Continuing legal education, or CLE, refers to the additional learning attorneys must complete on an ongoing basis. These courses are mandatory once an attorney is admitted to the state bar. The courses are required to keep your license to practice law. CLE courses help maintain a level of professionalism in the industry, and they ensure practicing lawyers stay on top of new developments in the legal system.
Minimum yearly hours for CLE credits keep you in compliance with your state bar requirements, and they help you stay current on developments in the field. No nationwide requirements exist for CLE hours. State authorities create the requirements for lawyers in those jurisdictions, so the requirements vary from one state to the next. Whether you're new to the profession or considering a move out of state, checking out the requirements for the state you plan to practice in helps you prepare for the classes you'll have to take.
Minimum CLE Courses by State
All states require lawyer continuing education, but each state sets individual requirements for the number of hours you have to complete. Some states also have requirements for specific types of continuing education for lawyers. The following list covers the minimum yearly hours of approved continuing legal education by state, so you know what to expect. Check the number of hours required, the length of time you have to complete the hours and any special requirements for types of classes you should take. There's also a link to CLE-accredited online courses by state through Lorman Education Services, so you can jump right to the classes that work for your state.
Alabama
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: One hour per year must be ethics.
Alabama CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Alaska
Hours required: 12 hours required.
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 of an hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 4 hours must be ethics.
Alaska CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Arizona
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 of an hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on professional responsibility/Ethics.
Arizona CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Arkansas
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 of an hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: One hour must be on ethics.
Arkansas CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
California
Hours required: 25 hours
Length of time: 3 years. The end of the three-year reporting period is based on last name. Group one includes last names that start with A to G. Group two includes H through M. Group three covers N through Z. Each group's reporting period lasts three years, but the year each group ends is different.
Deadline: 1/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/4 of an hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 4 hours of Ethics, 1 hour of Competence Issues and 2 hours of Elimination of Bias. Half the credits, or 12.5 hours, must be activities that qualify as participatory credit, but the rest can be self-study options. Our live webinars and Ondemand courses qualify for participatory credit.
California CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Colorado
Hours required: 45 hours
Length of time: 3 years
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest whole hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 5 hours of ethics credit, and 2 hours Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI)
Colorado CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Connecticut
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest half hour
Caps: Please verify with the CT Bar on any Live webinar or Ondemand caps
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professionalism.
Connecticut CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Delaware
Hours required: 24 hours
Length of time: 2 years. Your reporting period depends on your admission date. If you are admitted during an even-numbered year, you must always complete your credit by the end of even-numbered years. If you are admitted in an odd-numbered year, your reporting period always ends on odd-numbered years.
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 12 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats.
Special requirements: 4 hours must be ethics credit.
Delaware CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
District of Columbia
Hours required: No requirements
Special requirements: The District of Columbia has no requirements for minimum yearly hours of continuing legal education courses. However, the District of Columbia Bar does encourage lawyers to pursue continuing education on their own. Lawyers newly admitted to the bar must complete the mandatory D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice within the first 12 months of admission.
Florida
Hours required: 33 hours
Length of time: 3 years
Deadline: Dependent on when admitted
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round up to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 5 hours must be on ethics, professionalism, substance abuse or mental illness awareness. 3 credits must be in approved technical programs.
Florida CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Georgia
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics. 1 hour must be on professionalism. Trial attorneys: 3 hours of trial practice.
Georgia CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Hawaii
Hours required: 3 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics.
Hawaii CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Idaho
Hours required: 30 hours
Length of time: 3 years
Deadline: 12/31, Dependent on when admitted
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 12 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professional responsibility.
Idaho CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Illinois
Hours required: 30 hours
Length of time: 2 years, last names A-M report on even-numbered years and last names N- Z report on odd-numbered years.
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 6 hours must be on professional responsibility(Professionalism, diversity issues, mental illness and addiction issues, civility, or legal ethics). Out of the 6 required professional responsibility credits, 1 hour must be in Diversity and Inclusion; and 1 hour must be in Mental Health/Substance Abuse.
Illinois CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Indiana
Hours required: 36 hours total. At least six hours per year.
