Credit Types & Formats

Yes — Vermont permits carryover of CLE credits, but only those earned in the second year of a biennial cycle.
Under Vermont’s MCLE Rules, credits earned in Year 2 that exceed the required total may roll into the next cycle; credits from Year 1 may not carry over.

Details & nuances

• Vermont’s “Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education” do not explicitly state the carryover rule in the published text, but Vermont CLE policy summaries confirm: “Credits may be carried over from the second year of an attorney’s reporting period.”
• Vermont requires 24 credit hours every two years, including at least 2 ethics, 1 wellness, and 1 diversity & inclusion credit.
• The carryover only applies to credits earned in the second year (i.e. after satisfying the first year’s requirement).
• Vermont Bar Association’s CLE tracking and policy pages mention the carryover practice via their CLE tracking tools.

Key Takeaway
Vermont allows carryover only for excess CLE earned in the second year of a two-year cycle — first-year credits never carry forward.

Yes — judges in Indiana are subject to separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirements distinct from the general CLE obligations for attorneys.

These judicial duties are governed under Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 28, while general CLE is under Rule 29, and the two regimes overlap in approved credits but impose different minimums.

Details:

• Rule 29 expressly provides that attorneys who also serve as judges are governed by Rule 28 for education requirements.

No — there is no universal requirement mandating that family law attorneys take specific CLE topics just because they practice family law.
That said, attorneys who become certified specialists or engage in specialty practice may face additional CLE obligations in family law or related areas.

• In California, the State Bar’s “legal specialist” program requires that CLE activities for specialists include certain recognized practice-area topics, including family law.
• In North Carolina, for board-certified family law specialists, at least 60 hours of CLE must be in family law (with up to 12 in related fields), and at least 9 hours per calendar year.
• In Illinois, the Illinois State Bar Association’s family law certification requires an applicant to complete a minimum of 36 hours of CLE in subjects specifically approved for family law.
• Some states maintain a list of “family relations” CLE courses approved for attorneys practicing that area. For example, Ohio has a selection of pre-approved family relations CLE programs.

Key Takeaway:
Unless the jurisdiction requires specialization, family law attorneys typically must satisfy general CLE requirements. But if they hold or seek a certification in family law, or the state imposes specialty CLE standards, then specific family law topics will be required.

Yes — in many jurisdictions, writing a legal article can qualify for CLE credit if the article is published and meets state MCLE standards.

Most states require that the article provide substantive legal analysis and be published in an approved journal, bar publication, or equivalent outlet.

Details

• CLE boards generally recognize legal writing and publishing as a form of teaching credit.
• The work must demonstrate

CLE tracks ideal for legal interns or clerks focus on foundational skills, ethics, legal research, and practice management. These programs build practical competence while preparing future attorneys for full CLE compliance after admission.

What CLE for Interns and Clerks Covers

• Legal research and writing: Case analysis, drafting, and persuasive writing skills.
• Ethics and professionalism: Confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and duties under supervision.
• Courtroom exposure: Understanding procedure, evidence basics, and trial observation.
• Practice management: Timekeeping, billing awareness, and law office technology.
• Substantive law introductions: Overviews of civil, criminal, or constitutional law depending on assignment.

Why It Matters for Legal Interns and Clerks

• Early exposure to CLE topics builds competence before bar admission.
• Practical skills training bridges the gap between academic study and practice.
• Ethical training ensures compliance even when working under attorney supervision.

Provider Support

• While CLE requirements generally apply after bar admission, accredited providers including Sprout Education offer introductory programs in ethics, research, and practice management that help interns and clerks prepare for professional practice.

Key Takeaway: Legal interns and clerks benefit most from CLE focused on research, ethics, courtroom procedure, and practice management, laying a foundation for success as future attorneys.

CLE records are verified by the bar through audits, provider-reported attendance, certificates retained by attorneys, and reconciliation against official records.
This process ensures accurate compliance and prevents fraudulent reporting.

Self-Reporting and Audits

In most jurisdictions, attorneys self-report their CLE compliance through online transcripts, affidavits, or compliance reports. Bar authorities conduct random audits to verify the accuracy of these reports. During an audit, attorneys must provide supporting documentation such as certificates of attendance, agendas, or provider confirmations.

Provider Reporting and Recordkeeping

CLE providers are generally required to keep detailed attendance rosters, registration logs,

No — Nevada does not impose a requirement that a specified number of CLE hours be completed in a physical, in-person classroom setting.

The state’s CLE regulations allow attorneys to fulfill their annual 13-hour requirement using “live” formats (including live webinars or webcasts) or approved recorded (alternative) programs.

Details

• Nevada attorneys must complete 13 credit hours annually, including 2 ethics credits and 1 substance abuse/mental health

Yes — Ohio imposes a separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirement for judges under Gov. Jud. R. IV, distinct from the general CLE requirement for attorneys.

Judges (full-time, part-time, acting, and eligible retired) must complete 40 hours of education every two years, including 10 hours through the Ohio Judicial College, with 3 of those hours in judicial conduct.

Details

• The Ohio Judicial College provides courses satisfying the judicial component of the requirement.
• The 40-hour requirement

Yes — Mississippi CLE rules require attorneys to complete a minimum number of in-person, live courses each year.

Under current regulation, attorneys must take 6 hours in person (i.e. classroom seminars) annually; the remaining 6 hours may be web-based (live webcast or on-demand) subject to the 6 hour limit on non-in-person credit.

Details

• The Mississippi CLE system mandates 12 total CLE hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics.
• Only up to 6 credits may be

Yes – North Dakota allows carryover of CLE credits, up to 12 hours, but ethics credits cannot be carried over.
This policy is set by the State Bar Association of North Dakota’s CLE Commission and reflected in its official materials.

