What counts toward CLE requirements in New Jersey?

Yes — New Jersey allows carryover of CLE credits, up to 12 credits, from one compliance period to the next.

This is set forth in the New Jersey Courts’ CLE FAQ and BCLE Regulation 201:3.

Details & nuances

• The FAQ states: “Up to 12 credit hours (6 for the transitional period) can be carried over to the next consecutive compliance period.”
• If carried credits are not used in the next period, they cannot be carried further beyond that one consecutive period.
• The CLE requirement in New Jersey is 24 credits every two years, with 5 ethics/professionalism credits (at least 2 in diversity/inclusion).
• The PLI CLE guide also confirms: “Up to 12 credits can carry over to the next period.”

Key Takeaway

In New Jersey, you may carry forward up to 12 CLE credits into the next compliance period — but any unused carryover expires if not used in that immediate period.

No — judges in New Jersey do not have a separate CLE regime; they must satisfy the same CLE requirements as all active attorneys.

New Jersey’s CLE rules (BCLE) apply to “attorneys, judges, in-house counsel” without imposing additional judicial-only obligations.

Details

• New Jersey mandates 24 credit hours of continuing legal education every two years.
• Of those 24 credits, 5 must be in ethics/professionalism (of which at least 2 must address diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias).
• The CLE rules explicitly include judges among the class of persons who must comply.
• The CLE course catalog includes a “Judicial Education (for judges only)” category, but those courses count toward the same CLE requirement rather than creating a separate, additional pathway.

Key Takeaway

In New Jersey, judges have no distinct separate CLE requirement; they operate under the same CLE obligations as other attorneys.

Yes — New Jersey permits late CLE reporting under a “grace period” framework, but you’ll incur a $150 late compliance fee and you must meet the obligation during that grace time to avoid administrative ineligibility.
The Board on Continuing Legal Education’s regulations allow a single grace period after the compliance deadline, during which credits earned count toward the prior period and the late fee is assessed.

Details & Conditions:

• New Jersey attorneys are required to complete 24 CLE credits every two years, including required ethics/professionalism and diversity credits.
• If you fail to comply by the deadline, the Board issues a noncompliance notice and provides a grace period in which you can earn the missing credits. Credits earned during the grace period count only toward the prior compliance term, not the current one.
• Those reporting late will be assessed a $50 late compliance fee.
• If you still do not comply after the grace period, you may be placed on the CLE ineligible list and become administratively ineligible to practice law in New Jersey until you satisfy the requirements.
• The rules allow one grace period only per reporting cycle; extensions or other relief may be granted for good cause (undue hardship) under Reg. 202.

Key Takeaway
Yes — New Jersey allows late CLE reporting via a grace period, but you’ll pay a $150 late fee and must comply within that window or risk losing eligibility to practice until cured.

Yes — New Jersey’s CLE regime allows a few defined exemptions, such as for attorneys with 50+ years of licensure, those aged 75+, active military, VISTA/Peace Corps, and attorneys fully retired from practice.

Under the Supreme Court’s CLE rule (Rule 1:42 / BCLE Reg. 202:1), those categories are carved out from the 24-credit biennial requirement.

Details / Exceptions

• 50 years of practice: Attorneys admitted to practice law for 50 years or more in any jurisdiction are exempt from New Jersey’s CLE requirement.
• Age 75+: Attorneys who have reached age 75 are exempt, regardless of tenure.
• Active Duty Military / VISTA / Peace Corps: Attorneys serving full-time in the U.S. Armed Forces, VISTA, or Peace Corps may claim exemption.
• Fully retired attorneys: Those who are completely retired from the practice of law for the entire compliance period are exempt.
• Waivers / hardship: Even if none of the above apply, an attorney may petition for a waiver (full or partial) due to undue hardship or circumstances beyond control.
• No exemption for non-residency alone: Simply being located or practicing out of state does not automatically exempt one from NJ CLE.

Key Takeaway
New Jersey imposes mandatory CLE for most active attorneys, but it provides specific carve-outs for very senior attorneys, those 75 or over, active military service, full retirement, and hardship — these exemptions must be claimed under the Board’s rules.

In New Jersey, attorneys must complete all required CLE credits by December 31 of their two-year compliance period and then certify compliance when filing their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing Statement in the following year. The certification occurs after the compliance period ends, as part of the annual registration process.

New Jersey CLE Reporting Details

• Compliance deadline: Attorneys must complete all CLE credits by December 31 of their assigned two-year cycle.
• Reporting method: Compliance is certified during the Annual Attorney Registration and Billing Statement filing, which takes place in the spring of the following year.
• Compliance groups:
  • Attorneys born January 1–June 30 report in even-numbered years.
  • Attorneys born July 1–December 31 report in odd-numbered years.
• Grace period: Attorneys who do not meet the December 31 completion deadline may complete credits through June 30 of the next year, subject to a noncompliance fee.
• Verification: Attorneys must retain documentation of CLE completion for at least three years in case of audit.

Key Takeaway

In New Jersey, attorneys complete CLE by December 31 of their two-year compliance period and report compliance through their Annual Attorney Registration in the following year — not on December 31 itself.

Yes — New Jersey requires that a portion of CLE credits be earned through “live” programs, which now include in-person instruction or live webcasts under its live-instruction rules. A recent court order reinstated the live CLE requirement, effective May 1, 2024.

New Jersey CLE Format Rules

• Total requirement: 24 credits every two years, of which 5 must be in ethics/professionalism (including 2 in diversity)
• Live requirement: At least 12 of the 24 credits must come from live or “live instruction” formats
• Definition of live instruction: Under Regulation 103:1(n), live instruction includes in-person or live webcasts and other alternative verifiable learning formats
• Historical waiver and reinstatement: A COVID-era waiver of the live requirement has been rescinded, and the live requirement is now fully reinstated as of May 1, 2024

Key Takeaway: In New Jersey, attorneys must complete at least half of their CLE credits (12 of 24) via live instruction, which may be satisfied through in-person programs or interactive live webcasts under the state’s live-instruction rule.