Is ABA CLE universally accepted by all state bars?

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.

The difference between live and on-demand CLE is that live CLE happens in real time with instructors and allows interaction, while on-demand CLE is a pre-recorded program that attorneys can watch later at their own pace. Both formats may count toward CLE credit, but state rules often treat them differently.

Live CLE

• Delivered in real time (in-person, webcast, or teleconference).
• Allows interaction, such as Q&A, polling, or discussion.
• Often required for a portion of credits in states that limit self-study or on-demand.

On-Demand CLE

• Pre-recorded courses available to view anytime.
• Offers scheduling flexibility but usually does not allow real-time interaction.
• Many states cap the number of on-demand credits or require some credits to be live.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education offers both live webcast CLE and on-demand courses, giving attorneys the flexibility to meet state-specific requirements in either format.
• Programs are accredited and designed to balance convenience with compliance, ensuring credits count toward annual or biennial obligations.

Key Takeaway: Live CLE provides real-time engagement, while on-demand CLE offers flexibility — and providers like Sprout Education deliver both to help attorneys stay compliant.

Yes — non-attorneys often can enroll in CLE courses, but they generally are not eligible to receive the CLE credit that counts toward a lawyer’s mandatory CLE requirement.
Many providers and state CLE rules permit attendance by non-lawyers, but awarding credit is reserved for licensed attorneys under regulatory CLE programs.

Details:

• In Connecticut, attorneys may receive MCLE credit for teaching legal courses to law students; non-attorneys teaching legal courses are not included in that credit framework.
• In California, providers can offer MCLE-approved education activities, but the requirement and credit accrual mechanisms are structured exclusively for attorneys.
• In New York CLE provider rules require that courses be tailored to a legal audience and increase attorneys’ professional competency; general audiences (non-lawyers) may attend but will not necessarily receive accreditable credit for the course.

Key Takeaway:
You may be allowed to sit in on CLE courses as a non-attorney, but you should not expect to receive CLE credit unless the state’s CLE regulation explicitly allows credit for non-lawyers.

Sometimes — there is no general CLE requirement that applies only to real estate attorneys, but in some jurisdictions real estate law is a specialty requiring additional CLE for certification or specialization. Whether such a requirement exists depends on your state’s legal specialization and CLE rules.

Details:

• In California, attorneys certified as specialists must complete additional “Legal Specialist Continuing Legal Education” (LSCLE) beyond the standard MCLE hours.
• In Texas, attorneys certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) in real estate must earn a specified number of CLE hours in the specialty area (e.g. 60 hours in the specialty area over three years).
• In North Carolina, for certification in Real Property Law, applicants must complete at least 36 hours of CLE in real property law (with minimum annual thresholds) during the preceding three years.
• In Connecticut, Residential Real Estate Specialist applicants must accumulate 36 hours of continuing legal education in residential real estate law (including ethics) during the period prior to filing.
• For non-specialist real estate practice, there is usually no distinct additional CLE obligation; attorneys must satisfy general CLE/MCLE requirements of the jurisdiction.

Key Takeaway
While real estate attorneys generally must meet the same general CLE obligations like any attorney, in several states specialty certification in real estate law triggers additional CLE requirements specific to that specialty.

Blockchain CLE is continuing legal education focused on blockchain, NFTs, and related legal issues. It helps attorneys understand both the technology and its legal, regulatory, and risk dimensions.

What Blockchain CLE Covers

• Basics of distributed ledgers, tokens, and smart contracts
• Legal frameworks for NFTs, crypto assets, and digital property
• Regulatory compliance challenges across jurisdictions
• Practical use cases in contracts, IP, finance, and governance
• Ethical and professional risks in advising on blockchain

Featured Course Example

• Sprout Education offers “A Legal Guide to Blockchain and NFTs,” a 1-credit on-demand course taught by Jeonghoon Ha, covering fundamentals, UCC issues, and regulatory risk.
• The course qualifies in many states for both general and technology credits.

Key Takeaway: Blockchain CLE arms attorneys with both technical and legal insight into a transformative space — and courses like Sprout Education’s help you earn real credit while building competence.

Yes — in many jurisdictions, service on bar association committees, task forces, or similar professional groups can qualify for CLE credit if the work is educational in nature and approved by the state CLE authority.

Eligibility depends on whether the activities involve structured legal research, writing, or educational presentations, rather than purely administrative or social functions.

Details

• Some states expressly recognize bar committee work that contributes to legal education, such as drafting reports, preparing CLE materials, or presenting programs, as eligible for credit.
• Credit is not typically granted for routine business meetings or purely organizational committee duties.
• Attorneys seeking credit for committee service usually must document the educational component and submit it for approval to the state CLE board.
• Not all states allow bar committee work to count, so attorneys should confirm whether their jurisdiction recognizes it.
• Accredited providers, including Sprout Education, design CLE courses that may incorporate committee-style workshops and training, ensuring participants receive credit for the substantive educational portions.

Key Takeaway

Bar committee work can qualify for CLE when it involves substantive educational activity approved by the state CLE authority, but credit is not granted for general organizational or administrative tasks.