Is live webcast or in-person CLE required in Mississippi?

Yes — Mississippi CLE rules require attorneys to complete a minimum number of in-person, live courses each year.

Under current regulation, attorneys must take 6 hours in person (i.e. classroom seminars) annually; the remaining 6 hours may be web-based (live webcast or on-demand) subject to the 6 hour limit on non-in-person credit.

Details

• The Mississippi CLE system mandates 12 total CLE hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics.
• Only up to 6 credits may be earned through web-based formats (live webcasts or on-demand).
• The remaining 6 hours must be obtained via in-person (live) classroom seminars.
• This in-person requirement was suspended during COVID years but has been restored as of the current reporting period.

Key Takeaway

Mississippi enforces a 6-hour in-person CLE minimum each year, limiting online or recorded formats to half of the total CLE requirement.

Yes — Mississippi’s CLE rules allow several categories of attorneys to be exempt entirely or partially from CLE obligations under Rule 2 (Scope & Exemptions).

For example, those exempt include attorneys in their first calendar year of admission, non-resident attorneys not practicing in Mississippi, full-time U.S. military, judges and judicial officers, the Governor, U.S. Senators and Representatives, and members of the bar age seventy or older.

Details / Exceptions

• First Year Admission: An attorney is exempt from CLE during the calendar year in which they are first admitted to practice in Mississippi.
• Non-Practice / Nonresident: Mississippi-licensed attorneys residing outside the state and not engaged in practice there, or residing in the state but not practicing there, may claim exemption.
• Judges & Judicial Officers: Justices of the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit, Chancery, County Judges, U.S. Magistrate Judges, bankruptcy court judges, and federal judges are exempt.
• Full-time U.S. Military: Attorneys serving as full-time members of the U.S. Armed Forces may be exempt.
• Governor, U.S. Congress Members: The Governor, U.S. Senators, and U.S. House members are exempt.
• Age 70+: Once a member turns 70, they are exempt from CLE obligations.
• Disability / Hardship / Substitute Programs: Attorneys with permanent physical disabilities may request an alternate CLE plan; the Commission also may grant substituted compliance, partial waivers, or exemptions for hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Key Takeaway
Mississippi law carves out specific exemptions for several attorney categories (new admittees, nonpracticing/nonresidents, judges, military, public officials, age 70+), while also permitting tailored relief for disability or hardship — but exemption typically must be claimed in the annual report.

There is no express provision in Mississippi’s CLE rules that explicitly exempts attorneys on inactive status from MCLE obligations.

Mississippi law classifies “inactive members” as those not engaged in the practice of law, and allows them to enroll as inactive—but the statute mandates that the Bar “shall promulgate rules … regarding continuing legal education requirements between active and inactive status.” (Miss. Code § 73-3-120)

Details:

• Mississippi’s MCLE rules require active attorneys to complete 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 hour in ethics/professionalism.
• Exemptions exist for attorneys residing outside Mississippi and not engaged in practice within the state.
• Because no rule explicitly defines a CLE exemption for inactive membership, any CLE requirement upon reactivation may depend on administrative interpretation or reinstatement rules.
• The Mississippi Bar’s inactive membership form confirms that inactive members may not practice law and must apply to be reinstated before resuming practice.

Key Takeaway:
Mississippi does not clearly exempt inactive attorneys from CLE under the rules, meaning CLE obligations may still attach or be enforced upon reactivation.

The grace period for CLE reporting in Mississippi extends from August 1 to August 15 following the July 31 credit completion deadline. During this window, attorneys may file their CLE Annual Report without being immediately deemed noncompliant.

Mississippi CLE Deadlines & Grace Window

• July 31: Deadline to complete required CLE credits.
• August 15: Last date to report CLE via the Annual Report form.

What Happens After Grace Period

• The Commission issues noncompliance notices via certified mail to attorneys who fail to report by August 15.
• Attorneys have 60 days from that notice to respond, submit evidence of compliance, or show cause why sanctions should not apply.
• If no satisfactory response is filed within 60 days, the Commission refers the matter to the Supreme Court for possible suspension.

Key Takeaway: In Mississippi, attorneys have until August 15 to report CLE after the July 31 deadline — missing this grace window triggers certified notices and a 60-day compliance cure period.

Mississippi attorneys are required to complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in legal ethics.

CLE credits must be earned by July 31 and reported by August 15 each year.

Details

• Up to 6 hours may be earned via distance learning (online, webcast, etc.).

• At least 6 hours must be in live webcasts or in-person programs.

• Excess general (non-ethics) credits—up to 12 hours—may be carried over to the next year. Ethics credits beyond the required 1 hour may not carry over as ethics.

• Teaching CLE: Up to 12 hours per year may be earned through teaching; different weighting applies depending on the quality of written materials and whether the presentation is a repeat.

• New lawyers: Newly admitted attorneys must complete a 12-hour New Lawyer Program (6 hours basic skills + 6 hours ethics/professionalism) within two years of admission, which counts for both the admission year and the next year’s CLE requirement.

Key Takeaway: Mississippi requires 12 CLE hours annually (1 ethics), allows up to 6 via distance learning, mandates live credit, permits carryover of general credits (not ethics), and imposes a separate New Lawyer Program requirement for new admittees.

Mississippi attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each year. That includes 1 hour in ethics.

Annual CLE Requirements in Mississippi

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per compliance year
• Ethics requirement: 1 credit hour
• Reporting cycle: January 1 – July 31 (CLE must be earned by July 31)
• Reporting deadline: August 15 of each year

Credit Carryover & Delivery Limits

• Carryover: attorneys may carry forward up to 12 unused general CLE credits into the next reporting period
• Ethics credits in excess may not carry over as ethics, but may carry as general credits
• Online credit limit: at most 6 hours per year may be earned via distance learning (online) formats

New Lawyer (New Admittee) Rules

• Newly licensed attorneys must complete a New Lawyer Program of 12 CLE hours (6 basic skills + 6 ethics/professionalism) by the second July 31 following admission
• Completing the New Lawyer Program satisfies the CLE requirement for both their admission year and the next year

Key Takeaway: Mississippi requires 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 ethics hour, with carryover of up to 12 general credits and a limit of 6 hours of online CLE.