How do I verify a CLE provider’s bar approval?

A CLE deficiency notice is an official notification sent by a state bar or MCLE board when an attorney has not completed or reported the required CLE credits by the deadline. It alerts the attorney to the deficiency and provides a cure period before penalties or suspension are imposed.

What It Includes

• The number of CLE credits still outstanding.
• Categories of credits missing (e.g., ethics, professionalism, specialty).
• Deadlines for curing the deficiency (often 30–60 days).
• Instructions for submitting proof of compliance and paying late fees.

Key Takeaway: A CLE deficiency notice is the bar’s formal warning that you are out of compliance, giving you a final chance to fix missing credits before fines or suspension take effect.

No, CLE is not required before passing the bar. CLE requirements generally begin only after an attorney has been formally admitted to practice law.

When CLE Obligations Begin

• Law students and bar applicants are not subject to CLE requirements.
• Once admitted, attorneys must complete CLE according to the rules of their licensing jurisdiction.
• Many states provide special initial requirements for new admittees, such as orientation programs or bridge-the-gap training.

Exemptions and Special Rules

• New admittees are often exempt from standard CLE requirements in their first reporting cycle.
• Instead, they may be required to complete specific new-lawyer training courses within a set period after admission.
• These requirements vary by jurisdiction and must be confirmed with the state’s CLE authority.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education monitors these distinctions and ensures that new attorneys understand when CLE compliance begins and what transitional rules apply.

Key Takeaway: CLE is never required before bar admission; obligations start only once an attorney is admitted, with special new-lawyer requirements in some states.

Sometimes — in many jurisdictions, attending law school classes can count as CLE (or MCLE) credit if the jurisdiction’s rules allow academic credit to be converted into CLE, but only under certain conditions. It depends on the state’s CLE regulations and whether the law school course is approved.

Details & Examples:

• Illinois: The MCLE Board permits attorneys to claim CLE credit for attending J.D. or graduate level law courses at an ABA-accredited law school (post-admission), subject to approval, with limits (e.g. maximum hours). (Illinois MCLE Board FAQ)
• California: California’s MCLE rules explicitly list “attending law school classes” among activities that may qualify, subject to the State Bar’s approval process. (California Bar MCLE Education Approval rules)
• North Carolina: Under Rule .1523, a member may earn CLE credit for ABA law school courses in substantive law, though not for courses taken before bar admission, and subject to the formula in Rule .1524.
• New York: Attorneys may earn 1 CLE credit hour for each 50 minutes of instruction at an ABA-accredited law school, with the law school providing documentation (transcript, certificate). (NY Courts CLE FAQs)

Key conditions that typically apply:

1. The law course must be at an ABA-accredited law school (or recognized equivalent).
2. The course must satisfy “substantive law” or “legal education” content, not non-legal or primarily commercial topics.
3. You must submit evidence: transcript, certificate from the law school showing attendance, hours, course designation, etc.
4. Some jurisdictions cap the number of CLE credits you can derive from law school classes within a reporting period.
5. Courses taken before bar admission are often excluded or require additional justification.

Key Takeaway
Yes — law school classes can sometimes be converted into CLE credit, but only in jurisdictions whose rules allow it and under strict conditions (approved law school, substantive content, documentation, and caps).

Yes — in some jurisdictions you can claim CLE credit for overseas courses, but only if your state’s CLE rules allow recognition of activities approved by “approved jurisdictions” or equivalent foreign accrediting bodies. Whether the credit is accepted depends on your jurisdiction’s reciprocity or approval policy.

How it works in practice:

• California: Allows attorneys to claim MCLE credit for education done abroad if the course is approved by a jurisdiction on California’s “Approved Jurisdictions” list (which includes certain foreign entities).
• New York: Through its “Approved Jurisdiction” policy, New York allows attorneys to count out-of-state or abroad CLE courses if they are accredited in a jurisdiction recognized by New York.
• General rule: Many states require that the overseas CLE be approved by a recognized CLE accrediting authority (domestic or foreign) or that you seek approval or reciprocity with your home jurisdiction.
• If your jurisdiction does not automatically accept overseas CLE, some allow you to self-apply to your CLE board with evidence (syllabus, certificate, accreditation) to get credit.

Key Takeaway
Yes — overseas CLE courses may count, but only when your jurisdiction’s CLE rules permit reciprocity or foreign-jurisdiction recognition; always verify with your CLE board and possibly apply for credit ahead of time.

Ethics CLE is continuing legal education specifically focused on professional responsibility, legal ethics, and rules of conduct governing attorneys. It ensures lawyers stay up to date with ethical standards required by their state bar to protect clients and maintain the integrity of the profession.

What Ethics CLE Covers

• Rules of professional conduct, including conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
• Duties of competence, diligence, and communication with clients.
• Trust account management and handling of client funds.
• Ethical considerations in advertising, solicitation, and use of technology.
• Discipline procedures, sanctions, and professional responsibility obligations.

Provider Support

• Accredited providers, including Sprout Education, offer ethics CLE courses tailored to state requirements.
• Programs focus on real-world case studies, emerging ethical issues in technology, and practical guidance for compliance.

Key Takeaway: Ethics CLE is mandatory in nearly every state, ensuring attorneys remain compliant with professional responsibility rules while practicing law — with providers like Sprout Education offering accredited programs to meet this ongoing requirement.

It depends on the jurisdiction – some states allow mindfulness or well-being courses to count for CLE when they address lawyer competence or mental health in the legal profession, while others allow them only if tied to permissible credit categories.
To qualify, the course usually must be lawyer-focused, meet the state’s accreditation standards, and be categorized under competence, mental health-substance use, or professional responsibility where applicable.

Details:

• Minnesota requires at least one credit on mental health and substance use in the legal profession per 3-year cycle starting with Category 2 lawyers in 2025, and defines this credit type in its rules.
• California recognizes “competence issues” credit that includes substance abuse and mental health topics related to the legal profession, subject to activity approval standards.
• Illinois requires 6 professional responsibility hours per 2-year period, including at least 1 hour accredited for mental health-substance abuse, with PR topics expressly including mental health-substance abuse.

Key Takeaway:
Mindfulness or well-being content can count where it is aligned with lawyer competence or mental health in the legal profession and satisfies state CLE rules; verify your state’s category definitions and approval criteria before relying on these credits.