Details & nuances

• Carryover cap – up to 12 excess hours from a three-year period may be carried forward to the next reporting period.
• Reduction to 12 hours – as of December 5, 2024, CLE Policy 4.4 was amended to reduce the carryover limit from 15 to 12 hours.
• Ethics exclusion – ethics or professional responsibility credits may not be carried forward as ethics credit.
• Baseline requirement – North Dakota requires 36 hours every three years, including 3 hours of ethics, which must be earned in each period regardless of any general-credit carryover.

Key Takeaway
North Dakota permits carryover of up to 12 CLE hours into the next reporting period, but ethics credits never carry over and must be earned fresh each cycle.

CLE credit in California counts for participatory programs (live or interactive) and self-study activities, subject to the State Bar’s credit rules.

Participatory activities include in-person seminars, live webcasts, approved online courses, speaking at or teaching CLEs, mock-trial coaching, and similar roles. Self-study includes recorded seminars, reading with self-tests, and qualifying publications.

Details

• State Bar Rule 2.84–2.87 define participatory and self-study credit under California’s MCLE rules.
• Participatory

Yes — judges in Texas must comply with a distinct continuing judicial education (CJE) requirement under the Rules of Judicial Education, separate from the attorney MCLE requirement.

The CJE rules, promulgated by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals under Texas Government Code § 39.002 / § 56.006, establish mandatory instruction hours for judges and judicial officers.

Details

• In a judge’s first year on the bench, the requirement is 30 hours of approved instructional training; after the first

In Wyoming, attorneys satisfy CLE by completing approved live, self-study, teaching, writing, or pro bono activities—subject to caps and format rules under Rule 6 of the Wyoming CLE regulations.

Wyoming lawyers must earn 15 CLE credit hours per calendar year, including 2 hours of legal ethics.

Qualifying CLE activities

• Attendance at live or interactive programs (in-person, live webcast, teleconference)
• Self-study /

No — California does not require attorneys to attend any specific number of CLE hours in a physical, in-person classroom setting.

The State Bar’s MCLE (Minimum Continuing Legal Education) rules require that at least half of all hours be “participatory,” but that includes live webcasts and other interactive formats, not solely in-person instruction.

Details

• California attorneys must complete 25 MCLE credit hours every three years.
• At least 12.5 hours must be in participatory

Yes — Louisiana allows carryover of excess CLE, up to 8 credits, but only for general credits (not ethics or professionalism).

This carryover is recognized in the MCLE Committee’s rules and Louisiana CLE FAQs.

Details & nuances

• The LSBA MCLE FAQs state: “Carry forward credits are considered IN-PERSON credits.” — which implies

Yes — Vermont requires that most CLE credits be earned through live or interactive formats. Attorneys must complete 24 CLE hours every two years, of which at least 18 must be from moderated or interactive programming (in person, webcast, teleseminar); only up to 6 may be non-moderated/self-study.

Vermont CLE Format Requirements

• Total requirement: 24 credit hours every two years, including 2 in ethics, 1 in attorney wellness, and 1 in diversity & inclusion.
• Live/interactive minimum: At least 18 hours must be “moderated programming or non-moderated programming with interactivity as a key component” (this includes in-person, live webinars, teleseminars).
• Non-interactive cap: Up to 6 hours may be non-moderated programming without interactivity (i.e. pure self-study).
• First-year attorneys: Of the 15 CLE hours required for new admittees, at least 9 must be from moderated or interactive formats.

Key Takeaway: In Vermont, attorneys cannot satisfy the majority of CLE by pure self-study — at least 18 of 24 hours must be earned via live or interactive formats (which include in-person or live webcast).

No — Utah’s MCLE (CLE) rules do not provide a reduced requirement for part-time attorneys; all “active status” attorneys must satisfy the same baseline.

Under Utah’s UCJA Rule 11-604, each active status lawyer must complete 12 hours of Accredited CLE in each compliance cycle (July 1 through June 30), of which at least 6 hours must be “Verified CLE.”

Details:

• Of the 12 required hours, 1 must cover Ethics CLE and 1 must cover Professionalism & Civility CLE.
• The remaining 6

New Hampshire attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each reporting year. Within those 12 hours, at least 2 must be in ethics.

Annual CLE Requirements in New Hampshire

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per year (720 minutes)
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours (120 minutes)
• Reporting cycle: June 1 – May 31
• Credits must be reported through the NH Attorney Reporting Tool (ART)

Additional Notes & Exemptions

• All 12 hours may be completed virtually (live attendance is not required)
• Newly admitted attorneys must also complete the NHBA Practical Skills Course within 2 years; that is separate from the annual CLE requirement

Key Takeaway: New Hampshire’s reporting year requires 12 CLE hours including 2 in ethics or professionalism, with the cycle running June 1 through May 31.

No — Tennessee does not require CLE to be in person. Under current Tennessee law, attorneys may satisfy all credit hours via approved distance learning (live or recorded), as the prior limitation on online credits was removed as of November 1, 2022.

Tennessee CLE Format Rules

• Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court allows credit earned via in-person or distance learning formats without restriction.
• An attorney may receive credit for live-streamed sessions (webcasts) and prerecorded programs as long as they are approved and satisfy the Commission’s interactivity or format criteria.
• The Order effective November 1, 2022 eliminated caps on distance learning credit, meaning all required CLE credits may now be earned via online or on-demand methods.
• On-demand distance learning is allowed, but no credit is allowed for viewing a recorded program if the participant has already received credit for the original live presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys are no longer required to attend in person — live webcasts and approved recorded/distance learning courses now satisfy the CLE requirement entirely.