Alabama

Attorneys report CLE in Alabama by logging into their Alabama State Bar “MyDashboard” portal and submitting an MCLE Compliance Report. Course sponsors are required to report attorney attendance to the Attorney Licensing Office within 30 days of course completion.

Key Details:

• You report via the online portal (MyDashboard) on the Alabama State Bar website.
• Sponsors must submit attendance data within 30 days after the course ends.
• If discrepancies appear in your CLE transcript, report them to the sponsor and the Attorney Licensing Office ([email protected]).
• Late or corrected submissions, deficiency plans, and associated fees follow MCLE Regulation timelines.

Key Takeaway: Report your CLE via the bar’s MyDashboard portal, ensure sponsors timely submit attendance, and monitor your transcript for accuracy.

Yes — Alabama requires attorneys to complete a minimum of 6 CLE hours each year through live programs, either in-person or by live webcast.

The total annual CLE obligation is 12 hours, and the remaining 6 hours may be completed through on-demand programs.

Details

• Attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours annually.
• At least 6 of those hours must be earned through live instruction

Yes — in Alabama you can request a waiver or extension of CLE requirements or deadlines, but only in limited circumstances and at the discretion of the MCLE Commission.

The Alabama MCLE Rules permit the Commission to waive MCLE obligations for one year or more due to undue hardship or extenuating circumstances, and also allow extension of deadlines under certain conditions.

Details & Limitations

• Under Alabama MCLE Rule 2.B, “The MCLE Commission may waive the requirements of these rules for a

Missing the Alabama CLE deadline results in non-compliance, late fees, and potential discipline if not cured. Alabama requires 12 MCLE credits (including 1 ethics) by December 31, and specific cure steps run through February 15, March 1, March 15, and, if extended for good cause, April 1.

Deadlines and penalties

• December 31: Deadline to complete all credits.
• February 15: If credits were completed but not reflected, correct the transcript by this date or a $100 late filing fee applies; if credits were not completed, submit a deficiency plan and pay a $100 late compliance fee (failure to submit by this date adds the $100 late filing fee).
• March 1: Deadline to complete an approved deficiency plan; if not completed, you may request an extended deficiency plan for extraordinary circumstances with a $100 extension fee (good cause required).
• March 15: Deadline to report completion of the approved deficiency plan; missing this reporting date triggers a $100 late reporting fee.
• April 1: Final deadline to report completion of an approved extended deficiency plan; after this date, the MCLE Commission has no authority to resolve non-compliance.
• After April 15: The Bar provides a list of unresolved non-compliant attorneys to the Office of General Counsel for further discipline.

Key Takeaway: Cure Alabama CLE deficiencies by acting on the February 15, March 1, and March 15 checkpoints (and any approved extension to April 1); after April 1, unresolved non-compliance moves toward disciplinary processes.

No — Alabama does not require all CLE to be completed in person, but it does require attorneys to complete at least half of their annual hours through live programs. These live credits may be earned either by attending in-person seminars or by participating in approved live webcasts.

Annual CLE Requirements in Alabama

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per calendar year
• Ethics requirement: 1 credit hour
• Earning window: January 1–December 31
• Reporting deadline: February 15 of the following year

Credit Formats and Limits

• At least 6 hours must be completed through live programs
• Live programs include in-person seminars, teleconferences, and real-time interactive webinars
• On-demand programs are capped at 6 hours per year

Carryover

• Up to 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried forward to the next reporting year

Provider Support

• Sprout Education supports attorneys by tracking Alabama CLE credits and assisting with reporting compliance

Key Takeaway: Alabama requires attorneys to complete at least 6 live CLE hours annually, which may be earned in person or through approved live webcasts.

The CLE reporting deadline in Alabama is February 15 of the year following the compliance period.

Attorneys must complete their annual CLE requirement by December 31 and then report compliance by February 15.

Alabama CLE Deadlines

• Completion Deadline: December 31
• Reporting Deadline: February 15 (following year)
• Deficiency Plan: Required

Yes — in Alabama you can report CLE credits late, but you may face a noncompliance notice, deficiency plan requirement, or late compliance fee. Alabama attorneys receive a noncompliance notice in January/February and have until February 15 to cure or submit a deficiency plan. (NACLE FAQ)

Under Alabama’s MCLE rules:

• The deadline to complete CLE is December 31 and the deadline to report is February 15.
• If you get a noncompliance notice, you

Yes — Alabama allows attorneys to carry over CLE credits, but only for one year and subject to reporting requirements.

Under Alabama’s MCLE rules, any hours in excess of the 12-hour annual requirement “may be carried forward and applied to the succeeding calendar year” provided those excess credits are properly reported and designated.

Details & nuances

• The carryover is limited to a one-year carryforward (i.e. only to the next calendar year).

The grace period for CLE reporting in Alabama extends until February 15 following the December 31 compliance deadline. This allows attorneys extra time to report their CLE credits without immediate penalty.

Alabama CLE Deadlines

• December 31: All CLE credits must be completed.
• February 15: Final grace period to report completed credits to the MCLE Commission.

Consequences of Missing the Grace Period

• Failure to report by February 15 results in a late compliance notice.
• Attorneys may be subject to fines, administrative fees, and risk of suspension for continued noncompliance.

Key Takeaway: Alabama grants attorneys until February 15 to report CLE completed by December 31, but missing this grace period can trigger late fees and suspension risks.

Inactive (or “Special”) members of the Alabama State Bar are generally not required to comply with the standard annual CLE obligations.

