How early can I report CLE credits in Delaware?

In Delaware, attorneys do not self-report each CLE; instead, course providers submit attendance records via the Delaware Supreme Court Lawyer Management System (DESCLMS). Attorneys must certify compliance on their Annual Registration Statement by March 1 following the compliance period.

Key Details:

• All CLE credit requests and attendance data must be submitted via DESCLMS.org.
• Providers are required to transmit attendance within 30 days of the program.
• Attorneys certify CLE compliance through their Annual Registration Statement (not detailed course-by-course reporting).
• If a course does not appear on the transcript, the attorney must request credit via DESCLMS.

Key Takeaway: In Delaware, CLE reporting is managed by providers via DESCLMS, and attorneys certify compliance via their Annual Registration Statement by March 1.

You report CLE credits in Delaware by submitting your compliance certification via your DESCLMS (“Delaware Supreme Court Lawyer Management System”) account.
You must certify by March 1 (or earlier) following your compliance period and ensure your attendance is posted to your online transcript.

Overview of Delaware CLE Reporting

Delaware requires 24 CLE credits every two years, including at least 4 hours of enhanced ethics and at least 12 hours of live/in-person credit.
Providers must submit attendance records to the Commission within 30 days of the program date.
Your transcript is updated accordingly; if a program doesn’t appear, you may need to submit an approval request in the DESCLMS system.
If not compliant by deadlines, a graduated delinquency fee is imposed (first $150, then increments), and failure to cure by April 15 may lead to administrative suspension.

How to Report CLE in Delaware

• Complete required 24 CLE credits by December 31 of your compliance year, including the required ethics and live credits.
• Ensure your attendance is recorded by the provider submitting within 30 days.
• Log into your DESCLMS account and view your CLE transcript; verify that all programs appear.
• If a program is missing, submit an approval request via DESCLMS (“Add New Approval Request”).
• Certify your CLE compliance in your Attorney Registration via DESCLMS by March 1 (or the applicable deadline) to avoid delinquency fees and possible suspension.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, confirm they are reflected on your transcript; in jurisdictions that allow provider reporting, we submit attendance, but you must still ensure it appears in your DESCLMS profile.

Key Takeaway: Delaware attorneys must complete 24 credits biennially, ensure providers report attendance, verify the transcript in DESCLMS, and certify compliance by March 1. Sprout Education assists with reporting where permitted, but you’re responsible for checking your transcript and timely certification.

Delaware attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years. That mandate includes at least 4 hours in enhanced ethics and requires a minimum of 12 live hours.

Reporting Cycle & Deadlines

• Compliance period: two years
• Credits due by December 31 of the appropriate compliance year (even or odd, depending on admission year)
• Certification/reporting deadline: February 1 following the compliance year

Credit Requirements & Formats

• Total required: 24 hours
• Enhanced ethics: 4 hours
• Live hours: at least 12 hours must be live (in-person or real-time)
• Online/self-study (eCLE) hours: up to 12 hours allowed

Carryover, Exemptions & Special Rules

• Carryover: up to 20 excess credit hours may roll into the next compliance period — but enhanced ethics credits do not carry over
• Senior attorneys: reduced requirement of 12 hours per two-year period, including 2 enhanced ethics
• Newly admitted attorneys’ first cycle is prorated; fundamentals programs must be completed within first 4 years

Provider Role & Reporting Support

• Sprout Education assists in tracking credit accumulation and supports submission of compliance data to Delaware’s CLE Commission

Key Takeaway: Delaware attorneys must earn 24 CLE hours every 2 years, including 4 enhanced ethics hours and a minimum of 12 live hours, with certification due February 1 after the compliance year.

No — Delaware’s CLE rules do not provide different requirements based on part-time versus full-time practice; all active attorneys must meet the same baseline (unless exempt).

Delaware requires 24 CLE credit hours in each two-year compliance period for most attorneys, including at least 4 hours of ethics and at least 12 hours of live credit.

Details:

• Senior attorneys (those with 40 or more years of bar membership) have a reduced 12-hour requirement every two years (with 2 hours in ethics, 6 live) under Rule 4(C).
• Newly admitted attorneys must complete “Fundamentals” courses (7 topics) within their first four years, in addition to meeting the general CLE requirements.
• Attorneys who become active after a period of inactivity must have their obligation prorated based on the date of reinstatement.
• Exemptions exist for retired, inactive, or emeritus status, or attorneys not engaged in practice via affidavit.

Key Takeaway: Delaware’s CLE obligations are uniform with regard to part-time versus full-time status — there is no reduced requirement for “part-time” attorneys (except general senior/status exemptions).

Delaware attorneys are required to complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including 4 hours in ethics.

The CLE cycle is aligned with the attorney’s admission year (even-year admittees end compliance December 31 of even years, odd-year admittees end December 31 of odd years).

Details

• Live requirement: At least 12 of the 24 hours must be live/in-person CLE.
• Carryover: Up to 20 excess credits may be carried over to the next cycle (but enhanced ethics credits may not carry over).
• Enhanced ethics: 4 of the required hours must qualify as “enhanced ethics” under the Delaware rules.
• Reporting: Credits must be completed by December 31 of the compliance year; certification and related reporting follows via DESCLMS.
• Newly admitted attorneys: Their CLE requirement is prorated based on admission date; they also must complete Delaware’s “Fundamentals” courses within their first four years.

Key Takeaway: Delaware attorneys must complete 24 credits every two years, with 4 in enhanced ethics, at least half live, and may carry over up to 20 credits (excluding ethics).

Yes — you can report CLE late in Delaware, because the CLE rules allow “curing” noncompliance by completing missing credits, submitting proof, and paying delinquency fees by specified deadlines. The rules impose graduated fees and possible administrative suspension if you miss those cure dates.

Details from Delaware’s official CLE rules (current and under amendment):

• Attorneys must complete required CLE credits by December 31 of their compliance year.
• The Commission sends a Notice of Noncompliance around January 15 to attorneys who did not comply on time.
• To cure noncompliance, an attorney must complete the missing credits, submit proof to the Commission, and pay a $150 delinquency fee by March 1 following the compliance year.
• If noncompliance is not cured by March 1, additional delinquency fees apply, and failure to cure by April 15 results in administrative suspension.
• Under new rules effective November 1, 2024, make-up plans are no longer allowed, and the enforcement structure is tightened — attorneys still face administrative suspension if noncompliance is not cured by April 15.

Key Takeaway
Yes — Delaware permits late CLE reporting via a cure process (completing missed credits, paying fees, submitting proof) with deadlines and escalating penalties; missing those cure deadlines may lead to administrative suspension under the rules.