How many CLE credits do New York attorneys need?

Yes, at least one state — New York — requires a dedicated CLE credit in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. Other states are moving toward similar mandates through broader “technology CLE” requirements.

Current Cybersecurity CLE Requirements

• New York: Attorneys must complete 1 credit in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection as part of their biennial CLE cycle (effective July 1, 2023).
• Florida: Requires 3 technology-related CLE credits every three-year cycle, which may include cybersecurity training.
• North Carolina: Requires 1 technology CLE credit annually, and cybersecurity courses may satisfy this requirement.
• New Jersey: Beginning in April 2025, attorneys must complete 1 technology CLE credit per biennial cycle, potentially including cybersecurity content.

Practical Implications

• Cybersecurity CLE is not yet universal but is becoming more common as part of broader technology-competence rules.
• Attorneys should confirm whether their state recognizes cybersecurity as a standalone requirement or as part of technology or ethics credits.
• Sprout Education tracks emerging CLE categories like cybersecurity and ensures attorneys meet both current and new compliance standards.

Key Takeaway: Cybersecurity CLE is required in New York and may be covered under technology CLE in states like Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey, but it is not yet a universal mandate.

New York provides a 30-day automatic grace period after your birthday to complete CLE and report compliance on your biennial registration. Attorneys must certify that they have met their CLE requirements within 30 days of their birthday on alternate years.

New York CLE Deadline & Grace Period

• CLE compliance and reporting deadline: 30 days after your birthday in the reporting year.
• If credits are not completed or reported within that 30-day window, you must apply for an extension citing hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• The maximum extension granted is 90 days beyond the default deadline.

Consequences & Compliance

• Failure to certify CLE compliance by registration may lead your name to be referred to the Appellate Division for disciplinary action.
• During the extension period, you should proceed to complete remaining CLE credits while awaiting the CLE Board’s decision.

Key Takeaway: In New York, the “grace period” is 30 days after your birthday to complete and report CLE — beyond that, you need an approved extension (up to 90 days) to avoid disciplinary exposure.

Attorneys in New York report CLE compliance on their biennial Attorney Registration form, certifying they’ve met their CLE requirement. Certificates of completion are not submitted with the form but must be retained for at least four years in case of audit.

Key Details:

• Compliance is certified within 30 days after your birthday, in alternate years.
• On the Attorney Registration form, you select one of three certification options: completed CLE requirement, exempt, or applied for waiver/extension.
• You do not attach certificates to the registration form — you must keep them in your records.
• Credits may be carried over: up to 6 credits can carry forward into the next reporting cycle.

Key Takeaway: In New York, CLE reporting is done by self-certification on your biennial registration form (within 30 days after your birthday), and you retain but do not submit attendance certificates.

New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years (biennial reporting cycle). Within those 24 credits, at least 4 must be in ethics, at least 1 in diversity/inclusion/elimination of bias, and at least 1 in cybersecurity/privacy & data protection.

Credit Requirements & Subcategory Minimums

• Total required: 24 credits per biennial cycle
• Ethics & professionalism: ≥ 4 credits
• Diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias: ≥ 1 credit
• Cybersecurity, privacy & data protection: ≥ 1 credit

Carryover & Cycle Rules

• Carryover allowed: up to 6 credits may carry into next cycle
• Cycle length: two years (biennial)

Newly Admitted Attorneys (Transitional CLE)

• Total transitional requirement: 32 credits over first two years (16 per year)
• Each year’s 16 credits must include categories: ethics, skills, practice management/areas of professional practice, and 1 cybersecurity credit

Key Takeaway: In New York, the regular CLE cycle is biennial and requires 24 credits with mandated credits for ethics, diversity, and cybersecurity, and a 6-hour carryover limit.

You report CLE credits in New York by certifying your compliance on your biennial Attorney Registration Form (due within 30 days after your birthday in alternate years).
New York uses a self-reporting model — you don’t submit each certificate to the CLE Board, but you must retain them for audit.

Overview of New York CLE Reporting

Experienced attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including:
• 4 hours in Ethics & Professionalism
• 1 hour in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias
• 1 hour in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection (effective July 1, 2023)
Newly admitted attorneys (first two years) must complete 32 transitional CLE hours (16 per year), with required categories including ethics, skills, law practice, and one cybersecurity hour.
You may carry over up to 6 credits from one cycle to the next.
You are exempt if you do not practice law in New York during the cycle, are a full-time active duty military, or are retired under Judiciary Law § 468-a.

Steps to Report CLE in New York

• Complete your required CLE hours before your registration due date (within 30 days after your birthday).
• Retain certificates, agendas, provider details, and proof of attendance for at least 4 years.
• When your biennial registration period arrives, complete your Attorney Registration Form and check the appropriate CLE certification box:
• Certification 1 – “Completed CLE credit requirement”
• Certification 2 – “Exempt from CLE requirement”
• Certification 3 – “Applied for extension, waiver, or modification”
• You do not attach certificates to the registration form; only certify compliance.
• If audited, provide your certificates and supporting documentation upon request.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, make sure your attendance records align with New York’s approved program criteria and that you maintain all documentation (we support recordkeeping but you must manage your certification).

Key Takeaway: New York attorneys certify CLE compliance via their biennial registration form, rather than by submitting each credit. You must complete 24 hours (or 32 hours if newly admitted), keep your records, and check the appropriate certification box when you file your registration.

No — New York does not require in-person CLE across the board, but it does require that newly admitted attorneys obtain some credits via live or interactive formats; experienced attorneys may use non-participatory formats, subject to accreditation rules.

New York CLE Basics

• Experienced attorneys (practicing more than two years) must complete 24 credits every two years, including 4 in ethics, 1 in diversity/inclusion, and 1 in cybersecurity.
• Newly admitted attorneys must complete 32 transitional CLE credits over their first two years (16 per year), including specific allocations for ethics, skills, and practice management.

Format Rules & Restrictions for Newly Admitted Attorneys

• Skills credits must be earned in formats with live interactivity: traditional classroom or fully interactive videoconference.
• Ethics credits may be completed via live classroom, interactive videoconference, or synchronous webconferences/webcasts where audience interaction is allowed.
• Law Practice Management, Areas of Professional Practice, and Cybersecurity-General credits may be taken in any approved format (including non-interactive).
• A temporary exception allows newly admitted attorneys to use webconference or teleconference formats for Skills credits through December 31, 2025; thereafter stricter live format rules for Skills will resume.

Format Rules for Experienced Attorneys

• Experienced attorneys may earn credits via live classroom, webinars, teleconferences, or prerecorded programs, so long as the CLE program is accredited in that format.
• There is no requirement that experienced attorneys attend in person; interactive or non-interactive formats are acceptable if approved.

Key Takeaway: In New York, experienced attorneys can use webinars, prerecorded courses, or in-person events — none is mandatory — but newly admitted attorneys must use live or interactive formats for certain credits (especially Skills and Ethics), with tighter format restrictions and a temporary extension for more flexible delivery through 2025.