04/21/2008 09:08:31 AM EST
Continuing Legal Education
State Requirements
Thirty-four states now require that attorneys take continuing legal education (CLE) courses in order to retain their license to practice law.
Attorneys in these states are required, on average, to complete from 12 to 15 credit hours per year. Most of the states provide a two or three year period in which all of the necessary credit hours are taken. Thus, in New York, attorneys are required to take 24 credit hours over a two-year period, while in Texas , attorneys are required to complete 15 hours of credit each year. Florida requires 30 credit hours over three years.
A statutory part of each attorney's required CLE includes a designated number of credits which must consist of courses on ethics. Delaware requires four hours of ethics, Florida, five, and in Texas , three of the fifteen credits must be devoted to ethics.
Other states have more specific requirements. In Ohio , attorneys are required to take thirty minutes of instruction on substance abuse, including causes, prevention, detection, and treatment alternatives; sixty minutes of instruction must be related to the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct; and sixty minutes of instruction must be related to professionalism.
Some states impose more stringent CLE requirements on new attorneys. New attorneys in New York are required to complete 32 hours of CLE in the first two years of being admitted to the bar. Louisiana requires that 8 of the 12.5 credit hours for new attorneys be devoted to ethical or professional issues.
Continuing Education Courses
Almost every state, whether or not CLE is required, offers CLE classes. Some are offered by bar associations, some by law schools. Some of the courses offered are taught by lawyers in a classroom setting, some courses can completed upon the purchase of audio and video tapes, and some courses are offered online. Many of the course material consist of textbooks or computer disks, and often they contain very useful forms and checklists.
In addition to the state entities, which tend to focus on state law, there are numerous online courses provided by Lexis, Westlaw, the ABA , and other commercial vendors. It should be noted that there are some states that limit the number of online courses an attorney may take to meet his or her CLE requirements.
There are also conferences and meetings, at which CLE courses are offered. These conferences are often held in prime vacation spots, where they are presented in the morning, leaving the lawyer free to enjoy the amenities in the afternoon. Some are sponsored by state and local bar associations, others by the ABA , and some by commercial vendors of continuing education.
CLE classes keep attorneys up to date on the latest holdings and issues, which will enhance his or her ability to represent clients. Actually attending such classes allows an attorney to meet others, share experiences, and provide networking opportunities.
An additional benefit for some attorneys is that CLE credits may reduce the cost of legal malpractice insurance. Obtaining such credits may be required by the insurer.