Is CLE required before passing the bar?

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.

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).

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.

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.

You verify a CLE provider’s bar approval by checking your state bar or MCLE board’s list of accredited providers or approved courses, which is published on their official website.
Most states maintain searchable directories or course databases where you can confirm provider status before enrolling.

Steps to Verify CLE Provider Bar Approval

• Visit your state bar or MCLE board website and navigate to the “Approved/Accredited CLE Providers” or “Course Search” section.
• Search by provider name or course ID to confirm accreditation status.
• Review whether the provider is a “Presumptive/Approved Provider” (courses automatically accredited) or if each course must be individually approved.
• If a provider is not listed, contact the MCLE office to ask whether the course qualifies for credit in your jurisdiction.
• Keep documentation (provider approval letter, course approval code, or confirmation screenshot) in your CLE records in case of audit.
• Sprout Education is an accredited CLE provider in multiple jurisdictions, and courses taken with us clearly identify the state approval codes or credit hours earned.

Key Takeaway: Always confirm a provider’s accreditation through your state bar’s official website or MCLE office before taking a course, and retain proof of approval for your compliance records.

Yes, on-demand CLE is generally available 24/7. Attorneys can access courses online at any time, which makes it easier to fit CLE into demanding schedules.

Why On-Demand CLE Is Flexible

• Always accessible: Programs can be started, paused, and resumed at any hour.
• Device compatibility: Courses are typically available on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Self-paced learning: Attorneys can complete courses in segments, rather than in one sitting.

State Variations

• Some states place caps on how many on-demand or self-study credits may count toward compliance.
• A few jurisdictions still require a minimum number of live or interactive hours, even if on-demand is unlimited for general credit.
• Deadlines apply: Even though available 24/7, credits must be completed and reported by the state’s compliance deadline.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education makes its on-demand CLE library accessible at all times and ensures tracking/reporting so that attorneys stay compliant with state rules.

Key Takeaway: On-demand CLE is accessible 24/7 and offers convenience and flexibility, but attorneys must confirm state limits on how many on-demand hours can count toward compliance.