What happens if I miss the CLE deadline in Georgia?

Georgia’s CLE rules provide a defined cure period for attorneys who fail to complete or report required CLE credits by the December 31 compliance deadline. Attorneys may make up deficiencies during the early months of the following year, but late fees apply and prolonged noncompliance can result in referral to the Supreme Court for suspension.

Georgia CLE Deadlines and Cure Process

• Completion deadline: All required CLE credits (12 per year, including 1 ethics and 1 professionalism) must be earned by December 31.
• Reporting deadline: Attorneys must report or verify their compliance by January 31 of the following year.
• Cure and late fees: Attorneys who miss the CLE completion deadline may make up credits during the cure period, but a $100 late fee applies once noncompliance is recorded.
• Escalating penalties: If the deficiency remains unresolved, additional late fees may accrue, and noncompliance may be reported to the Supreme Court of Georgia for administrative suspension.
• Final enforcement: Suspension is imposed only after notice, opportunity to cure, and failure to comply within the deadlines set by the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency (CCLC).

Key Takeaway

Georgia allows attorneys to cure CLE deficiencies after the December 31 deadline but imposes late fees beginning at $100 and escalating for continued noncompliance. If unresolved after notice, the attorney may face suspension under Supreme Court order.

Yes — Georgia allows attorneys to carry over unused CLE credits, subject to defined limits.

Georgia’s CLE rules permit carryover of general, ethics, professionalism, and trial credits, within specified maximums.

Details & nuances

• Attorneys in Georgia need 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 hour ethics and 1 hour professionalism; trial attorneys also need 3 trial hours.
• According to NACLE, Georgia attorneys may carry forward up to 12 credits total, including up to 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, and 3 trial credits.
• Georgia’s CLE requirement guidance likewise states that if a member completes more than 12 hours, the surplus may be applied toward the next year.
• However, newly admitted attorneys may not carry over CLE credits into their next reporting cycle (i.e. their excess credits do not shift forward).

Key Takeaway

You can carry over unused GEORGIA CLE credits (within limits: 12 general, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, 3 trial), but new admittees are excluded from carryover.

No — Georgia’s CLE rules treat all active attorneys alike; there is no special reduced requirement for part-time attorneys.

Georgia requires active members to complete 12 CLE credit hours annually, including 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism.

Details:

• Attorneys aged 70 or older are exempt from the CLE requirement.
• Trial attorneys must earn 3 hours of trial credit within the 12-hour requirement.
• There is a grace period until March 31 following the reporting year to cure deficiencies.
• Carryover is allowed: up to 12 general CLE credits, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, and 3 trial hours may be carried to the next year.

Key Takeaway: Georgia imposes the same 12-credit annual CLE requirement on all active attorneys — part-time vs full-time status does not change that duty.

You report CLE credits in Georgia by submitting an annual affidavit (or report) to the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency via the Georgia Bar’s CLE portal by January 31.
This certification reflects CLE hours earned during the prior calendar year, ending December 31.

Overview of Georgia CLE Reporting

Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year, including at least 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism. Trial attorneys must also complete 3 hours in trial practice.
CLE programs may be live, webcast, or prerecorded distance learning; there is no longer a limit on how many distance learning hours may apply.
Attorneys may carry forward a limited number of excess credits: up to 12 general credits, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, and 3 trial hours.

Steps to Report CLE in Georgia

• Complete your required 12 hours (including the mandatory ethics and professionalism hours, and trial hours if applicable) by December 31.
• Log in to the Georgia Bar’s CLE / CCLC (Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) portal.
• Enter your completed programs and confirm credit details.
• Submit the annual affidavit or compliance report by January 31.
• If your report is selected for audit, produce certificates, agendas, or attendance records.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, verify those credits appear in Georgia’s CLE record; where Georgia permits provider reporting, we support that transmission, but you remain responsible for your affidavit submission.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, you must earn 12 CLE hours by December 31, then file your compliance report by January 31 via the CLE portal. Sprout Education aids in reporting where allowed, but you still must verify your record and submit the affidavit in a timely manner.

No — Georgia does not require attorneys to complete any fixed number of in-person classroom hours.

Under Georgia’s CLE rules, attorneys may satisfy all 12 required credits via approved distance learning programs (webcasts, online, on-demand) or live courses.

Details

• Georgia attorneys must complete 12 credit hours per calendar year, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.
• As of January 1, 2022, Georgia permits attorneys to fulfill the full 12 hours via online or distance learning CLE programs.
• Georgia still authorizes live in-person CLE programs, but there is no requirement that any portion of the 12 hours be in-person.
• Providers offering live or distance learning must comply with accreditation and reporting rules under Georgia’s CLE regulations.

Key Takeaway

Georgia mandates 12 CLE credits annually but does not impose a minimum in-person classroom requirement — attorneys may fulfill all credits through approved online or live formats.

Yes — in Georgia you can report CLE late under a “grace period” extension, though you may incur late fees and face noncompliance status after certain deadlines. The Georgia CLE rules grant an automatic grace period until March 31 for making up and reporting CLE credits.

Details — Georgia CLE Late Reporting Terms:

• Georgia attorneys must complete required CLE by December 31 and submit their annual report by January 31.
• A grace period until March 31 exists during which attorneys can cure CLE deficiencies and correct reporting without full penalty.
• If your CLE remains deficient after March 31, you may incur a $100 late fee; further late fees (e.g. additional $150) may apply if still noncompliant by later deadlines such as September 30.
• Failure to cure or report properly may lead to referral for disciplinary action or listing as noncompliant.

Key Takeaway
Yes — Georgia allows late CLE reporting within a grace period (through March 31), but late fees and noncompliance consequences apply if you delay beyond those cure windows.