What is the reporting format for CLE in New Mexico?

New Mexico does not have a formal grace period for CLE reporting. Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 and report compliance by March 1, with penalties imposed if either deadline is missed.

New Mexico CLE Timeline

• February 1: Completion deadline for required annual CLE credits.
• March 1: Final deadline to report CLE compliance.
• No automatic extension or grace period exists beyond these dates.

Consequences of Missing Deadlines

• Late compliance or reporting after March 1 can result in monetary penalties.
• Continued noncompliance may be referred for disciplinary action under Rule 18-201 NMRA.

Key Takeaway: New Mexico requires CLE completion by February 1 and reporting by March 1 — there is no additional grace period, only penalties for late compliance.

In New Mexico, you cannot formally “report” CLE credits (i.e., certify compliance) until after the compliance year ends on December 31. Attorneys must complete their CLE hours by February 1 and then submit the report by March 1.

CLE credits earned during the year are submitted by providers (within 30 days of program) and reflected in your transcript, but your own reporting window only opens after year-end.

Key Details

• Active attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours annually, including 2 in ethics and 1 in equity in justice.
• Accredited providers must submit attendance lists and credit claims within 30 days of the course.
• The CLE completion deadline is February 1 of the following year.
• Attorneys must report (or correct) credits by March 1.
• Your transcript is prepared and corrections may be submitted until May 1 without triggering suspension.
• Credits are tracked continuously, but formal reporting is after December 31 and within the defined window.

Key Takeaway
In New Mexico, CLE credits earned during the year are continuously entered (by providers), but you may only formally certify/report them after the year ends—after December 31—with your report due by March 1.

Missing New Mexico’s CLE deadline triggers a late fee and potential suspension of your license if noncompliance persists. New Mexico attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits annually (including 2 ethics and 1 equity in justice) by February 1, and any uncompleted credit by that date incurs a $275 late fee to be cured by April 30. If the deficiency is not cured by May 1, your name may be sent to the Supreme Court and your license is at risk of administrative suspension.

New Mexico CLE Deadline & Reporting

• February 1: Deadline to complete all required CLE credits.
• March 1: Deadline to report your credits.
• After February 1: A $275 late fee is imposed to allow cure by April 30.
• May 1: Failure to cure could lead to referral to the Supreme Court and possible suspension.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, missing your CLE deadline means paying a $275 late fee and using the cure period through April 30 — if not remedied by May 1, your license may be adversely affected by administrative suspension.

Yes — New Mexico allows attorneys to request an extension of time to meet CLE/MCLE requirements in special circumstances. The Board may grant that extension upon a petition showing “special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”

CLE & Reporting Deadlines in New Mexico

• Attorneys must complete CLE credits by February 1 each year.
• Reporting (filing) is required by March 1.

Extension / Waiver Authority

• New Mexico law permits the Board to provide an extension or waiver “upon petition and a finding … special circumstances constituting undue hardship.”
• The extension or waiver is discretionary and based on the facts presented.

What You Should Do

1. Prepare a written petition explaining the special hardship or extenuating circumstances that prevented you from timely compliance.
2. File that petition with the Board (or relevant MCLE/Bar authority) before or as soon as practicable after the deadline.
3. Submit supporting documentation (medical records, travel, etc.) to substantiate your claim.
4. Request a specific extension period and/or partial waiver.
5. Monitor and comply with any conditions if your petition is granted, including completing remaining CLE within the extension period.

Limitations & Considerations

• The decision is discretionary — no guaranteed approval.
• The statute or rules do not define how long an extension may run.
• An extension must be grounded in hardship or circumstances beyond your control, not mere oversight or workload.
• Even with extension, you must ultimately satisfy the CLE requirement to avoid sanctions.

Key Takeaway
New Mexico attorneys may seek an extension for CLE reporting by petitioning for undue hardship, but relief is not automatic and must be carefully documented and timely filed.

Yes — New Mexico allows certain exemptions and waivers from CLE or credit requirements under specific conditions (e.g. military service), but it does not broadly exempt categories like age or public office.

Details / Exceptions

• Fee or credit exemptions or waivers must comply with Rule 18-202 NMRA, and properly documented U.S. military active duty is a recognized exemption.
• New attorneys are not required to fulfill CLE in their admission year; their CLE obligations begin in their first full year.
• Inactive attorneys (those not practicing) may not be subject to full CLE credit obligations when reactivating under defined terms.
• Reactivating attorneys must satisfy CLE credit obligations for the year of inactivity and the active year, subject to Rule 24-102(D).
• All requests for exemptions or waivers beyond military duty must be processed under the formal rule procedures (Rule 18-202).

Key Takeaway
New Mexico does not grant sweeping exemptions; it offers narrowly defined waivers (especially for military service), and tailors obligations for new admittees and reactivating attorneys under strict rule provisions.

No — New Mexico’s CLE rules require the same obligations for all active attorneys; there is no reduced requirement based on part-time vs full-time status.

The State Bar of New Mexico mandates 12 MCLE credit hours annually for each active member, including 2 in ethics/professionalism and 1 in Equity in Justice (EIJ).

Details:

• As of 2024, attorneys may earn all 12 credits via live or self-study formats, subject to Board-approved courses.
• Excess credits may be carried forward, including up to 2 ethics and 1 EIJ credit.
• Newly admitted attorneys must participate in the “Bridge the Gap” program in their first full year.
• If an attorney is reactivated from inactive status, they may need to meet the requirement for both the inactive year and the year of return.

Key Takeaway: In New Mexico, part-time vs full-time status carries no effect — all active attorneys must meet the full 12-credit annual MCLE requirement under the same terms.