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

You report CLE credits in West Virginia via the WV State Bar’s online member portal, approving pending credits and entering any missing ones, by the July 31 deadline in even-numbered years.
You must complete 24 CLE hours (including 3 in ethics/office management/substance abuse/bias) by June 30 of the even year, then certify via the portal.

Overview of West Virginia CLE Reporting

• West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE hours every two years, including 3 hours in ethics, office management, attorney well-being, or elimination of bias.
• At least 12 hours must be from live or interactive programs; up to 12 hours may be pre-recorded or on-demand.
• The CLE cycle ends June 30 of even-numbered years; all credits must be completed by then.
• Reporting must be done by July 31 of those even-numbered years via the State Bar’s member portal.
• Accredited providers typically report your attendance, but you must review your “Awaiting Your Approval” section and confirm or enter credits in the portal.
• You may carry forward up to 6 credits into the next reporting period, but none of those may be ethics credits.

Steps to Report CLE in West Virginia

• Complete your 24 CLE hours (including required 3 ethics/office management/etc.) by June 30 of the even-numbered year.
• Log into your West Virginia State Bar MCLE / CLE portal at MyWVBar.
• Review your transcript and find credits listed under “Awaiting Your Approval.” Approve them to count toward your total.
• For any credits that were not auto-reported by a provider, use the portal to self-add those credits, providing course details and certificates.
• Confirm that your total reaches 24 CLE hours, ensuring you have met the specialty credit requirement.
• By July 31, certify your compliance via the portal (submit your finalized CLE record).
• If audited, be prepared to present your certificates, course titles, dates, provider information, and supporting documentation.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, make sure those are reflected in your “Awaiting Approval” list (if provider-submitted) or enter them manually before certifying.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, satisfy 24 CLE hours (with 3 ethics) by June 30 of an even year, then certify your credits in the MyWVBar portal by July 31. Sprout Education supports reporting where permitted, but you must verify, approve, or enter all relevant credits before submitting your compliance.

West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including 3 hours in ethics (which may include ethics, office management, attorney well-being, or elimination of bias).

At least 12 of the 24 hours must come from live programs; the remaining 12 may be pre-recorded.

Details

• Reporting period: 2 years, ending June 30 of even-numbered years.
• Reporting deadline: July 31 of even-numbered years.
• Carryover: Up to 6 excess credits (non-ethics) may carry into the next reporting period; ethics credits may not be carried over.
• New admittees: Attorneys admitted in the first 12 months of a period must complete 12 credits (including the 3 ethics credits). Those admitted in the second half of a period are exempt for that period.
• Delivery limits: Pre-recorded (on-demand) credits are capped at 12 hours per cycle.
• Bridge the Gap: All new attorneys must complete a “Bridge the Gap” program within 24 months of admission; that fulfills part of the ethics/management requirement.

Key Takeaway: West Virginia requires 24 CLE hours biennially, with 3 ethics hours, live minimums, capped recorded hours, carryover limits, and special rules for newly admitted attorneys.

Yes — judges in West Virginia are subject to a separate Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) requirement distinct from attorney CLE.
The CJE program is administered by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia through the Administrative Office and applies specifically to judicial officers.

Under Rule 7 of the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure, every full-time judge must complete a minimum of 50 hours of approved judicial education every two years. These hours must include instruction in judicial ethics, substantive law, and other areas essential to judicial competence. The Administrative Director of the Courts oversees compliance and may grant extensions or waivers for good cause.

Summary of Judicial Education Obligations

Key Takeaway

Judges in West Virginia must complete 50 hours of Continuing Judicial Education every two years under the Supreme Court’s judicial disciplinary rules, separate from the attorney CLE system.

In West Virginia, CLE credit is earned via approved courses, self-study, teaching, pro bono service, and certain “Bridge the Gap” programming—all governed by Rule 6 of the West Virginia State Bar’s MCLE regulations.

