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

South Dakota attorneys currently have no mandatory CLE requirement.

A proposal is under review that could establish a 20-hour biennial CLE requirement beginning in 2027, but it has not yet been adopted by the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Details

• At present, attorneys may complete CLE voluntarily, but it is not required for license renewal.

• On June 20, 2025, the State Bar voted to recommend a requirement of 20 hours every two years.

• Implementation depends on Supreme Court action, so the proposal is not yet enforceable.

• Until any mandatory rule is adopted, CLE in South Dakota remains optional and unregulated.

Key Takeaway: South Dakota has no current CLE mandate, though a 20-hour biennial requirement is under consideration for 2027.

No — you generally cannot request an extension for CLE reporting in South Dakota, because the state currently has no mandatory CLE requirement and thus no formal reporting deadlines to extend.

Details & nuance

• The State Bar of South Dakota states it is a non-mandatory CLE state, meaning attorneys are not required by law to complete or report CLE to maintain their license.
• Because there is no statutory CLE obligation or board-mandated compliance schedule, there is no mechanism in place to grant extensions for reporting.
• The South Dakota Bar’s CLE FAQ indicates that extensions are allowed “rarely, if ever,” contingent upon extraordinary circumstances — this implies discretion only in limited contexts, not a standard extension right.
• South Dakota attorneys recently voted in favor of adopting mandatory CLE beginning in 2027, but until that change is adopted, there is no existing extension or waiver regime tied to a reporting deadline.

Key Takeaway
Because South Dakota does not impose mandatory CLE or reporting requirements at present, you generally cannot request an extension for CLE reporting — the notion of extension is moot under the current framework.

You can’t “report” CLE credits in South Dakota in the sense of a required compliance submission, because South Dakota does not impose mandatory CLE on attorneys.

Attorneys may voluntarily attend CLE programs, but there is no state-level deadline or reporting window for those credits.

Key Takeaway
There is no “earliest reporting” in South Dakota — CLE is voluntary, so no formal reporting window exists.

No — South Dakota does not require CLE at all, so there is no requirement that CLE be live, webcast, or in person.

South Dakota CLE Rules

• CLE is entirely voluntary; there is no annual or biennial requirement.
• Attorneys may attend CLE events, but they are not required for license renewal.
• Formats such as live, webcast, or recorded programs may be offered voluntarily, but none are mandatory.

Key Takeaway: In South Dakota, CLE is not mandatory, so there is no requirement for live or in-person participation.

South Dakota does not require attorneys to complete or report CLE credits. No reporting format—such as affidavit, transcript, or portal—is mandated in the state.

Key Details:

• South Dakota is a non-mandatory CLE jurisdiction; continuing legal education is voluntary.
• Because there is no CLE requirement, attorneys do not file reports, maintain CLE logs for compliance, or submit certificates to a regulatory body.

Key Takeaway: In South Dakota, there is no CLE reporting format because CLE is not mandatory.

South Dakota currently has no mandatory CLE requirement, so there is no special rule for inactive attorneys.

Because CLE is not yet required, inactive status does not change any obligations—but if rules change, reinstatement rules may adopt CLE requirements.

Details

• State Bar offers an “Inactive Membership” option for members not practicing, with lower dues and no voting rights or practice rights.
• Inactive members may attend CLE programs (for a fee) but are not required to do so.
• South Dakota recently voted to adopt mandatory CLE (20 hours every two years starting 2027), but that rule has not yet taken effect.

Key Takeaway

In South Dakota, inactive attorneys have no CLE obligation today—and if CLE becomes mandatory in future, CLE obligations for reactivation will depend on the new rules.