What are the CLE requirements for inactive attorneys in Indiana?

Yes — judges in Indiana are subject to separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirements distinct from the general CLE obligations for attorneys.

These judicial duties are governed under Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 28, while general CLE is under Rule 29, and the two regimes overlap in approved credits but impose different minimums.

Details:

• Rule 29 expressly provides that attorneys who also serve as judges are governed by Rule 28 for education requirements.
• Under Rule 28 and implementing materials, “state level judicial officers” must complete 15 hours of approved courses per year, and 54 hours per three-year reporting period; at least 5 hours must be in professional responsibility, and no more than 18 hours may be non-legal subject matter.
• Other judicial officers (senior judges, part-time commissioners/referees, city/town or small claims court judges) must complete 6 hours per year and 36 hours per three-year period, with 3 hours in professional responsibility and a cap on non-legal subject matter credits.
• Courses approved for general CLE by the Indiana Office of Admissions & Continuing Education also qualify for judicial credit.

Key Takeaway

Judges in Indiana operate under a distinct judicial education framework (Rule 28) that requires higher credits (for many) and specialized rules, and they cannot rely solely on the attorney CLE minimums under Rule 29 to satisfy their obligations.

No — Indiana does not provide a general “extension” for CLE reporting, though limited discretion exists for waiving certain procedural requirements.

Under Rule 29 (Indiana CLE), the Executive Director may waive the 30-day preprogram application or attendance reporting requirement, but the underlying obligation to report within the authorized timeline remains in force.

Detailed Explanation

• Indiana’s CLE regime is governed by Rule 29 (Admission & Discipline Rule) which sets credit, reporting, and attendance rules.
• Under Rule 29, the Executive Director has discretion to waive the 30-day preprogram application requirement or 30-day reporting of attendance in “extraordinary circumstances.”
• That waiver authority is limited — it does not amount to a blanket extension of filing or certification deadlines.
• The public Indiana CLE page emphasizes that late attendance (beyond 30 days) incurs a $25 late attendance fee.
• There is no published rule or policy allowing an attorney to extend the overall CLE reporting or certification deadline (beyond those discretionary waivers).

Key Takeaway

You cannot generally obtain an extension for Indiana’s CLE reporting deadlines — the only relief is a narrow waiver of procedural rules (advance application or attendance reporting) at the Executive Director’s discretion.

Yes — in Indiana you may submit CLE attendance late, but you must pay a late submission fee and your report won’t be processed until the fee is paid. The Commission for CLE accepts post-deadline reports subject to those conditions.

Here are the relevant details about late CLE reporting in Indiana:

• The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a “Late submission” policy: when you submit an application or attendance after the deadline, you must pay the associated fee before the Commission for CLE will process it.
• The CLE site confirms that late attendance or application submissions require the fee to proceed.
• One CLE guide states that noncompliant attorneys in Indiana face a $150 late fee for failing to meet CLE requirements on time.
• Indiana’s CLE rules (Rule 29) govern continuing legal education requirements and procedure, though the rule itself does not explicitly reference a broad “late reporting” window in the text.

Key Takeaway

Yes — Indiana allows late CLE submissions if you pay the required late fee, but your late report will only be processed after the fee is satisfied.

No — Indiana does not require attorneys to complete a fixed number of in-person classroom CLE hours.

The state permits CLE credit via distance education formats (live webinars, on-demand) so long as the programs are interactive and accredited.

Details

• Indiana’s Rule 29 sets minimum CLE at 6 hours per year and 36 hours per three-year cycle.
• Courses delivered via distance education must be interactive, with mechanisms like quizzes, prompts, or attendance monitoring.
• Self-study (recorded, non-interactive) courses are not accepted under Rule 29.
• For newly admitted attorneys, a 6-hour Applied Professionalism course must be completed (this is delivered live/in-person).
• Because the requirement for the professionalism course is tied to new lawyers, it constitutes a limited in-person obligation, but it is not a universal in-person minimum applicable to all attorneys under the Rule.

Key Takeaway

Indiana allows CLE to be earned via approved distance education; attorneys are not bound by a blanket minimum number of in-person hours — except that newly admitted lawyers must complete a live Applied Professionalism course during their first reporting period.

Missing Indiana’s CLE deadline results in a $150 late fee and potential suspension by the Supreme Court if noncompliance is not addressed. Indiana attorneys must complete 36 credits over a 3-year period (with at least 6 each year and 3 in ethics) by December 31, and report the outcome by that same date.

Late Fee & Suspension Process

• January 1: A $150 late fee is assessed on attorneys who failed to complete or report required CLE.
• May 1: The noncompliant attorney is referred to the Supreme Court for suspension.
• Reinstatement requires completing deficient hours plus additional credits and paying a reinstatement fee.

Key Takeaway: In Indiana, missing the December 31 deadline triggers a $150 late fee and may lead to referral for suspension if not resolved before May 1.

No — Indiana does not require CLE to be in person, provided that “live” and distance learning formats meet the interactive and verification standards. Indiana’s rules allow all required CLE credit hours to be earned via accredited distance learning, including live webcasts or recorded programs.

CLE Structure & Rules in Indiana

• Total requirement: 36 credit hours per three-year compliance period, including 3 ethics credits.
• Distance learning permitted: attorneys may take the full CLE requirement through live webcasts or recorded distance programs.
• Distance learning standards: programs must be interactive and sponsors must verify attendance (e.g., via polling, prompts) to qualify.
• Traditional “in-person” (classroom) courses remain acceptable under the “traditional education” or “live” category.

Key Takeaway: Indiana does not mandate in-person CLE; attorneys can satisfy their full CLE requirement using live webcasts or recorded distance programs, so long as they meet interactivity and verification rules.