Attorneys must complete 24 credit hours every two years, including 3 hours in ethics, office management, substance abuse, or elimination of bias.

Qualifying CLE activities

• Approved live or interactive courses (in-person or webcast) — credit for instruction time, measured in 50-minute hours.
• On-demand / recorded digital courses that are accredited — subject to a cap.
• Teaching, lecturing, or presenting approved CLE programs (including preparation) upon prior approval by the MCLE Commission.
• Authorship or publication of legal materials when approved under Rule 6.05.
• Pro bono legal service, through specified approved organizations — one CLE credit for every three hours of qualifying service (up to 6 CLE credits per cycle).
• Bridge the Gap (new lawyer) seminar attendance is required for newly admitted attorneys and counts toward CLE.

Limits, caps & special rules

• No more than 12 hours of CLE credit may be earned via recorded / on-demand courses in a reporting period.
• A maximum of 6 pro bono CLE credits may be earned per reporting period; pro bono credits do not carry over.
• Attorneys may carry over up to 6 non-ethics CLE credits into the next reporting period; ethics, office management, substance abuse, and elimination-of-bias credits may not carry over.
• CLE must be completed by June 30 of even-numbered years; reporting deadline is July 31 of those years.
• In calculating credit, one hour of CLE credit is given for each 50 minutes of instruction in an approved course.
• For courses by non-presumptively accredited providers, attorneys must seek individual course approval.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, you can satisfy your 24-hour biennial CLE by attending approved live or recorded courses, teaching, publishing legal works, performing pro bono service (within limits), and attending Bridge the Gap if new—just be sure to meet the ethics requirement, respect the cap on recorded credit, and comply with carryover and reporting rules.

Yes – West Virginia provides CLE exemptions and deferments for attorneys who are on inactive or retired status and not engaged in the practice of law. While inactive attorneys are exempt from completing CLE during their inactive period, CLE obligations resume if they return to active practice.

West Virginia CLE Rules for Inactive Attorneys

• Inactive exemption: Attorneys on inactive or retired status who are not practicing law are exempt from West Virginia’s MCLE reporting and credit requirements.
• Reactivation requirement: Upon returning to active status, attorneys must complete CLE requirements for the current reporting period and any additional credits the MCLE Commission or Supreme Court may require.
• Standard active requirement: Active attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits every two years, including 3 credits in legal ethics, office management, substance abuse, or elimination of bias.
• Administrative oversight: The West Virginia State Bar’s MCLE Commission maintains the records of active, inactive, and retired attorneys and applies exemptions or deferments based on written requests.
• Pro bono credit option: Active attorneys may earn up to 6 CLE credits for approved pro bono service, though this benefit does not apply while on inactive status.

Key Takeaway

West Virginia exempts attorneys on inactive or retired status from CLE obligations during their inactive period. When reinstating to active practice, attorneys must meet current CLE requirements and any reinstatement conditions imposed by the MCLE Commission.

If you miss West Virginia’s CLE deadline, you may incur late-reporting penalties and risk referral for suspension if the deficiency persists. West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits (including 3 in ethics/office management/substance abuse/elimination of bias) every two years, with all credits earned by June 30 of even-numbered years and reports submitted by July 31.

West Virginia CLE Deadline & Reporting

• June 30 (even years): Deadline to complete required CLE credits.
• July 31 (even years): Deadline to report credit compliance.

Consequences & Suspension Risk

• Attorneys who fail to timely report may face late-reporting penalties (e.g. a “late reporting penalty” in fee schedule).
• Continued noncompliance may lead to referral to the West Virginia MCLE Commission or Supreme Court for suspension until compliance is restored.
• Reinstatement will require completing all deficient CLE hours, paying assessed penalties, and filing proof of compliance.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, missing your CLE deadline exposes you to late-reporting penalties and possible suspension unless you promptly cure the deficiency and file your compliance report.