Do CLE requirements differ for part-time vs full-time attorneys in Alabama?

Alabama attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics.

This obligation applies to all non-exempt active attorneys under Alabama’s MCLE rules.

Details

• At least 6 hours must come from “live” or synchronous activity; up to 6 hours may be from on-demand formats.
• Excess credits may carry over: attorneys may carry over up to 12 credits (including 1 ethics) into the next year.
• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from the annual requirement for the remainder of the year in which they are admitted.
• If an attorney fails to meet the requirement by December 31, they must submit a deficiency plan by February 15 and complete it by March 1; noncompliance may incur sanctions.

Key Takeaway: Alabama requires 12 CLE hours each year (with 1 hour ethics), with half from live formats, carryover allowed, and deficiency procedures in place for late compliance.

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Alabama as soon as the compliance year ends on December 31, with the official reporting window running until February 15.
Attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year (including 1 in ethics) and then submit their compliance within this January–February reporting period.

Key Points

• CLE credits must be earned by December 31 of each calendar year.
• The reporting system opens immediately after year-end, allowing attorneys to review and report their transcript.
• The final reporting deadline is February 15 of the following year.
• Credits are reported through the Alabama State Bar’s Attorney Portal, where attendance submitted by providers can be verified.
• Attorneys should confirm their transcript is accurate and address discrepancies with providers before the deadline.

Key Takeaway: In Alabama, you can start reporting your CLE credits as soon as the year closes on December 31, and you have until February 15 to certify your compliance.

Alabama requires 12 CLE credit hours each calendar year. At least 1 hour must be ethics, and at least 6 hours must be earned through live programs.

Annual CLE Requirements in Alabama

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per calendar year
• Ethics requirement: 1 credit hour
• Earning window: January 1–December 31
• Reporting deadline: February 15 of the following year

Credit Formats and Limits

• At least 6 hours must be earned through live programs (in-person, teleconference, or real-time interactive webinars)
• Web-based on-demand programs are capped at 6 hours per year
• Teleconferences are treated as live programs

Carryover

• Up to 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried forward one year

Provider Support

• Sprout Education tracks credits and supports reporting where applicable

Key Takeaway: Alabama requires 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 ethics hour, with at least 6 earned live and reporting due by February 15.

Yes. In Alabama, attorneys may be exempt from CLE if they are new admittees, public officials barred from private practice, age 65 or older, on Social Security retirement, certain judicial staff, or fully compliant in another MCLE state.

Examples of Exemptions

• New Admittees – Exempt for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are admitted.
• Public Officials – Exempt while serving in roles that prohibit private practice.
• Age or Retirement – Attorneys aged 65 or those receiving Social Security retirement benefits are exempt.
• Judicial Staff – Clerks and staff barred from private practice may qualify.
• Out-of-State Compliance – Attorneys who maintain compliance in another MCLE jurisdiction can claim exemption under Regulation 2.7.

Waivers

The MCLE Commission may waive requirements for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Key Takeaway: Alabama exempts new attorneys, senior/retired attorneys, public officials, judicial staff, and those compliant in another MCLE jurisdiction, with hardship waivers also available.

You report CLE credits in Alabama by submitting a certified affidavit (or online certification) to the Alabama State Bar by February 15.
This deadline ensures that credits earned in the prior year are properly recorded with the Bar.

Overview of Alabama CLE Reporting

The compliance period runs from January 1 through December 31.
By February 15, attorneys must certify their compliance or submit a deficiency plan if short on credits.
Failure to cure by March 15 may result in penalties or suspension.

Steps to Report CLE in Alabama

• Complete required CLE credits by December 31.
• Retain certificates of attendance.
• Submit your affidavit of compliance to the Alabama State Bar by February 15.
• If non-compliant, file a deficiency plan and pay the late fee by February 15; deficiencies must be corrected by March 15.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education and Alabama permits provider reporting, verify that these credits appear on your transcript (we submit them automatically where allowed).

Key Takeaway: In Alabama, finish your credits by year-end and file your affidavit by February 15. Sprout Education helps by reporting eligible credits directly, but you must still confirm your transcript and compliance.

Yes — Alabama’s judges are generally subject to the same 12-hour CLE mandate as attorneys, but municipal judges have a separate, lower judicial education requirement.

Under Alabama Code § 12-10B-2, Supreme Court justices, appellate judges, circuit court judges, and district court judges must complete a minimum of 12 hours of approved continuing legal education annually, including one hour in ethics.

Separately, Alabama has “Rules for Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education” that require municipal court judges to complete at least six hours of continuing judicial education each year (including one hour of judicial ethics), specific to municipal court practice and procedure.

Details

• The statutory CLE obligation in § 12-10B-2 explicitly extends to judges of the state judiciary (Supreme Court, appellate, circuit, district).
• The municipal judge requirement is governed under separate rules administered via Alabama municipal court / judicial education authority.
• The municipal rule mandates the six hours must be completed annually and must include at least one hour in judicial ethics.
• The municipal requirement also applies in the first full year of appointment for newly appointed municipal judges.

Key Takeaway: Yes — while most judges follow the standard 12-hour CLE rule under state law, municipal court judges have a distinct 6-hour judicial education requirement tailored to their court’s practice.