How many CLE credits do Montana attorneys need?

In Montana, the grace period ends on May 15 — attorneys have a six-week window after the March 31 compliance deadline to report CLE without penalty.

Montana CLE Deadlines & Grace Period

• March 31: Deadline to complete CLE credits and officially close the reporting year.
• May 15: End of grace period to report CLE and earn credits without a late filing fee.
• July 1: Attorneys still noncompliant by this date are moved to inactive status and reported to the Supreme Court.

Key Takeaway: Montana gives attorneys a six-week grace period — until May 15 — to meet CLE obligations after March 31, after which a late fee is assessed and noncompliance consequences begin.

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Montana as you attend programs throughout the reporting year. The CLE reporting form explicitly states: “report CLE credits as you attend programs throughout the year.”

However, your formal compliance certification (i.e. satisfying and affirming CLE obligations) is tied to the annual cycle: credits must be completed and reported by March 31, and there is a grace period until May 15 for reporting without penalty.

Key Details

• The Montana CLE reporting period is one year, ending March 31.
• Attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours annually, including 2 in Professional Fitness & Integrity (ethics-type).
• The reporting window opens when the reporting year begins (April 1) and remains open through the grace period (May 15) for late reporting.
• Montana’s Commission sends preliminary transcripts by April 15, and attorneys may submit corrections until May 15.
• If CLE credits are completed after March 31 but before May 15, they can still be reported under the grace window without penalty.
• Sprout Education reports credits typically within 30 days to ensure timely posting ahead of transcript generation.

Key Takeaway
In Montana, you can report CLE credits continuously during the reporting year (i.e. as soon as you complete them). Compliance is formally assessed at year-end (March 31), with reporting allowed through May 15 under the grace period.

No — Montana’s CLE rules treat all active attorneys identically; there is no special reduced requirement for part-time attorneys.

Montana requires each active attorney to complete 15 CLE credit hours every reporting year, including 2 hours in Professional Fitness & Integrity.

Details:

• At least 10 of the 15 credits must be earned in “live” programs.
• Up to 5 credits may be earned by self-study (on-demand).
• The reporting deadline is March 31 of each year, with a correction period until May 15.
• New admittees are exempt from the CLE requirement during the reporting period in which they are admitted.
• Live credits (not self-study) may be carried over (up to a limit), while self-study credits generally cannot.

Key Takeaway: Montana imposes the same CLE obligations on all active attorneys — part-time status does not reduce your duty under the 15-credit annual requirement.

Yes — Montana requires attorneys to complete at least 10 credit hours each year in “live interactive” programs (in-person, live webcast, etc.).

Out of the 15 total CLE hours required annually, a maximum of 5 credits may be earned through self-study (recorded, asynchronous) formats.

Details

• Active attorneys must complete 15 CLE credits per reporting year, with 2 credits in ethics or professional fitness and integrity.
• Of those 15 credits, 10 must be earned via live interactive courses (which include in-person sessions, live webinars, teleconferences with participant interaction) per Rule 9A1.
• Up to 5 credits may be obtained through self-study (on-demand, recorded, non-interactive) courses or equivalent approved formats.
• Programs offered live in Montana must meet provider/accreditation standards for “live interactive” status to qualify under the 10-hour minimum.

Key Takeaway

Yes — Montana enforces a live-format minimum: attorneys must earn at least 10 of the 15 annual CLE hours via live interactive instruction; only up to 5 hours may come from self-study.

Yes — judges in Montana are subject to continuing judicial education (CJE) requirements that are separate from, and in addition to, the general CLE rules for attorneys (or the exemptions therein).

Judicial education responsibilities are imposed by statute and court rule, distinct from the Montana CLE rules for attorneys.

Details

• Montana’s Judicial Education page states that district court judges, supreme court justices, and limited jurisdiction judges must complete a minimum of 15 hours of continuing judicial education each year.
• Judicial rule documents require that “Each Judge and Justice shall complete a minimum of fifteen hours of accredited continuing judicial education.”
• For municipal court judges, Montana statute (MCA 3-6-202) mandates “a municipal court judge shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of continuing judicial education requirements each year.”
• In contrast, the Montana CLE rules impose a 15-hour requirement on active attorneys, but full-time judges (and retired judges serving by assignment and not engaged in law practice) are explicitly exempt from the attorney CLE rules.

Key Takeaway

Montana enforces a distinct judicial education mandate requiring 15 hours per year for judges of various levels; at the same time, its CLE rules exempt full-time judges from the attorney CLE regime.

Yes – Montana allows attorneys to request an extension of time for CLE reporting under Rule 6 of the Montana CLE Rules when special circumstances or undue hardship exist.
Such extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be granted for reasons like severe illness, injury, or extended absence.

• The CLE reporting year runs from April 1 through March 31.
• A grace period until May 15 allows attorneys to earn and report credits without penalty.
• After May 15, a $50 late filing fee applies for noncompliance.
• Attorneys who remain noncompliant after July 1 are transferred to inactive status.

Extension Policy under Rule 6:
– The CLE Commission may grant an extension of time or an exemption when an attorney shows special circumstances or undue hardship.
– Qualifying reasons include serious illness, injury, or extended absence from the United States.
– The Commission may exempt all or part of the CLE requirement for one year, but extensions cannot be granted for the same hardship in successive years.
– Extensions are discretionary and must be supported by written documentation.

How to Apply:
1. Submit a written request to the Montana CLE Commission explaining the hardship or special circumstances.
2. Include any supporting documentation (such as medical or travel records).
3. File the request before the reporting deadline or as soon as possible thereafter.
4. Await written approval and comply with any new deadlines issued by the Commission.

Key Takeaway
Yes – Montana permits CLE reporting extensions under Rule 6 for attorneys facing special circumstances or undue hardship, but approval is discretionary and must be formally requested with documentation.