If you fail to complete required credits, you may apply for an extension up to 90 days for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Consequences of Noncompliance

• If audited and unable to show proof of compliance, your name may be referred to the Appellate Division for disciplinary action.
• In past cases, attorneys suspended for CLE non-compliance have had to undergo full reinstatement proceedings.
• The CLE Board does not automatically suspend attorneys simply for missing the deadline — instead, compliance is enforced through audit and disciplinary mechanism.

Key Takeaway: In New York, missing your CLE deadline does not itself trigger suspension — but failure to certify or respond to audit may lead to referral to disciplinary proceedings and possible reinstatement requirements.

Attorneys in New York report CLE compliance on their biennial Attorney Registration form, certifying they’ve met their CLE requirement. Certificates of completion are not submitted with the form but must be retained for at least four years in case of audit.

Key Details:

• Compliance is certified within 30 days after your birthday, in alternate years.
• On the Attorney Registration form, you select one of three certification options: completed CLE requirement, exempt, or applied for waiver/extension.
• You do not attach certificates to the registration form — you must keep them in your records.
• Credits may be carried over: up to 6 credits can carry forward into the next reporting cycle.

Key Takeaway: In New York, CLE reporting is done by self-certification on your biennial registration form (within 30 days after your birthday), and you retain but do not submit attendance certificates.

New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years (biennial reporting cycle). Within those 24 credits, at least 4 must be in ethics, at least 1 in diversity/inclusion/elimination of bias, and at least 1 in cybersecurity/privacy & data protection.

Credit Requirements & Subcategory Minimums

• Total required: 24 credits per biennial cycle
• Ethics & professionalism: ≥ 4 credits
• Diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias: ≥ 1 credit
• Cybersecurity, privacy & data protection: ≥ 1 credit

Carryover & Cycle Rules

• Carryover allowed: up to 6 credits may carry into next cycle
• Cycle length: two years (biennial)

Newly Admitted Attorneys (Transitional CLE)

• Total transitional requirement: 32 credits over first two years (16 per year)
• Each year’s 16 credits must include categories: ethics, skills, practice management/areas of professional practice, and 1 cybersecurity credit

Key Takeaway: In New York, the regular CLE cycle is biennial and requires 24 credits with mandated credits for ethics, diversity, and cybersecurity, and a 6-hour carryover limit.

You report CLE credits in New York by certifying your compliance on your biennial Attorney Registration Form (due within 30 days after your birthday in alternate years).
New York uses a self-reporting model — you don’t submit each certificate to the CLE Board, but you must retain them for audit.

Overview of New York CLE Reporting

Experienced attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including:
• 4 hours in Ethics & Professionalism
• 1 hour in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias
• 1 hour in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection (effective July 1, 2023)
Newly admitted attorneys (first two years) must complete 32 transitional CLE hours (16 per year), with required categories including ethics, skills, law practice, and one cybersecurity hour.
You may carry over up to 6 credits from one cycle to the next.
You are exempt if you do not practice law in New York during the cycle, are a full-time active duty military, or are retired under Judiciary Law § 468-a.

Steps to Report CLE in New York

• Complete your required CLE hours before your registration due date (within 30 days after your birthday).
• Retain certificates, agendas, provider details, and proof of attendance for at least 4 years.
• When your biennial registration period arrives, complete your Attorney Registration Form and check the appropriate CLE certification box:
• Certification 1 – “Completed CLE credit requirement”
• Certification 2 – “Exempt from CLE requirement”
• Certification 3 – “Applied for extension, waiver, or modification”
• You do not attach certificates to the registration form; only certify compliance.
• If audited, provide your certificates and supporting documentation upon request.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, make sure your attendance records align with New York’s approved program criteria and that you maintain all documentation (we support recordkeeping but you must manage your certification).

Key Takeaway: New York attorneys certify CLE compliance via their biennial registration form, rather than by submitting each credit. You must complete 24 hours (or 32 hours if newly admitted), keep your records, and check the appropriate certification box when you file your registration.

No — New York does not require most attorneys to complete a minimum number of in-person or live webcast CLE credits.
Experienced attorneys may earn all required CLE credits through on-demand or recorded programs, provided the course is accredited and completed within the compliance period.

CLE Format Rules in New York

• Experienced attorneys (admitted more than two years) must complete 24 CLE credits every two years. All 24 credits may be earned via nonparticipatory (on-demand) programs, as long as the course is approved by the New York State CLE Board.
• Newly admitted attorneys (in their first two years of admission) are the exception:
  • Skills credits must be completed through a traditional live classroom or a fully interactive live videoconference.
  • Ethics and Professionalism credits must allow real-time interaction (such as live webcast or video).
  • Temporary provisions allow newly admitted attorneys to complete Skills credits via live interactive webcast or teleconference through December 31, 2025.
• There is no universal live-hour minimum for all attorneys under New York’s CLE rules.

Summary Table

Key Takeaway

New York does not impose a live or in-person CLE minimum for most attorneys — only newly admitted attorneys must take certain Skills and Ethics credits in live or interactive formats.

In New York, attorneys earn CLE credit by participating in Board-accredited programs, presenting or teaching, publishing legal works, or engaging in qualifying pro bono service, subject to format, documentation, and category rules.

These rules derive from 22 NYCRR Part 1500 and the NY State CLE Board’s policies.

Credit-eligible activities

• Attendance at accredited programs in formats such as live classroom, webinars, teleconferences, videoconferences, and recorded/on-demand courses, provided the sponsor is NY-approved.
• Presenting, teaching, moderating, or panel participation at accredited CLE programs; credit awarded for instruction time and in some cases preparation.
• Publishing legal writings, legal articles or books, when the CLE Board approves the content for credit.
• Involvement in legal education or service roles recognized by the CLE Board (e.g. judging moot court or supervising competitions).
• Out-of-state courses approved via the NY “Approved Jurisdiction” policy, converted to NY credit based on minute rules.

Key constraints & formatting rules

• Credit is calculated in 50-minute hours, in 0.5-hour increments.
• Experienced attorneys (bar > 2 years) must complete 24 credits every two years, including 4 in Ethics, 1 in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias, and 1 in Cybersecurity (effective July 1, 2023).
• Newly admitted attorneys must complete 32 transitional credits in their first two years (16 credits per year) in required categories (Ethics, Skills, Law Practice Management, Cybersecurity).
• Ethics/Professionalism, Diversity, and Cybersecurity credits may require participation or interactivity (e.g. live or fully interactive webcast) depending on rules.
• Excess credits may carry over: experienced attorneys may carry over up to 6 credits.
• Attorneys must retain certificates for program completion (minimum four years) and report CLE compliance on the biennial attorney registration form.

Key Takeaway: In New York, CLE “counts” when attorneys attend NY-accredited programs, teach or publish with approval, or participate in legal education roles—including out-of-state programs under the Approved Jurisdiction policy—subject to minute-based credit calculations, required credit categories, and reporting rules under 22 NYCRR Part 1500.