What are the CLE requirements for inactive attorneys in Delaware?

You may begin having your CLE attendance reported in Delaware as soon as the provider submits the record (within 30 days of the program), but you do not actively “report” until you certify on your Annual Registration Statement by March 1.
Delaware relies on providers to enter attendance into your transcript; your role is to confirm your compliance certificate when registering.

Key Details

• Providers must submit attendance to the CLE Commission within 30 days after each program.
• Your CLE transcript should reflect new entries by date of the program, not the entry date.
• The compliance period ends December 31 of your group cycle (even/odd based on admission year).
• You formally certify your compliance via the Annual Registration Statement by March 1 following that December 31.
• If a course you attended is missing from your transcript, you can submit an “Approval Request” through the DESCLMS platform.

Key Takeaway: In Delaware, CLE reporting is largely driven by providers (within 30 days of a program), and the first moment you must act is via the March 1 certification on your attorney registration.

In Delaware, attorneys do not self-report each CLE; instead, course providers submit attendance records via the Delaware Supreme Court Lawyer Management System (DESCLMS). Attorneys must certify compliance on their Annual Registration Statement by March 1 following the compliance period.

Key Details:

• All CLE credit requests and attendance data must be submitted via DESCLMS.org.
• Providers are required to transmit attendance within 30 days of the program.
• Attorneys certify CLE compliance through their Annual Registration Statement (not detailed course-by-course reporting).
• If a course does not appear on the transcript, the attorney must request credit via DESCLMS.

Key Takeaway: In Delaware, CLE reporting is managed by providers via DESCLMS, and attorneys certify compliance via their Annual Registration Statement by March 1.

Yes — you can report CLE late in Delaware, because the CLE rules allow “curing” noncompliance by completing missing credits, submitting proof, and paying delinquency fees by specified deadlines. The rules impose graduated fees and possible administrative suspension if you miss those cure dates.

Details from Delaware’s official CLE rules (current and under amendment):

• Attorneys must complete required CLE credits by December 31 of their compliance year.
• The Commission sends a Notice of Noncompliance around January 15 to attorneys who did not comply on time.
• To cure noncompliance, an attorney must complete the missing credits, submit proof to the Commission, and pay a $150 delinquency fee by March 1 following the compliance year.
• If noncompliance is not cured by March 1, additional delinquency fees apply, and failure to cure by April 15 results in administrative suspension.
• Under new rules effective November 1, 2024, make-up plans are no longer allowed, and the enforcement structure is tightened — attorneys still face administrative suspension if noncompliance is not cured by April 15.

Key Takeaway
Yes — Delaware permits late CLE reporting via a cure process (completing missed credits, paying fees, submitting proof) with deadlines and escalating penalties; missing those cure deadlines may lead to administrative suspension under the rules.

Delaware attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years. That mandate includes at least 4 hours in enhanced ethics and requires a minimum of 12 live hours.

Reporting Cycle & Deadlines

• Compliance period: two years
• Credits due by December 31 of the appropriate compliance year (even or odd, depending on admission year)
• Certification/reporting deadline: February 1 following the compliance year

Credit Requirements & Formats

• Total required: 24 hours
• Enhanced ethics: 4 hours
• Live hours: at least 12 hours must be live (in-person or real-time)
• Online/self-study (eCLE) hours: up to 12 hours allowed

Carryover, Exemptions & Special Rules

• Carryover: up to 20 excess credit hours may roll into the next compliance period — but enhanced ethics credits do not carry over
• Senior attorneys: reduced requirement of 12 hours per two-year period, including 2 enhanced ethics
• Newly admitted attorneys’ first cycle is prorated; fundamentals programs must be completed within first 4 years

Provider Role & Reporting Support

• Sprout Education assists in tracking credit accumulation and supports submission of compliance data to Delaware’s CLE Commission

Key Takeaway: Delaware attorneys must earn 24 CLE hours every 2 years, including 4 enhanced ethics hours and a minimum of 12 live hours, with certification due February 1 after the compliance year.

Credit toward Delaware CLE may include live seminars (in person or live webcast), eCLE (online/recorded), enhanced ethics programs, and out-of-state or nontraditional courses if approved.

Activities must be approved by the Delaware CLE Commission and comply with rules on live credit, enhanced ethics, reporting, and accrual.

Details

• Delaware requires 24 CLE hours every two years, of which 4 must be enhanced ethics and 12 must be live in-person.
• A maximum of 12 hours may be earned via eCLE (online/recorded) during each compliance period.
• Enhanced ethics programs qualify toward the 4-hour requirement if approved.
• Credits from other jurisdictions or programs not initially approved may be submitted for credit via petition, subject to CLE Commission review.
• Attendance must be reported (within 30 days of seminar) to the Commission via DESCLMS, and credits are credited by the date attended.

Key Takeaway

In Delaware, CLE credit comes from live seminars, eCLE courses, and approved ethics/enhanced programs. You must hit required live hours, enhanced ethics hours, and ensure all credit is properly approved and reported.

Missing Delaware’s CLE deadline exposes you to delinquency fees and administrative suspension if noncompliance isn’t cured. Under Rule 5 of Delaware’s CLE Rules, attorneys who fail to certify by the deadline are assessed escalating fees and may be administratively suspended after April 15.

Delaware CLE Cycle & Deadlines

• Every two years: attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits, including 4 enhanced ethics credits.
• CLE credits must be completed by December 31 of the compliance year.
• Certification (reporting) is due by February 1 following the compliance year.

Noncompliance, Delinquency Fees & Suspension (Rule 5)

• By ~January 15: Commission issues Notice of Noncompliance and assesses a $150 delinquency fee.
• By March 1: If still noncompliant, another $150 fee is assessed.
• By April 1: Additional $200 fee is added if noncompliance remains.
• By April 15: An attorney still not in compliance is administratively suspended; the clerk issues suspension notice and courts are notified.
• Reinstatement: Must complete missing credits, submit proof, pay all delinquency fees by July 1 to qualify for retroactive reinstatement.
• If reinstatement by July 1 is not sought, attorney must petition under Rule 22 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.

Key Takeaway: In Delaware, failure to certify CLE by February 1 triggers escalating delinquency fees—$150, then another $150, then $200—and unresolved noncompliance by April 15 leads to administrative suspension unless the attorney cures and pays by July 1.