As an attorney practicing in California, March marks a crucial month on your calendar. With the California Continuing Legal Education deadline just around the corner, it’s time to ensure you’ve completed all the necessary credits to maintain your license and stay in good standing with the California State Bar.

We understand that your time is valuable. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate California’s CLE requirements smoothly.

What Are My Deadlines and Credit Requirements?

If you’re practicing law in CA, you need to complete 25 CLE credits every 3 years.

• At least 4 hours in Ethics
• At least 2 hours on Prevention and Detection Competence (1 of Wellness Competence is optional)
• At least two hours of Elimination Bias in the Legal Profession (at least 1 of Implicit Bias)
• At least 1 hour of Technology
• At least 1 Hour of Civility in the Legal Profession
  
  

You have until March 29th to complete your CLEs, and until March 30th to report them.

Compliance Groups: Attorneys are assigned to a compliance group based on the first letter of the last name on their admit cards. The deadline to complete CLE credits is January 31 of the third year of the attorney’s reporting cycle. The groups are as follows:

• Group 1: (A-G) — Compliance period: 2/1/22- 3/29/25
• Group 2: (H-M) — Compliance period: 2/1/24 – 3/29/27  
• Group 3: (N-Z) — Compliance period: 2/1/23 – 3/29/26
  
  

What Types of CLE Courses Are Accepted in California?

All 25 credits can be taken as Live Webcasts On-Demand courses.

How SproutEd Can Help You Stay Compliant

At SproutEd, we simplify your path to meeting California’s CLE requirements. With our wide selection of courses across numerous practice areas, you can easily find the content you need to not only stay compliant but also enhance your legal expertise.

Consider our Unlimited CLE Membership or our California CLE Membership. Both membership options offer the flexibility to take as many courses as you need throughout the year at a fixed price. This option is especially beneficial for attorneys who want to stay ahead without the stress of tracking individual course costs.

CA CLE FAQs

How do I report my CLE credits?
Attorneys must certify their compliance by logging into their My State Bar Profile and submitting a statement of compliance by March 30th, immediately following their CLE deadline.

Can I carry over extra CLE credits?
Attorneys cannot carry over credits into the next reporting period.

What are the consequences of not completing my CLE in time?
If you do not submit adequate proof of compliance and pay the late fee within that time period, you will be placed on Not Eligible to Practice status until you submit the required proof of compliance, pay the $75 non-compliance fee, and pay an additional $200 reinstatement fee.

What if I’m New to Practicing in California?