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

Montana attorneys are required to complete 15 CLE credit hours per year, including at least 2 hours in ethics.
Of those 15 hours, at least 10 must be earned through live interactive programs; up to 5 may be self-study or asynchronous formats.

Details

• Total: 15 credits annually.

• Ethics: At least 2 credits must cover that topic.

• Live requirement: Minimum of 10 hours must be live/interactive.

• Self-study cap: Maximum 5 credits from non-interactive formats such as recorded presentations, article writing, or in-house programs.

• Reporting period: CLE must be completed by March 31; reporting and corrections may occur by May 15.

• Consequences: Attorneys who fail to complete or report on time may be moved to inactive status pending compliance and payment of late fees.

Key Takeaway: Montana requires 15 CLE hours each year, with a 2-hour ethics component, a live minimum of 10 hours, and a cap of 5 self-study credits, under a March 31 compliance deadline.

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.

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.

If you miss Montana’s CLE deadline (March 31 for credit completion and May 15 for self-reporting), you may incur a $50 late filing fee and, if still noncompliant by July 1, be moved to inactive (non-practicing) status. Montana grants a 6-week grace period through May 15 to catch up without penalty. After that, failure to satisfy reporting and payment obligations will result in suspension of active status and reporting to courts.

Montana CLE Deadline & Grace Period

• March 31: End of the reporting year; credits must be earned and reported by this date.
• May 15: Final date during which attorneys may earn and report CLE without penalty (6-week grace period).

Consequences Under Rule 7 & Rule 13

• If credits are not earned and reported by May 15, a $50 late filing fee is assessed.
• If compliance, reporting, and fee payment are not completed by July 1, the attorney is transferred to inactive status for noncompliance and reported to the Supreme Court and courts of record.
• To regain active status, the attorney must complete the CLE requirements, pay all late fees, pay a $200 reinstatement fee, and obtain a compliance letter included in a petition to the Supreme Court. Attorneys in inactive status may not practice law.

Key Takeaway: In Montana, missing the CLE deadline leads first to a $50 late filing fee, then to involuntary inactive status (non-practicing) if not rectified by July 1 — restore your standing only by completing CLE, paying fees, and petitioning reinstatement.