What is the reporting format for CLE in New York?

You report CLE credits in New York by certifying your compliance on your biennial Attorney Registration Form (due within 30 days after your birthday in alternate years).
New York uses a self-reporting model — you don’t submit each certificate to the CLE Board, but you must retain them for audit.

Overview of New York CLE Reporting

Experienced attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including:
• 4 hours in Ethics & Professionalism
• 1 hour in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias
• 1 hour in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection (effective July 1, 2023)
Newly admitted attorneys (first two years) must complete 32 transitional CLE hours (16 per year), with required categories including ethics, skills, law practice, and one cybersecurity hour.
You may carry over up to 6 credits from one cycle to the next.
You are exempt if you do not practice law in New York during the cycle, are a full-time active duty military, or are retired under Judiciary Law § 468-a.

Steps to Report CLE in New York

• Complete your required CLE hours before your registration due date (within 30 days after your birthday).
• Retain certificates, agendas, provider details, and proof of attendance for at least 4 years.
• When your biennial registration period arrives, complete your Attorney Registration Form and check the appropriate CLE certification box:
• Certification 1 – “Completed CLE credit requirement”
• Certification 2 – “Exempt from CLE requirement”
• Certification 3 – “Applied for extension, waiver, or modification”
• You do not attach certificates to the registration form; only certify compliance.
• If audited, provide your certificates and supporting documentation upon request.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, make sure your attendance records align with New York’s approved program criteria and that you maintain all documentation (we support recordkeeping but you must manage your certification).

Key Takeaway: New York attorneys certify CLE compliance via their biennial registration form, rather than by submitting each credit. You must complete 24 hours (or 32 hours if newly admitted), keep your records, and check the appropriate certification box when you file your registration.

Yes — you can submit CLE compliance online in New York by means of the Attorney Registration process.
CLE credits themselves are reported via the registration, not by separately filing each course with the CLE board.

Details:
– All attorneys must renew their registration biennially electronically under “Attorney Online Services,” and that registration includes a section where you certify CLE compliance.
– In the CLE section of the Attorney Registration Form, you check “Certification 1 – Completed CLE credit requirement” (or the exemption/extension box, if applicable).
– You do not attach certificates of attendance to the registration; instead, you must retain them for potential audit (for at least four years).
– As of December 1, 2023, paper registration forms are no longer issued — all registration (and CLE reporting via registration) must be done via the online system.

Key Takeaway
You don’t submit each CLE credit separately online — you certify your compliance through the electronic Attorney Registration, and you keep the backup records in case of audit.

If you miss the CLE deadline in New York, you may face audit and disciplinary referral rather than automatic suspension. New York attorneys do not file CLE separately — they certify CLE compliance on their biennial attorney registration, and failure to do so may lead to report to the Appellate Division.

New York CLE Deadline, Reporting & Extension

• Experienced attorneys must complete 24 CLE hours every two years (including 4 in ethics, 1 in diversity, and 1 in cybersecurity).
• Certification occurs via the attorney registration form, filed within 30 days after your birthday in your reporting year.
• If you fail to complete required credits, you may apply for an extension up to 90 days for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Consequences of Noncompliance

• If audited and unable to show proof of compliance, your name may be referred to the Appellate Division for disciplinary action.
• In past cases, attorneys suspended for CLE non-compliance have had to undergo full reinstatement proceedings.
• The CLE Board does not automatically suspend attorneys simply for missing the deadline — instead, compliance is enforced through audit and disciplinary mechanism.

Key Takeaway: In New York, missing your CLE deadline does not itself trigger suspension — but failure to certify or respond to audit may lead to referral to disciplinary proceedings and possible reinstatement requirements.

New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years (biennial reporting cycle). Within those 24 credits, at least 4 must be in ethics, at least 1 in diversity/inclusion/elimination of bias, and at least 1 in cybersecurity/privacy & data protection.

Credit Requirements & Subcategory Minimums

• Total required: 24 credits per biennial cycle
• Ethics & professionalism: ≥ 4 credits
• Diversity, inclusion & elimination of bias: ≥ 1 credit
• Cybersecurity, privacy & data protection: ≥ 1 credit

Carryover & Cycle Rules

• Carryover allowed: up to 6 credits may carry into next cycle
• Cycle length: two years (biennial)

Newly Admitted Attorneys (Transitional CLE)

• Total transitional requirement: 32 credits over first two years (16 per year)
• Each year’s 16 credits must include categories: ethics, skills, practice management/areas of professional practice, and 1 cybersecurity credit

Key Takeaway: In New York, the regular CLE cycle is biennial and requires 24 credits with mandated credits for ethics, diversity, and cybersecurity, and a 6-hour carryover limit.

No — New York does not require most attorneys to complete a minimum number of in-person or live webcast CLE credits.
Experienced attorneys may earn all required CLE credits through on-demand or recorded programs, provided the course is accredited and completed within the compliance period.

CLE Format Rules in New York

• Experienced attorneys (admitted more than two years) must complete 24 CLE credits every two years. All 24 credits may be earned via nonparticipatory (on-demand) programs, as long as the course is approved by the New York State CLE Board.
• Newly admitted attorneys (in their first two years of admission) are the exception:
  • Skills credits must be completed through a traditional live classroom or a fully interactive live videoconference.
  • Ethics and Professionalism credits must allow real-time interaction (such as live webcast or video).
  • Temporary provisions allow newly admitted attorneys to complete Skills credits via live interactive webcast or teleconference through December 31, 2025.
• There is no universal live-hour minimum for all attorneys under New York’s CLE rules.

Summary Table

Key Takeaway

New York does not impose a live or in-person CLE minimum for most attorneys — only newly admitted attorneys must take certain Skills and Ethics credits in live or interactive formats.

Yes — New York’s CLE rules exempt some attorneys, subject to conditions, under 22 NYCRR § 1500.5.

Attorneys who do not practice law in New York during their biennial reporting cycle, full-time active U.S. military members, attorneys temporarily admitted for a case, and those retired under Judiciary Law § 468-a are among those eligible.

Details / Exceptions

• Not Practicing in New York: Attorneys who certify that they did not provide legal advice or representation during the cycle are exempt.
• Active Military Duty: Full-time members of U.S. or State military services on active duty are exempt.
• Temporary Admission: Attorneys with offices outside New York temporarily admitted to practice in NY for specific proceedings are exempt.
• Retirement Certification: Attorneys who certify they are retired pursuant to Judiciary Law § 468-a are exempt.
• Waiver / Modification: In individual cases involving undue hardship or extenuating circumstances, the CLE Board may grant waivers or modifications.
• Prorated CLE: If an attorney begins or ceases practicing in New York mid-cycle, a prorated CLE requirement may apply.

Key Takeaway
New York does not blanket-exempt broad classes like judges or older attorneys, but provides targeted exemptions for non-practicing, military, temporary admissions, or retired attorneys, with room for waivers in hardship cases.