December is a busy time for attorneys as it marks the largest Continuing Legal Education deadline of the year, with lawyers in 22 states facing a busy period of compliance. Each state has unique rules for CLE credits and carry-over policies. This guide provides a state-by-state breakdown to help you navigate your obligations.

December 2024 CLE Deadlines by State

Alabama

Alabama attorneys need to complete 12 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in ethics and at least 6 live credits. New attorneys must fulfill a 3-hour professionalism course within their first year, which can count toward their initial compliance period.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 15, 2025
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (At least 1 hour in Ethics)
Credit Format: 6 credits must be Live Webinars, 6 credits may be On-Demand or all 12 credits may be taken as Live Webinars
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 1 in Ethics

Alabama CLE Membership
Alabama State Bar

Alaska

Alaska requires attorneys to earn 3 ethics credits annually. While additional credits are recommended, only the ethics credits are mandatory. These can be obtained through various formats, including online courses.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2025
Credit Requirements: 3 ethics credits per year
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: Credits may be carried over into the next reporting period

Alaska CLE Membership
Alaska Bar Association

Colorado

Colorado attorneys must complete 45 CLE credits over a 3-year period, with 7 credits in professional responsibility. For compliance periods starting January 1, 2021, 2 of these credits must cover equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 45 credit hours, every three years (at least 5 credits in Ethics or Professionalism & at least 2 Credits in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period

Colorado CLE Membership
Colorado Bar Association

 

Connecticut

Connecticut attorneys must fulfill 12 CLE credits each year, including 2 credits in ethics/professionalism. Up to 2 credits can be carried over annually. Credits can be earned through live or self-study formats. Additionally, credits from 2020 can be applied to the 2021 reporting period due to pandemic-related changes.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: Attendance reporting is not required, Attorneys are required to maintain a record of their certificates for seven years in case of audit or disciplinary investigation
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 2 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics

Connecticut CLE Membership
Connecticut State Bar

 

Delaware

Delaware attorneys need to complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years, with 4 of these being enhanced ethics credits. New attorneys must also complete a 2-day Pre-Admission Conference and 7 fundamental courses within their first 4 years of practice.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: March 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (At least 4 hours in Advanced Ethics)
Credit Format: 12 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinars. 12 credits must be Live In-Person
Carryover Credit: 20 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, Ethics credits can be carried over as General CLE credits

Delaware CLE Membership
Delaware State Bar Association

 

Georgia

Georgia attorneys are required to earn 12 CLE credits annually, including 1 credit in legal ethics and 1 in professionalism. Trial attorneys must also complete 3 credits in trial practice.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, 1 hour in professionalism, and at least 3 hours in Trial Skills for attorneys who try cases in Georgia)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: The following credits can be carried over in to the next reporting period (12 General, 2 Ethics, 2 Professionalism, 3 Trial Skills)

Georgia CLE Membership
State Bar of Georgia

 

Hawaii

Hawaii attorneys must complete 3 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in ethics or professional responsibility. New attorneys are exempt for their first year but must complete the Hawaii Professionalism Course, worth 4.5 credits.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: December 31, 2024
Credit Requirements: 3 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics every third year)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 3 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, except Ethics credits

Hawaii CLE Membership
Hawaii State Bar Association

 

Idaho

Idaho attorneys need to complete 30 CLE credits every 3 years, with 15 credits from live activities. At least 3 credits must be in legal ethics. New attorneys must complete the New Attorney Program and 10 NAC-Approved CLE credits.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2025
Credit Requirements: 30 credit hours every 3 years (at least 3 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: 15 credits must be Live Webinar courses; 15 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinar courses
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period

Idaho CLE Membership
Idaho State Bar

 

Indiana

Indiana attorneys must complete 36 CLE credits every 3 years, including 3 credits in legal ethics. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, limitations on distance education have been relaxed. New attorneys must complete a 6-hour applied professionalism course instead of other ethics credits.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2025
Credit Requirements: 36 credit hours every 3 years (at least 3 hours in Ethics, at least 6 hours completed per year)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period

Indiana CLE Membership
Indiana State Bar Association

 

Iowa

Iowa attorneys need to complete 15 CLE credits annually, including 1 credit in legal ethics and 1 credit in either attorney wellness or diversity and inclusion. Credits can be earned through moderated or unmoderated activities.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: March 10, 2025
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Diversity and Inclusion or Attorney Wellness)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried over to the next two reporting periods, but Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion, and Attorney Wellness credits may only be carried over as General Credit

Iowa CLE Membership
Iowa Office of Professional Regulation Commission on CLE

 

Louisiana

Louisiana attorneys are required to complete 12.5 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in ethics and 1 in professionalism. New attorneys must complete 8 CLE credits in specific areas of ethics, professionalism, or law practice management.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 12.5 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Professionalism)
Credit Format: 4 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinar courses, at least 8.5 credit must be Live In-Person courses
Carryover Credit: 8 credits may be carried over to the next reporting period, except credits in Ethics

Louisiana CLE Membership
Louisiana State Bar

 

