Yes — in Maine, you can submit certain CLE credits online (or electronically), but only under certain conditions.
The general rule is that sponsors report live course attendance; attorneys may self-report self-study and non-accredited course credits in some cases.
Details:
Yes — Maine law (via the Bar Rules / CLE rules) provides for a number of explicit exemptions from the CLE requirement for certain categories of attorneys, and allows discretionary exemptions upon showing hardship.
In Maine, Rule 5(d) lists attorneys exempted (e.g. judges, law professors, emeritus, nonresidents, elderly non-full-time practitioners, new admittees), and the CLE Committee may grant exemptions or reductions for good cause.
Yes — Maine mandates that at least 7 of the 12 required CLE credits each year must be earned via “live” formats (in-person, live webcast, teleseminar, etc.).
That live-credit requirement is separate from the in-person harassment/discrimination hour and the live ethics hour.
Maine requires a minimum of 7 live-format CLE credits each year (in-person, webcast, or equivalent). Within those, one must be a live ethics hour, and one must be an in-person harassment/discrimination hour (unless waived for good cause).
Maine attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each calendar year. Among those, at least 1 hour must cover ethics and at least 1 hour must address harassment/discrimination, and at least 7 hours must be earned live.
Key Takeaway: Maine requires 12 CLE hours annually, with specific ethics and harassment/discrimination live credit rules, a live minimum, self-study limits, and up to 10 hours carryover.
Missing Maine’s CLE deadline triggers a noncompliance fee and may eventually lead to suspension if not remedied. Under Bar Rule 5, attorneys who fail to meet CLE requirements by December must certify compliance by the last business day in February; noncompliant attorneys are assessed a fee, and continued noncompliance may result in suspension.
Key Takeaway: In Maine, missing your CLE requirements triggers a late noncompliance fee and risks suspension unless you file the certification and cure the deficiency, including for years you may have been suspended.
No — Maine’s CLE rules do not reduce obligations based on part-time vs full-time status; all active attorneys must satisfy the same minimum requirement unless exempted by other rules.
Maine Bar Rule 5 requires every attorney with an active license to complete 12 MCLE credit hours per calendar year, with restrictions on self-study credits and required live ethics and harassment hours.
Details:
Yes — judges in Maine have separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirements in addition to the general CLE rules for attorneys.
Maine maintains a Judicial Education Committee that organizes and oversees CJE for judges, and state law mandates specific CJE hours for judges and magistrates.
Details
The CLE reporting deadline in Maine is the last business day in February, following the calendar-year compliance period.
Maine attorneys must complete their CLE requirement by December 31 and then certify compliance by the end of February.
Yes — Maine allows carryover of CLE credits, up to 10 hours (subject to limits on self-study).
Maine Bar Rule 5 expressly provides that attorneys may “carry over up to 10 credit hours … provided that no more than five … may be earned through self-study.”
You report CLE credits in Maine by submitting your MCLE Annual Report Statement to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar by 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February.
This report certifies completion of all required credits for the prior calendar year (due December 31).
Maine attorneys must complete 12 credit hours per year, including 1 live ethics hour and 1 live harassment/discrimination hour. No more than 5 credits may come from self-study formats. Carryover is allowed: up to 10 credits may carry into the next year (with up to 5 self-study). Program sponsors report live program attendance to the Board within 30 days.
Maine attorneys certify CLE compliance via an annual MCLE Annual Report Statement, due by the last business day of February following the calendar year. The Maine CLE Committee requires self-reporting of credits earned and retains the authority to audit submitted reports.
Key Takeaway: In Maine, attorneys self-certify via an Annual Report Statement by February’s end, backed by sponsor reporting and subject to audit.
In Maine, CLE credit counts through accredited live, self-study, teaching, writing, auditing, and certain volunteer roles, subject to the limits and specialty requirements set in Bar Rule 5.
Each attorney must complete 12 MCLE credit hours per calendar year, including at least one live ethics hour and one in-person harassment/discrimination hour.
Maine attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per calendar year, including at least 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in harassment and discrimination.
No more than 5 of those hours may be earned through self-study or on-demand online courses, and at least 7 must be live webcasts or or in-person.
Yes – Maine requires at least 7 live credits each year, including 1 in-person Harassment and Discrimination credit; up to 5 credits may be on-demand. Live credit can be earned in person or via live webcast, and 1 separate live Ethics and Professionalism credit is also required.
Maine requires a live component every year – at least 7 live credits, including 1 in-person Harassment and Discrimination hour and 1 live Ethics and Professionalism hour – with no more than 5 credits allowed from on-demand courses.
