What is the difference between Professionalism and Ethics CLE?

Yes, court-mandated CLE exists in many jurisdictions. Courts may order attorneys to complete specific CLE hours as part of licensing rules, disciplinary actions, or reinstatement after suspension.

When Courts Require CLE

• Licensing requirements: State supreme courts typically mandate CLE as a condition of maintaining active law licenses.
• Disciplinary sanctions: Attorneys disciplined for misconduct may be ordered by the court to complete additional CLE, often in ethics or professionalism.
• Reinstatement: Lawyers returning from suspension or inactive status may be required to complete remedial CLE before resuming practice.
• Specialized orders: Some courts impose targeted CLE in areas like trust accounting, ethics, or technology where deficiencies were identified.

Implications for Attorneys

• Court-mandated CLE requirements are binding and non-compliance may result in suspension or denial of reinstatement.
• These requirements are in addition to the regular annual or biennial CLE obligations.
• Sprout Education provides accredited CLE programs that satisfy both standard and court-mandated requirements, ensuring attorneys remain in compliance.

Key Takeaway: Court-mandated CLE is real and can be imposed as a licensing condition, disciplinary sanction, or reinstatement requirement, making compliance essential to continued practice.

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.

A CLE deficiency notice is an official notification sent by a state bar or MCLE board when an attorney has not completed or reported the required CLE credits by the deadline. It alerts the attorney to the deficiency and provides a cure period before penalties or suspension are imposed.

What It Includes

• The number of CLE credits still outstanding.
• Categories of credits missing (e.g., ethics, professionalism, specialty).
• Deadlines for curing the deficiency (often 30–60 days).
• Instructions for submitting proof of compliance and paying late fees.

Key Takeaway: A CLE deficiency notice is the bar’s formal warning that you are out of compliance, giving you a final chance to fix missing credits before fines or suspension take effect.

No, CLE is not required before passing the bar. CLE requirements generally begin only after an attorney has been formally admitted to practice law.

When CLE Obligations Begin

• Law students and bar applicants are not subject to CLE requirements.
• Once admitted, attorneys must complete CLE according to the rules of their licensing jurisdiction.
• Many states provide special initial requirements for new admittees, such as orientation programs or bridge-the-gap training.

Exemptions and Special Rules

• New admittees are often exempt from standard CLE requirements in their first reporting cycle.
• Instead, they may be required to complete specific new-lawyer training courses within a set period after admission.
• These requirements vary by jurisdiction and must be confirmed with the state’s CLE authority.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education monitors these distinctions and ensures that new attorneys understand when CLE compliance begins and what transitional rules apply.

Key Takeaway: CLE is never required before bar admission; obligations start only once an attorney is admitted, with special new-lawyer requirements in some states.

Sometimes — in many jurisdictions, attending law school classes can count as CLE (or MCLE) credit if the jurisdiction’s rules allow academic credit to be converted into CLE, but only under certain conditions. It depends on the state’s CLE regulations and whether the law school course is approved.

Details & Examples:

• Illinois: The MCLE Board permits attorneys to claim CLE credit for attending J.D. or graduate level law courses at an ABA-accredited law school (post-admission), subject to approval, with limits (e.g. maximum hours). (Illinois MCLE Board FAQ)
• California: California’s MCLE rules explicitly list “attending law school classes” among activities that may qualify, subject to the State Bar’s approval process. (California Bar MCLE Education Approval rules)
• North Carolina: Under Rule .1523, a member may earn CLE credit for ABA law school courses in substantive law, though not for courses taken before bar admission, and subject to the formula in Rule .1524.
• New York: Attorneys may earn 1 CLE credit hour for each 50 minutes of instruction at an ABA-accredited law school, with the law school providing documentation (transcript, certificate). (NY Courts CLE FAQs)

Key conditions that typically apply:

1. The law course must be at an ABA-accredited law school (or recognized equivalent).
2. The course must satisfy “substantive law” or “legal education” content, not non-legal or primarily commercial topics.
3. You must submit evidence: transcript, certificate from the law school showing attendance, hours, course designation, etc.
4. Some jurisdictions cap the number of CLE credits you can derive from law school classes within a reporting period.
5. Courses taken before bar admission are often excluded or require additional justification.

Key Takeaway
Yes — law school classes can sometimes be converted into CLE credit, but only in jurisdictions whose rules allow it and under strict conditions (approved law school, substantive content, documentation, and caps).

Many states allow attorneys to earn CLE credit for publishing legal scholarship, but rules and caps vary. Generally, publication credits are limited and must meet strict criteria.

Examples by Jurisdiction

• New York: Up to 12 credits per biennial reporting cycle may be earned for legal research-based publication.
• Illinois: Credit for publishing is capped at half of the CLE hours required for the reporting period.
• Ohio: A maximum of 12 hours per biennium may be claimed for publication of books or articles.
• Other states: Credit may be awarded only if the work is scholarly, peer-reviewed, and not routine writing.

Key Takeaway: Attorneys can earn CLE credit for publishing legal papers in many jurisdictions, but each state sets limits and requirements, often capping publication credit and requiring the work to be substantive legal scholarship.