Mississippi

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 — Mississippi’s CLE rules allow several categories of attorneys to be exempt entirely or partially from CLE obligations under Rule 2 (Scope & Exemptions).

For example, those exempt include attorneys in their first calendar year of admission, non-resident attorneys not practicing in Mississippi, full-time U.S. military, judges and judicial officers, the Governor, U.S. Senators and Representatives, and members of the bar age seventy or older.

Details / Exceptions

• First Year Admission: An attorney is exempt from CLE during the calendar year in which they are first

There is no express provision in Mississippi’s CLE rules that explicitly exempts attorneys on inactive status from MCLE obligations.

Mississippi law classifies “inactive members” as those not engaged in the practice of law, and allows them to enroll as inactive—but the statute mandates that the Bar “shall promulgate rules … regarding continuing legal education requirements between active and inactive status.” (Miss. Code § 73-3-120)

Details:

• Mississippi’s MCLE rules require active attorneys to complete 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 hour in

Yes — Mississippi requires that at least 6 out of the 12 required CLE hours each year be earned through in-person CLE sessions; the remainder may come via online or webcast formats. According to the Commission’s rules, only half of an attorney’s annual credits may be from distance or online delivery.

Mississippi CLE Format Rules

• Total requirement: 12 CLE hours per year, including 1 ethics hour.
• In-person minimum: At least 6 hours must be live, in-person programs.
• Online allowance: Up to 6 hours may be satisfied via distance learning (webcasts, recorded courses), subject to approval.
• COVID adjustments: During certain reporting years, the in-person requirement was temporarily suspended, but it has since been reinstated.

Key Takeaway: In Mississippi, attorneys must complete at least 6 CLE hours in person each year; the remaining 6 hours may be earned online or by webcast, not through remote-only formats.

The grace period for CLE reporting in Mississippi extends from August 1 to August 15 following the July 31 credit completion deadline. During this window, attorneys may file their CLE Annual Report without being immediately deemed noncompliant.

Mississippi CLE Deadlines & Grace Window

• July 31: Deadline to complete required CLE credits.
• August 15: Last date to report CLE via the Annual Report form.

What Happens After Grace Period

• The Commission issues noncompliance notices via certified mail to attorneys who fail to report by August 15.
• Attorneys have 60 days from that notice to respond, submit evidence of compliance, or show cause why sanctions should not apply.
• If no satisfactory response is filed within 60 days, the Commission refers the matter to the Supreme Court for possible suspension.

Key Takeaway: In Mississippi, attorneys have until August 15 to report CLE after the July 31 deadline — missing this grace window triggers certified notices and a 60-day compliance cure period.

Mississippi attorneys are required to complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in legal ethics.

CLE credits must be earned by July 31 and reported by August 15 each year.

Details

• Up to 6 hours may be earned via distance learning (online, webcast, etc.).

• At least 6 hours must be in live

Mississippi attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each year. That includes 1 hour in ethics.

Annual CLE Requirements in Mississippi

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per compliance year
• Ethics requirement: 1 credit hour
• Reporting cycle: January 1 – July 31 (CLE must be earned by July 31)
• Reporting deadline: August 15 of each year

Credit Carryover & Delivery Limits

• Carryover: attorneys may carry forward up to 12 unused general CLE credits into the next reporting period
• Ethics credits in excess may not carry over as ethics, but may carry as general credits
• Online credit limit: at most 6 hours per year may be earned via distance learning (online) formats

New Lawyer (New Admittee) Rules

• Newly licensed attorneys must complete a New Lawyer Program of 12 CLE hours (6 basic skills + 6 ethics/professionalism) by the second July 31 following admission
• Completing the New Lawyer Program satisfies the CLE requirement for both their admission year and the next year

Key Takeaway: Mississippi requires 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 ethics hour, with carryover of up to 12 general credits and a limit of 6 hours of online CLE.

Failing to meet Mississippi’s CLE deadlines triggers a Show Cause process and possible suspension if you do not timely cure the deficiency. Attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours (including at least 1 in ethics) by July 31 and report by August 15.

Show Cause & Suspension Under Rule 6

• Shortly after August 15, the Commission compiles a list of noncompliant attorneys and serves each with an Order to Show Cause.
• Attorneys have 60 days to submit an affidavit proving compliance or a valid excuse for failure (illness, good cause, etc.).
• If no satisfactory affidavit is filed in 60 days, the Commission notifies the Mississippi Supreme Court and recommends sanctions, which may include suspension.

Key Takeaway: In Mississippi, missing the CLE deadline triggers a formal 60-day Show Cause process — failure to respond appropriately usually leads to being recommended for suspension by the Supreme Court.

Yes — Mississippi allows carryover of CLE credits, but with limits and restrictions.

The Mississippi CLE Commission’s FAQ and Rule provisions permit up to 12 credits to be carried into the next reporting period; ethics credits carried over count only as general credits.

Details & nuances

• The Mississippi CLE FAQ notes: “12.00 CLE credits may be carried over to the next reporting period.”

In Mississippi, you can report CLE credits only after the annual compliance period ends on July 31. The reporting (filing) window opens thereafter; your Annual Report Statement must be submitted by August 15.

