Is live webcast or in-person CLE required in New Mexico?

No — judges in New Mexico are subject to the same CLE requirements as other licensed attorneys; there is no separate judicial-only continuing education mandate.

Under Rule 18-201 NMRA, judges, retired judges, and other judicial officers must complete the same CLE hours as active bar members.

Details

• Rule 18-201 specifies that all active bar members must complete 12 CLE hours annually, including 2 hours in ethics/professionalism and 1 hour in equity in justice.
• The rule states: “Judges, retired judges … shall be required to complete the same number of hours of continuing legal education as other active licensed bar members.”
• The CLE regime is administered by the State Bar (via MCLE), and the rules (Rules 18-101 through 18-303) make no separate category for judicial continuing education distinct from attorney CLE.

Key Takeaway

In New Mexico, judges do not have a separate CLE regime — they fulfill the same 12-hour CLE obligations (including ethics and equity-in-justice hours) as all active attorneys.

Missing New Mexico’s CLE deadline triggers a late fee and potential suspension of your license if noncompliance persists. New Mexico attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits annually (including 2 ethics and 1 equity in justice) by February 1, and any uncompleted credit by that date incurs a $275 late fee to be cured by April 30. If the deficiency is not cured by May 1, your name may be sent to the Supreme Court and your license is at risk of administrative suspension.

New Mexico CLE Deadline & Reporting

• February 1: Deadline to complete all required CLE credits.
• March 1: Deadline to report your credits.
• After February 1: A $275 late fee is imposed to allow cure by April 30.
• May 1: Failure to cure could lead to referral to the Supreme Court and possible suspension.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, missing your CLE deadline means paying a $275 late fee and using the cure period through April 30 — if not remedied by May 1, your license may be adversely affected by administrative suspension.

Attorneys in New Mexico submit a Certificate of Compliance attached to their annual State Bar membership renewal, listing all CLE activities and attaching certificates for non-Bar-sponsored events. Providers or the Bar often report attendance directly, but the formal reporting is via that compliance certificate.

Key Details:

• The compliance year runs January 1 through December 31.
• Each member must report CLE activities when renewing bar membership by submitting a Certificate of Compliance that includes Division-sponsored and non-Division courses.
• Non-Division-sponsored CLE requires attaching certificates of attendance to the compliance form; Division-sponsored courses require only listing (attendance records are kept by the Bar).
• Providers accredited in New Mexico report credits to the Bar (e.g. TRTCLE reports directly).
• Reporting deadline: the Certificate of Compliance must be submitted with the membership renewal (by March 1) covering the prior calendar year.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, CLE reporting is done via a Certificate of Compliance submitted during your bar renewal—with attachments for non-Bar sponsored courses—and providers also submit attendance to the Bar.

Yes — New Mexico allows attorneys to request an extension of time to meet CLE/MCLE requirements in special circumstances. The Board may grant that extension upon a petition showing “special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”

CLE & Reporting Deadlines in New Mexico

• Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 each year.
• Reporting (filing) is required by March 1.

Extension / Waiver Authority

• New Mexico law permits the Board to provide an extension or waiver “upon petition and a finding … special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”
• The extension or waiver is discretionary and based on the facts presented.

What You Should Do

1. Prepare a written petition explaining the special hardship or extenuating circumstances that prevented you from timely compliance.
2. File that petition with the Board (or relevant MCLE/Bar authority) before or as soon as practicable after the deadline.
3. Submit supporting documentation (medical records, travel, etc.) to substantiate your claim.
4. Request a specific extension period and/or partial waiver.
5. Monitor and comply with any conditions if your petition is granted, including completing remaining CLE within the extension period.

Limitations & Considerations

• The decision is discretionary — no guaranteed approval.
• The statute or rules do not define how long an extension may run.
• An extension must be grounded in hardship or circumstances beyond your control, not mere oversight or workload.
• Even with extension, you must ultimately satisfy the CLE requirement to avoid sanctions.

Key Takeaway
New Mexico attorneys may seek an extension for CLE reporting by petitioning for undue hardship, but relief is not automatic and must be carefully documented and timely filed.

New Mexico does not have a formal grace period for CLE reporting. Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 and report compliance by March 1, with penalties imposed if either deadline is missed.

New Mexico CLE Timeline

• February 1: Completion deadline for required annual CLE credits.
• March 1: Final deadline to report CLE compliance.
• No automatic extension or grace period exists beyond these dates.

Consequences of Missing Deadlines

• Late compliance or reporting after March 1 can result in monetary penalties.
• Continued noncompliance may be referred for disciplinary action under Rule 18-201 NMRA.

Key Takeaway: New Mexico requires CLE completion by February 1 and reporting by March 1 — there is no additional grace period, only penalties for late compliance.

No — New Mexico’s CLE rules require the same obligations for all active attorneys; there is no reduced requirement based on part-time vs full-time status.

The State Bar of New Mexico mandates 12 MCLE credit hours annually for each active member, including 2 in ethics/professionalism and 1 in Equity in Justice (EIJ).

Details:

• As of 2024, attorneys may earn all 12 credits via live or self-study formats, subject to Board-approved courses.
• Excess credits may be carried forward, including up to 2 ethics and 1 EIJ credit.
• Newly admitted attorneys must participate in the “Bridge the Gap” program in their first full year.
• If an attorney is reactivated from inactive status, they may need to meet the requirement for both the inactive year and the year of return.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, part-time vs full-time status carries no effect — all active attorneys must meet the full 12-credit annual MCLE requirement under the same terms.