Do judges in New Mexico have separate CLE requirements?

No — New Mexico does not require CLE to be in person; “live” formats (including webcasts) and self-study formats are permitted. Beginning with the 2024 compliance year, attorneys may earn all 12 MCLE credits via self-study if preapproved.

Annual MCLE Requirements in New Mexico

• Total requirement: 12 CLE hours per year, including 2 ethics and 1 equity in justice credit.
• Compliance cycle: January 1 through December 31, with reporting by February 1.

Live and Self-Study Formats

• Definition of “live course” includes webcasts, teleconferences, and in-person programs that allow real-time interaction.
• Self-study (pre-recorded, on-demand) courses are allowable, but must be preapproved and include technology for verifying attendance/engagement.
• There is no minimum in-person requirement; the shift to allow all self-study eliminated any forced in-person mandate.

Key Takeaway: New Mexico allows attorneys to fulfill their full CLE obligation using live webcasts, in-person programs, or self-study formats — there is no requirement that any portion must be in person.

Missing New Mexico’s CLE deadline triggers a late fee and potential suspension of your license if noncompliance persists. New Mexico attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits annually (including 2 ethics and 1 equity in justice) by February 1, and any uncompleted credit by that date incurs a $275 late fee to be cured by April 30. If the deficiency is not cured by May 1, your name may be sent to the Supreme Court and your license is at risk of administrative suspension.

New Mexico CLE Deadline & Reporting

• February 1: Deadline to complete all required CLE credits.
• March 1: Deadline to report your credits.
• After February 1: A $275 late fee is imposed to allow cure by April 30.
• May 1: Failure to cure could lead to referral to the Supreme Court and possible suspension.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, missing your CLE deadline means paying a $275 late fee and using the cure period through April 30 — if not remedied by May 1, your license may be adversely affected by administrative suspension.

Attorneys in New Mexico submit a Certificate of Compliance attached to their annual State Bar membership renewal, listing all CLE activities and attaching certificates for non-Bar-sponsored events. Providers or the Bar often report attendance directly, but the formal reporting is via that compliance certificate.

Key Details:

• The compliance year runs January 1 through December 31.
• Each member must report CLE activities when renewing bar membership by submitting a Certificate of Compliance that includes Division-sponsored and non-Division courses.
• Non-Division-sponsored CLE requires attaching certificates of attendance to the compliance form; Division-sponsored courses require only listing (attendance records are kept by the Bar).
• Providers accredited in New Mexico report credits to the Bar (e.g. TRTCLE reports directly).
• Reporting deadline: the Certificate of Compliance must be submitted with the membership renewal (by March 1) covering the prior calendar year.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, CLE reporting is done via a Certificate of Compliance submitted during your bar renewal—with attachments for non-Bar sponsored courses—and providers also submit attendance to the Bar.

Yes — New Mexico allows attorneys to request an extension of time to meet CLE/MCLE requirements in special circumstances. The Board may grant that extension upon a petition showing “special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”

CLE & Reporting Deadlines in New Mexico

• Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 each year.
• Reporting (filing) is required by March 1.

Extension / Waiver Authority

• New Mexico law permits the Board to provide an extension or waiver “upon petition and a finding … special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”
• The extension or waiver is discretionary and based on the facts presented.

What You Should Do

1. Prepare a written petition explaining the special hardship or extenuating circumstances that prevented you from timely compliance.
2. File that petition with the Board (or relevant MCLE/Bar authority) before or as soon as practicable after the deadline.
3. Submit supporting documentation (medical records, travel, etc.) to substantiate your claim.
4. Request a specific extension period and/or partial waiver.
5. Monitor and comply with any conditions if your petition is granted, including completing remaining CLE within the extension period.

Limitations & Considerations

• The decision is discretionary — no guaranteed approval.
• The statute or rules do not define how long an extension may run.
• An extension must be grounded in hardship or circumstances beyond your control, not mere oversight or workload.
• Even with extension, you must ultimately satisfy the CLE requirement to avoid sanctions.

Key Takeaway
New Mexico attorneys may seek an extension for CLE reporting by petitioning for undue hardship, but relief is not automatic and must be carefully documented and timely filed.

New Mexico does not have a formal grace period for CLE reporting. Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 and report compliance by March 1, with penalties imposed if either deadline is missed.

New Mexico CLE Timeline

• February 1: Completion deadline for required annual CLE credits.
• March 1: Final deadline to report CLE compliance.
• No automatic extension or grace period exists beyond these dates.

Consequences of Missing Deadlines

• Late compliance or reporting after March 1 can result in monetary penalties.
• Continued noncompliance may be referred for disciplinary action under Rule 18-201 NMRA.

Key Takeaway: New Mexico requires CLE completion by February 1 and reporting by March 1 — there is no additional grace period, only penalties for late compliance.

Yes — New Mexico allows certain exemptions and waivers from CLE or credit requirements under specific conditions (e.g. military service), but it does not broadly exempt categories like age or public office.

Details / Exceptions

• Fee or credit exemptions or waivers must comply with Rule 18-202 NMRA, and properly documented U.S. military active duty is a recognized exemption.
• New attorneys are not required to fulfill CLE in their admission year; their CLE obligations begin in their first full year.
• Inactive attorneys (those not practicing) may not be subject to full CLE credit obligations when reactivating under defined terms.
• Reactivating attorneys must satisfy CLE credit obligations for the year of inactivity and the active year, subject to Rule 24-102(D).
• All requests for exemptions or waivers beyond military duty must be processed under the formal rule procedures (Rule 18-202).

Key Takeaway
New Mexico does not grant sweeping exemptions; it offers narrowly defined waivers (especially for military service), and tailors obligations for new admittees and reactivating attorneys under strict rule provisions.