Maine

Maine attorneys must earn 12 CLE credits annually, with 7 credits from live activities. They must also complete at least 1 credit in legal ethics or professional responsibility and 1 in harassment/discrimination.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: The last business day in February
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Harassment and Discrimination)
Credit Format: 1 credit in Harassment and Discrimination must be taken as a Live In-Person course. 11 credit hours may be taken as Live Webinar courses. Up to 5 credits may be taken as On-Demand courses, but not the Ethics credit
Carryover Credit: 10 credits may be carried over to the next reporting period, excluding Ethics and Harassment and Discrimination

Maine CLE Membership
Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar Continuing Legal Education

 

Nebraska

Nebraska attorneys need to complete 10 CLE credits each year, including 2 credits in professional responsibility.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 20, 2025
Credit Requirements: 10 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: 5 credits must be Live In-Person courses; 5 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webcast courses
Carryover Credit: 5 Live In-Person credits may be carried over, excluding Ethics credits

Nebraska CLE Membership
State of Nebraska Judicial Branch

 

Nevada

Nevada requires 13 CLE credits annually, including 2 ethics credits and 1 credit in substance abuse or mental health. New attorneys are exempt from CLE requirements for their first year but must participate in the Nevada State Bar Association’s Transitioning into Practice program.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 15, 2025
Credit Requirements: 13 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Substance Abuse)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 20 General credits, 4 Ethics credits and 2 Substance Abuse credits may be carried over into the next two reporting periods

Nevada CLE Membership
State Bar of Nevada

 

New Jersey

New Jersey attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years, including 5 credits in ethics or professionalism, with 2 focused on diversity and inclusion. New attorneys have specific requirements and must complete credits in designated topics relevant to New Jersey.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Odd-numbered years – Attorneys with birthdays January 1st – June 30th
Even-numbered years – Attorneys with birthdays July 1st – December 31st
Reporting Deadline: Attorneys report compliance on their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing in the year following their CLE deadline
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 5 hours in Ethics, of which at least 2 must be in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias)
Credit Format: All 24 credits can be Live Webcast courses, 12 credits may be On Demand courses
Carryover Credit: 12 General credits may be carried over into the next reporting period

New Jersey CLE Membership
Supreme Court Board on Continuing Legal Education

 

North Carolina

North Carolina attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits annually, including 2 credits in professional responsibility and 1 in technology training. Every 3 years, they must also complete a credit in substance abuse or mental conditions. North Carolina attorneys have a CLE deadline of December 31s but there is an automatic grace period that applies to all attorneys until the end of February.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024 (there is an automatic grace period until February 28, 2025)
Reporting Deadline: February 28, 2025
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 4 credits in Ethics, at least 1 credit in Professional Well-being, at least 1 credit in Technology)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, but only as General credits

North Carolina CLE Membership
North Carolina State Bar

 

Ohio

Ohio attorneys are required to earn 24 CLE credits every 2 years, including at least 2.5 credits in professional conduct. The state has temporarily relaxed limits on self-study credits due to the pandemic.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024 (Last name ending in A-L – odd years; last name ending M-Z – event years)
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 2.5 hours in Professional Conduct: Ethics, Professionalism, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Mental health or Access to Justice)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, excluding Professional Conduct credits

Ohio CLE Membership
The Supreme Court of Ohio

 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma attorneys need to complete 12 CLE credits each year, with at least 2 credits in ethics, professional responsibility, or legal malpractice prevention.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours every year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics

Oklahoma CLE Membership
Oklahoma Bar Association

 

Tennessee

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credits annually, including 3 credits in legal ethics and professionalism.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: March 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours every year (at least 1 hour in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period

Tennessee CLE Membership
Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education

 

Washington

Washington attorneys need to complete 45 CLE credits every 3 years, including 6 ethics credits. One of these must address equity, inclusion, and the mitigation of bias.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: March 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 45 credit hours every 3 years (at least 15 credits in Law and Legal Procedure, at least 6 credits in Ethics with 1 being in Equity, Inclusion and the Mitigation of Bias)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics

Washington CLE Membership
Washington State Bar Association

 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin requires 30 CLE credits every 2 years, including 3 credits in legal ethics and professional responsibility. Although the live requirement was temporarily waived, these ethics credits must be completed through live programming.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2025
Credit Requirements: 30 credit hours every 2 years (at least 3 credits in Ethics in Live Webcast form)
Credit Format: All 24 credits can be from Live Webcasts, 12 can be from On-Demand courses
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried into the next reporting period, excluding Ethics

Wisconsin CLE Membership
Wisconsin Court System

 

Wyoming

Wyoming attorneys must earn 15 CLE credits each year, including 7 credits from live activities and 2 hours in legal ethics.

CLE Deadline: December 31, 2024
Reporting Deadline: January 15, 2025
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours per year (at least 2 credits in Ethics)
Credit Format: All 15 credits can be from Live Webcasts, 8 can be from On-Demand courses
Carryover Credit: All Live Webcast credits may be carried over for 2 years

Wyoming CLE Membership
Wyoming State Bar