You cannot formally file or certify credits mid-year. During the year, CLE hours accrue, and providers may already report attendance, but your self-reporting occurs only in August following the July 31 deadline.

Key Details

• Mississippi requires 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics/professionalism.
• Credits must be earned

Mississippi attorneys report CLE by submitting an Annual Report Statement to the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education by August 15 following the July 31 compliance deadline. Sponsors and providers may also submit attendance data, but the formal report is handled through the mailed or portal-based Annual Report.

Key Details:

• The compliance period ends July 31, and the report deadline is August 15.
• The Commission mails the Annual Report Statement to attorneys in June; attorneys add any missing credits and submit the final form.
• Attorneys retain their CLE certificates and logs in case of audit.

Key Takeaway: In Mississippi, CLE is reported via an Annual Report Statement due August 15, with the compliance period ending July 31.

Yes — in Mississippi there is a limited distinction: part-time government attorneys may earn fewer hours via in-house programs.

Mississippi requires all nonexempt attorneys to complete 12 CLE “actual hours” per year, including 1 in ethics.

Details:

• A “part-time employee of a governmental department or agency” may count up to 6 hours per year earned through

Yes — judges in Mississippi are required to comply with Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) rules, distinct from the CLE requirements for attorneys.

The state’s Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Judicial Education impose annual judicial credit minimums that apply in addition to attorney CLE rules.

Details

• The CJE rules require each judge to complete 12 hours of approved judicial education credit annually, including 1 hour in

In Mississippi, CLE credit counts when the activity is approved under the Rules and Regulations for Mandatory CLE—approved live programs, distance learning (within limits), teaching, writing, law-school courses, and service roles.

Each active attorney must complete 12 credit hours per calendar year, including at least 1 hour of ethics.

Qualified CLE activities

• Attendance at approved live in-person CLE programs.
• Distance learning (online, webinars,

Yes, attorneys in Mississippi may request an extension for CLE reporting if they face hardship or extenuating circumstances. The Mississippi CLE Commission has authority to grant extensions, partial waivers, or substituted compliance upon written application.

Deadlines & Reporting in Mississippi

• CLE credits must be earned by July 31 each year.
• The CLE Annual Report must be filed by August 15.
• Mississippi CLE Rule 3.5 specifically allows exceptions for hardship.

Extension and Hardship Authority

• Rule 3.5 authorizes the Commission to approve substituted compliance, partial waivers, or exemptions for hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• A 2022 Mississippi Supreme Court order confirmed that attorneys unable to comply may seek a hardship exemption or extension from the Commission.

Steps to Request an Extension

1. Draft a written request describing the hardship or extenuating circumstance.
2. Submit the request to the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education.
3. Specify the relief requested (time extension, waiver, substituted compliance).
4. File the request as early as possible, preferably before the deadline.
5. Provide documentation if requested (such as medical records or proof of hardship).

Limitations

• Relief is discretionary and not guaranteed.
• The rules do not define a maximum extension length.
• Attorneys remain obligated to comply unless the Commission grants the request.
• Requests must be directed to the CLE Commission, not the Bar Association.

Key Takeaway
Mississippi attorneys can request an extension or waiver for CLE reporting by submitting a documented hardship application to the CLE Commission, but approval is discretionary and must be sought promptly.

No — Mississippi’s CLE rules do not explicitly provide for “late reporting”; attorneys must self-report by August 15 following the July 31 compliance deadline, and failure to do so may trigger disciplinary procedures rather than a designated late-reporting cure.

Here is what the authoritative sources say about Mississippi’s reporting and noncompliance process:

• Attorneys must complete required CLE credits by July 31 each year.
• The deadline to report CLE is August 15 via the CLE Annual

You report CLE credits in Mississippi by completing the CLE Annual Report Statement and submitting it by August 15 following the July 31 deadline for earning hours.
You must ensure you have earned the required credits and that course attendance is properly recorded on your report.

Overview of Mississippi CLE Reporting

Mississippi attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits annually, including at least 1 credit in ethics or professional responsibility. At least 6 of the required credits must be earned via live, in-person programming. You must complete your CLE hours by July 31 each year. The CLE Commission mails you an Annual Report Statement; you complete and return it by August 15. If you have additional or missing credits, you can add them on the report when it is returned. Failure to report or correct deficiencies may lead to an Order to Show Cause and possible suspension proceedings.

Steps to Report CLE in Mississippi

• Complete 12 CLE credits (with ≥ 1 ethics) by July 31.
• Maintain certificates or attendance

Yes — in Mississippi you can submit CLE credits online via the New Online Attorney Portal operated by the Judiciary.

Mississippi attorneys may report CLE courses, upload certificates, and pay CLE fees online through that portal.

Details:

• The Mississippi Judiciary’s CLE page states that attorneys “may now go online to report CLE courses, upload course

The CLE reporting deadline in Mississippi is August 15 following the completion period.

Mississippi attorneys must complete all required CLE by July 31, then submit their Annual Report by August 15.

Mississippi CLE Deadlines & Reporting

• Completion Deadline: July 31 for the 12-hour annual requirement (including 1 ethics