What is the grace period for CLE reporting in South Carolina?

You can’t formally “report” your South Carolina CLE credits (i.e. file your annual compliance report) until after the reporting year ends (February 28). The reporting window opens on March 1 (deadline same day).

During the year, approved CLE providers must submit attendance data (within 30 days of the course) so your credits appear in the Commission’s records.

Key Details

• The CLE reporting year runs March 1 through the last day of February. (SCACR Rule 408)
• Active attorneys must complete 14 hours of approved CLE annually, including at least 2 in legal ethics/professional responsibility.
• Course sponsors must file attendance verification within 30 days after the program.
• Your compliance report is due on or before March 1 following the close of the reporting year.
• Late filings may incur penalties, and failure to comply may lead to suspension of your license under Rule 419.

Key Takeaway
In South Carolina, you begin seeing credits in your record shortly after courses occur (as providers report), but the earliest you can formally submit your CLE compliance report is March 1 — after the February 28 reporting year ends.

Attorneys in South Carolina submit an Annual Report of Compliance to the SC Commission on CLE via a commission-prescribed form by March 1 following the reporting year. Providers must file attendance separately within 30 days of each program, and attorneys retain Uniform Certificates of Attendance for audit.

Key Details:

• The CLE reporting year runs March 1 through the last day of February, and attorney compliance reports are due by March 1.
• Providers must report attendee names, South Carolina Bar numbers, and course details to the Commission within 30 days of the program.
• Attorneys receive and may submit Uniform Certificate of Attendance (Appendix C) to claim credit; these certificates must be retained for later verification.
• If an attorney misses March 1, a late filing fee and administrative suspension per Rule 408 may follow.

Key Takeaway: In South Carolina, CLE reporting is through an annual compliance form due March 1, supported by provider attendance submissions and attorney-maintained certificates.

South Carolina attorneys must complete 14 CLE credit hours each reporting year. That requirement includes at least 2 hours in legal ethics, and at least 1 hour of substance abuse/mental health every two years.

Annual CLE Requirements in South Carolina

• Total requirement: 14 credit hours per year
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours
• Substance abuse/mental health (SA/MH): 1 hour every two reporting years (part of general credits)
• Compliance cycle: March 1 through end of February
• Reporting deadline: March 1

Carryover & Format Limits

• Excess credits: may carry forward up to 14 credits, of which up to 2 may be ethics (LEPR) credits
• Alternatively delivered courses (online, telephonic) cannot be carried forward
• In each two-year span, the SA/MH credit cannot be carried over

Exemptions & New Admittees

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from CLE in the reporting year in which they are admitted
• During their first required reporting year, new attorneys must complete an “Essentials Series” course, which counts toward their MCLE hours

Key Takeaway: South Carolina requires 14 CLE hours annually, with 2 in ethics, a biennial SA/MH hour, carryover up to 14 credits (with limits), and an annual March 1 reporting deadline.

No — South Carolina’s CLE rules do not distinguish between part-time and full-time attorneys; all active bar members must satisfy the same CLE requirement (unless exempt).

South Carolina requires each active member of the Bar to complete 14 hours of approved CLE credit annually, including at least 2 hours in legal ethics/professional responsibility.

Details:

• At least once every two reporting years, one hour must be in substance abuse, mental health, or stress management.
• Credits in excess of 14 may be carried forward to the next year (up to 14 hours), with a cap of 2 for ethics (LEPR) credits.
• In-house CLE (by law firms or corporate legal departments) is allowed, but subject to conditions (for example, at most half of required credits in a period).
• Exemptions exist (e.g. members aged 60 or older with 30 years of admission, inactive members, new admittees in their first reporting year, certified specialists under CLE rules).
• Failure to comply by March 1 triggers suspension and related penalties under SCACR Rule 408.

Key Takeaway: In South Carolina, part-time practice does not reduce CLE commitments — all active attorneys must meet the full 14-hour annual requirement (subject to standard exemptions and rules).

Yes — South Carolina requires that at least 6 of the 14 required CLE hours annually must be earned through live, in-person programs. Live online/webcast or recorded programs do not satisfy the in-person requirement.

Annual CLE Rules in South Carolina

• Total requirement: 14 credit hours per reporting year.
• Ethics requirement: At least 2 hours must be devoted to legal ethics/professional responsibility.

Live / Distance Format Restrictions

• At least 6 hours must be live, in-person attendance (i.e. physically present in a classroom setting).
• Online/webcast or other distance learning credits are subject to a cap: only up to 8 hours may be earned via such formats.

Key Takeaway: In South Carolina, attorneys must attend at least 6 CLE hours in live, in-person settings each year — webcasts or distance learning can fulfill the rest, but cannot replace the in-person requirement.

Inactive members of the South Carolina Bar are exempt from CLE requirements.

The CLE rule (SCACR Rule 408) explicitly lists “inactive members” as exempt from the 14-hour annual CLE duty.

Details

• Active members must complete 14 hours of approved CLE each reporting year, including at least 2 hours of ethics.
• The rule also provides that, among those exempt, are “inactive members, military members, and retired members.”
• Inactive status prohibits an attorney from engaging in the practice of law in South Carolina.

Key Takeaway

In South Carolina, inactive status carries a full CLE exemption; active lawyers must satisfy the 14-hour CLE rule annually, but inactive attorneys owe nothing while they remain inactive.