Is there a national CLE tracking system?

Yes — a law firm can act as an accredited CLE provider if it meets the provider-accreditation requirements in the relevant jurisdiction.
Whether a firm qualifies depends on state rules on provider accreditation (some require “legal organizations,” minimum history of programs, etc.).

Details:

• In New York, “Accredited Provider” status is limited to “legal organizations” whose courses are taught primarily by attorneys and designed primarily for attorney audiences.
• In Illinois, CLE courses may be accredited via an individual course application or via an “Accredited Provider” whose courses are presumptively approved.
• In California, a provider must apply for either Single Activity Provider (SAP) or Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) status; a law firm could apply if it satisfies the provider criteria.
• In New Jersey, providers must register and apply for provider status to submit CLE courses for accreditation.
• In Tennessee, the provider must show recent experience in offering CLE or organizing/overseeing such educational programs.

Key Takeaway:

Law firms can become accredited CLE providers — but only after satisfying the formal provider accreditation standards in that jurisdiction (often demonstrating legal-oriented programs, sufficient history, reporting obligations, etc.).

It depends on your jurisdiction — in some states yes, pro bono legal work can count toward CLE credit under specified conditions, while in many others it is expressly excluded.
Where permitted, the jurisdiction will typically impose eligibility rules (which pro bono providers qualify, how many hours convert to credit, caps per period, and documentation requirements).

Details:

• In New York, you may earn 1 CLE credit hour for every 2 hours (120 minutes) of eligible pro bono legal service, up to 10 pro bono CLE credits per two-year reporting cycle.
• In Minnesota, one standard CLE credit is allowed for every 6 hours of pro bono legal representation through an approved legal services provider, with a cap of 6 credits per 3-year reporting period.
• In West Virginia, attorneys earn 1 CLE credit for every 3 completed hours of pro bono legal services performed at certain enumerated organizations, up to a maximum of 6 pro bono credits per reporting period.
• Many states do not allow pro bono work to count at all. For example, New Jersey lists pro bono work among activities that “WILL NOT be given CLE credit.”
• The Pro Bono and CLE Credit Guide (2025) notes that as of July 2025, 22 states permit some pro bono service for CLE credit, while 24 states do not permit it.

Key Takeaway:
Check your own state’s CLE rules — if pro bono hours are eligible, they’ll come with strict eligibility criteria, conversion ratios, and caps, so don’t assume all your pro bono work will count.

CLE is required on either an annual or biennial basis, depending on the state. Some jurisdictions require attorneys to complete CLE hours every year, while others set a two-year reporting cycle.

Common Reporting Periods

• Annual cycle: Attorneys must earn and report CLE credits each year (e.g., states like Alabama, Kansas, or Wyoming).
• Biennial cycle: Attorneys have a two-year period to complete their credits (e.g., states like California, New York, or Pennsylvania).
• Three-year cycle: A smaller group of states, such as Washington, operate on a three-year reporting cycle.

Practical Impact

• Compliance deadlines vary and often align with the attorney’s birth month, admission date, or a fixed calendar deadline.
• Attorneys practicing in multiple states must track separate compliance periods.
• Sprout Education monitors these jurisdictional differences to help attorneys stay on schedule across all reporting cycles.

Key Takeaway: CLE reporting frequency is not uniform—some states require annual compliance, others biennial, and a few triennial. Attorneys must follow the rules of their licensing state(s).

No — you generally cannot share a CLE subscription with a colleague unless the provider’s terms explicitly permit it.

CLE providers and bar regulators almost always require that each user/licensee have a distinct, individual account so attendance verification, certificates, and credit tracking remain accurate.

Details:
– CLE providers typically verify attendance through unique user logins, activity tracking, and certificates tied to a specific attorney (with name and bar number).
– Sharing access (for example, passing your login credentials or allowing another person to use your account) would violate provider rules and could jeopardize credit validity.
– Even if a subscription is marketed as “firm-wide” or “multi-seat,” that does not mean you can treat a single personal subscription as shareable — the distinction is whether the package explicitly supports multiple authorized users.
– Bar or MCLE regulators may reject credit claims if attendance verification is questionable or noncompliant.

Key Takeaway: Unless a CLE subscription is explicitly licensed for multiple users (e.g. firm or seat-based licensing), you must use your own individual access to ensure credits are properly tracked and honored.

Self-study CLE is continuing legal education that attorneys complete independently, without attending a live class or interactive program. It typically includes recorded courses, reading materials, or online modules that can be done on demand at the attorney’s own pace.

What Self-Study CLE Includes

• On-demand video or audio programs.
• Recorded webcasts from prior live CLE events.
• Approved legal publications, articles, or written materials with quizzes.
• Online courses with self-assessment questions to verify completion.

Limits on Self-Study Credits

• Many states cap the number of self-study hours attorneys can apply toward their CLE requirement.
• Some states only allow live or interactive formats and do not count self-study toward compliance.
• Attorneys should always confirm state-specific limits before relying solely on self-study courses.

Key Takeaway: Self-study CLE lets attorneys earn credits on their own schedule through recorded or written materials, but most states impose limits on how many hours may count toward annual or biennial requirements.

The difference between Professionalism and Ethics CLE is that Ethics CLE focuses on rules of professional conduct and an attorney’s legal obligations, while Professionalism CLE emphasizes civility, respect, and standards of behavior in the practice of law. Both are mandatory in many states but cover different dimensions of professional responsibility.

Ethics CLE

• Covers duties under state Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Topics include conflicts of interest, confidentiality, trust accounts, advertising, and discipline.
• Ensures attorneys meet minimum standards of honesty and integrity in practice.

Professionalism CLE

• Focuses on civility, respect for the courts, colleagues, and the public.
• Topics include communication, mentorship, cultural competence, and attorney well-being.
• Encourages higher standards of professionalism beyond the minimum rules.

Provider Support

• Accredited providers, including Sprout Education, offer both Ethics and Professionalism CLE programs designed to satisfy state-specific requirements.
• Courses combine real-world case studies, practical guidance, and compliance-focused instruction to ensure attorneys stay in good standing.

Key Takeaway: Ethics CLE enforces the rules of professional conduct, while Professionalism CLE promotes civility and respect in legal practice — together, they ensure both compliance and higher standards of conduct, with providers like Sprout Education supporting attorneys in meeting these requirements.