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

Experienced New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including 4 credit hours in ethics, 1 credit hour in diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias, and 1 credit hour in cybersecurity, privacy & data protection.

Newly admitted attorneys must complete 16 transitional CLE credits in each of their first two years (a total of 32), with credits distributed among ethics, skills, law practice/areas of professional practice, and a cybersecurity requirement.

Details

• Compliance cycle: 2 years (biennial) — experienced attorneys’ reporting is due within 30 days after their birthday in alternate years.

• Ethics: 4 of the 24 hours must fall in this category.

• Diversity & Bias: 1 credit hour must be in the diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias category.

• Cybersecurity: Effective July 1, 2023, 1 credit is required in cybersecurity, privacy & data protection (can be general or ethics).

• Carryover: Up to 6 credits may carry over into the next reporting period (in any category).

• Newly Admitted Attorneys: Each of the first two years requires 16 credits: 3 in ethics, 6 in skills, 7 in law practice/areas of professional practice. The cybersecurity credit may be fulfilled in Year 1 or Year 2.

Key Takeaway: In New York, experienced attorneys need 24 CLE credits every two years with specific sub-requirements for ethics, diversity, and cybersecurity; newly admitted attorneys must fulfill transitional 16-credit years over their first two years.

Yes, at least one state — New York — requires a dedicated CLE credit in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. Other states are moving toward similar mandates through broader “technology CLE” requirements.

Current Cybersecurity CLE Requirements

• New York: Attorneys must complete 1 credit in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection as part of their biennial CLE cycle (effective July 1, 2023).
• Florida: Requires 3 technology-related CLE credits every three-year cycle, which may include cybersecurity training.
• North Carolina: Requires 1 technology CLE credit annually, and cybersecurity courses may satisfy this requirement.
• New Jersey: Beginning in April 2025, attorneys must complete 1 technology CLE credit per biennial cycle, potentially including cybersecurity content.

Practical Implications

• Cybersecurity CLE is not yet universal but is becoming more common as part of broader technology-competence rules.
• Attorneys should confirm whether their state recognizes cybersecurity as a standalone requirement or as part of technology or ethics credits.
• Sprout Education tracks emerging CLE categories like cybersecurity and ensures attorneys meet both current and new compliance standards.

Key Takeaway: Cybersecurity CLE is required in New York and may be covered under technology CLE in states like Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey, but it is not yet a universal mandate.

New York provides a 30-day automatic grace period after your birthday to complete CLE and report compliance on your biennial registration. Attorneys must certify that they have met their CLE requirements within 30 days of their birthday on alternate years.

New York CLE Deadline & Grace Period

• CLE compliance and reporting deadline: 30 days after your birthday in the reporting year.
• If credits are not completed or reported within that 30-day window, you must apply for an extension citing hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• The maximum extension granted is 90 days beyond the default deadline.

Consequences & Compliance

• Failure to certify CLE compliance by registration may lead your name to be referred to the Appellate Division for disciplinary action.
• During the extension period, you should proceed to complete remaining CLE credits while awaiting the CLE Board’s decision.

Key Takeaway: In New York, the “grace period” is 30 days after your birthday to complete and report CLE — beyond that, you need an approved extension (up to 90 days) to avoid disciplinary exposure.

No — New York does not provide a general “late reporting” option; attorneys must certify CLE compliance by the deadline or apply for a formal extension or waiver. Any delay beyond the deadline must be handled through the CLE Board’s extension of time or waiver/modification process.

In New York:

• Attorneys must complete and report their CLE requirements within 30 days after their birthday on alternate years, via the attorney registration form.
• If you cannot complete your CLE in time, you may submit an Application for Extension of Time (up to 90 days) on the basis of undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• The Board also permits a Waiver or Modification of the CLE requirement, for example in cases of retirement, full-time military service, or other valid reasons.
• Note: CLE credits earned before filing the registration (within the allowed timeframe) may be counted toward compliance.
• There is no grace period beyond the statutory deadline unless an extension or waiver is granted.

Key Takeaway
You cannot simply “report late” in New York — you must either meet the deadline, or seek a CLE extension or a waiver/modification under the Board’s rules.

Yes — you can submit CLE compliance online in New York by means of the Attorney Registration process.
CLE credits themselves are reported via the registration, not by separately filing each course with the CLE board.

Details:
– All attorneys must renew their registration biennially electronically under “Attorney Online Services,” and that registration includes a section where you certify CLE compliance.
– In the CLE section of the Attorney Registration Form, you check “Certification 1 – Completed CLE credit requirement” (or the exemption/extension box, if applicable).
– You do not attach certificates of attendance to the registration; instead, you must retain them for potential audit (for at least four years).
– As of December 1, 2023, paper registration forms are no longer issued — all registration (and CLE reporting via registration) must be done via the online system.

Key Takeaway
You don’t submit each CLE credit separately online — you certify your compliance through the electronic Attorney Registration, and you keep the backup records in case of audit.

New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years (biennial reporting cycle). Within those 24 credits, at least 4 must be in ethics, at least 1 in diversity/inclusion/elimination of bias, and at least 1 in cybersecurity/privacy & data protection.

Credit Requirements & Subcategory Minimums

• Total required: 24 credits per biennial cycle
• Ethics & professionalism: ≥ 4 credits
• Diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias: ≥ 1 credit
• Cybersecurity, privacy & data protection: ≥ 1 credit

Carryover & Cycle Rules

• Carryover allowed: up to 6 credits may carry into next cycle
• Cycle length: two years (biennial)

Newly Admitted Attorneys (Transitional CLE)

• Total transitional requirement: 32 credits over first two years (16 per year)
• Each year’s 16 credits must include categories: ethics, skills, practice management/areas of professional practice, and 1 cybersecurity credit

Key Takeaway: In New York, the regular CLE cycle is biennial and requires 24 credits with mandated credits for ethics, diversity, and cybersecurity, and a 6-hour carryover limit.