Scope & Exception

• Under Alabama’s MCLE rules (Rule 5.5 and related), Special Members (i.e. inactive or nonpracticing attorneys) are exempt from the CLE requirement except as otherwise provided.
• The Alabama Bar has published guidance noting that new MCLE rules for inactive/special members were adopted, providing for limited or conditional CLE requirements when seeking reactivation of active status.

Key Takeaway: In Alabama, inactive attorneys typically are exempt from CLE, unless they later seek to return to active practice and must satisfy certain CLE conditions tied to reactivation.

CLE credit in Alabama counts for live CLE programs, approved on-demand programs, ethics courses, and practice-management or professional-competence courses so long as they meet MCLE Rule 5 standards.

When counting credit, programs must have significant legal or ethical content, be sponsored by qualified providers, and have prior approval.

Details

• Alabama attorneys must earn 12 CLE hours annually, including at least 1 hour in ethics.
• At least 6 of the 12 hours must

Alabama attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics.

This obligation applies to all non-exempt active attorneys under Alabama’s MCLE rules.

Details

• At least 6 hours must come from “live” or synchronous activity; up to 6 hours may be from on-demand formats.
• Excess

No — Alabama’s CLE rules treat all attorneys the same; there is no special reduced requirement for part-time attorneys.

Alabama’s Mandatory Continuing Legal Education rules require every attorney (unless exempt) to complete 12 hours of approved CLE credit each calendar year, including 1 hour of ethics or professionalism.
Key relevant provisions:
– Rule 3 requires 12 actual hours per year for all attorneys.
– Rule 2 lists limited exemptions (e.g. year of admission; attorneys aged 65 or receiving Social Security) but does not distinguish based on full-time vs part-time status.
– CLE “live” and “on-demand” limits, credit carryover rules, deficiency plans, sanctions, and reporting apply uniformly.

Key Takeaway: Alabama’s CLE obligations do not vary based on part-time vs full-time practice — all nonexempt attorneys must

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Alabama as soon as the compliance year ends on December 31, with the official reporting window running until February 15.
Attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year (including 1 in ethics) and then submit their compliance within this January–February reporting period.

Key Points

• CLE credits must be earned by December 31 of each calendar year.
• The reporting system opens immediately after year-end, allowing attorneys to review and report their transcript.
• The final reporting deadline is February 15 of the following year.
• Credits are reported through the Alabama State Bar’s Attorney Portal, where attendance submitted by providers can be verified.
• Attorneys should confirm their transcript is accurate and address discrepancies with providers before the deadline.

Key Takeaway: In Alabama, you can start reporting your CLE credits as soon as the year closes on December 31, and you have until February 15 to certify your compliance.

Alabama requires 12 CLE credit hours each calendar year. At least 1 hour must be ethics, and at least 6 hours must be earned through live programs.

Annual CLE Requirements in Alabama

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per calendar year
• Ethics requirement: 1 credit hour
• Earning window: January 1–December 31
• Reporting deadline: February 15 of the following year

Credit Formats and Limits

• At least 6 hours must be earned through live programs (in-person, teleconference, or real-time interactive webinars)
• Web-based on-demand programs are capped at 6 hours per year
• Teleconferences are treated as live programs

Carryover

• Up to 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried forward one year

Provider Support

• Sprout Education tracks credits and supports reporting where applicable

Key Takeaway: Alabama requires 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 ethics hour, with at least 6 earned live and reporting due by February 15.

Yes. In Alabama, attorneys may be exempt from CLE if they are new admittees, public officials barred from private practice, age 65 or older, on Social Security retirement, certain judicial staff, or fully compliant in another MCLE state.

Examples of Exemptions

• New Admittees – Exempt for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are admitted.
• Public Officials – Exempt while serving in roles that prohibit private practice.
• Age or Retirement – Attorneys aged 65 or those receiving Social Security retirement benefits are exempt.
• Judicial Staff – Clerks and staff barred from private practice may qualify.
• Out-of-State Compliance – Attorneys who maintain compliance in another MCLE jurisdiction can claim exemption under Regulation 2.7.

Waivers

The MCLE Commission may waive requirements for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Key Takeaway: Alabama exempts new attorneys, senior/retired attorneys, public officials, judicial staff, and those compliant in

You report CLE credits in Alabama by submitting a certified affidavit (or online certification) to the Alabama State Bar by February 15.
This deadline ensures that credits earned in the prior year are properly recorded with the Bar.

Overview of Alabama CLE Reporting

The compliance period runs from January 1 through December 31.
By February 15, attorneys must certify their compliance or submit a deficiency plan if short on credits.
Failure to cure by March 15 may result in penalties or suspension.

Steps to Report CLE in Alabama

• Complete required CLE credits by December 31.
• Retain certificates of attendance.
• Submit your

Yes — Alabama’s judges are generally subject to the same 12-hour CLE mandate as attorneys, but municipal judges have a separate, lower judicial education requirement.

Under Alabama Code § 12-10B-2, Supreme Court justices, appellate judges, circuit court judges, and district court judges must complete a minimum of 12 hours of approved continuing legal education annually, including one hour in ethics.

Separately, Alabama has “Rules for Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education” that require municipal court judges to complete at

Yes — lawyers in Alabama can submit CLE credits online via the Alabama State Bar’s member portal.
The Bar maintains an online transcript (“MyDashboard” / “Member Portal”) where attorneys view CLE records and file compliance.

Details:

– After completing approved CLE, sponsors are responsible for reporting attendance (within ~30 days) to the Bar.
– If