Length of time: 3 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round up to the nearest 1/10 hour
Caps: As of June 6, 2022, there are no limits on how many hours attorneys and judicial officers may complete via distance education courses as outlined in the Admission and Discipline Rules (rules 28 and 29).
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics.
Indiana CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Iowa
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 1 hour of Ethics, and 1 hour in Attorney Wellness OR Diversity and Inclusion
Iowa CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Kansas
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics.
Kansas CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics.
Kentucky CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements Louisiana
Hours required: 12.5 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 4 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, as they are considered "Distance Learning".
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics, and 1 hour must be on professionalism.
Louisiana CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Maine
Hours required: 12
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 5 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics or professional responsibility- cannot be earned via Ondemand recorded formats. 1 hour on Harassment and Discrimination, must be live in person.
Maine CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Maryland
Hours required: No requirements
Click Here for additional information
Massachusetts
Hours required: No requirements
Click Here for additional information
Michigan
Hours required: No requirements
Click Here for additional information
Minnesota
Hours required: 45 hours
Length of time: 3 year, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down the the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 30 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics. 2 hours must be on elimination of bias.
Minnesota CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Mississippi
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 7/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/10 of an hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, as they are considered "Distance Learning".
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics, professional responsibility, professionalism, malpractice prevention, substance abuse or mental health.
Mississippi CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Missouri
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics, professionalism or malpractice prevention; and 1 hour must be on explicit or implicit bias, diversity, inclusion, or cultural competency; and must be taken as a live program.
Missouri CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Montana
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 4/1
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round up to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 5 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professionalism.
Montana CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Nebraska
Hours required: 10 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/100th of an hour
Caps: 5 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professional responsibility.
Nebraska CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Nevada
Hours required: 13 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down the the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics. 1 hour must be on substance abuse, addictive disorders and/or or mental health(AAMH).
Nevada CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
New Hampshire
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics, professionalism, substance abuse, prevention of malpractice or attorney-client relations.
New Hampshire CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
New Jersey
Hours required: 24 hours
Length of time: 2 years, Compliance Group 1: Attorneys with birthdays between January 1-June 30 report on EVEN years; Compliance Group 2: Attorneys with birthdays between July 1 - December 31 report on ODD years
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 12 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, as they are considered "Alternative Format".
Special requirements: 5 hours must be on ethics or professionalism; 2 of the 5 hours must be on diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias.
New Jersey CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
New Mexico
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 4 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professionalism.
New Mexico CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
New York
Hours required: 24 hours
Length of time: 2 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: End of birth month every 2 years
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: Experienced attorneys: all credits can be earned via our live webinar and/or our Ondemand recorded formats. Newly Admitted attorneys: can earn all credits via our live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, except for Ethics, which must be taken via a live webinar; and Skills, which must be taken live in-person.
Special requirements: 4 hours must be on ethics and professionalism. 1 hour on Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias. 1 hour on Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection.
New York CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
North Carolina
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: 1 year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professionalism. 1 hour must be on Substance Abuse, and 1 hour on technology training.
North Carolina CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
North Dakota
Hours required: 45 hours
Length of time: 3 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 15 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics.
North Dakota CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Ohio
Hours required: 24 hours
Length of time: 2 years. Attorneys with last names A-L report on ODD years; Attorneys with last names M-Z report on EVEN years.
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: There are no longer self-study caps in place for Ohio attorneys. You can obtain all of your CLE through completing Lormans live webinars or ondemand courses.
Special requirements: 2.5 hours must be on professional conduct.
Ohio CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Oklahoma
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics.
Oklahoma CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Oregon
Hours required: 45 hours
Length of time: 3 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 4/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 5 hours must be on ethics or professionalism. 1 hour must be on the statutory duty of lawyers to report child abuse. 3 additional hours must be on Access to Justice(elimination of bias) in alternate reporting periods.
Oregon CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Pennsylvania
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: Group 1: 4/30; Group 2: 8/31; Group 3: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, as they are considered "Distance Learning".
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics.
Pennsylvania CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Rhode Island
Hours required: 10 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics.
Rhode Island CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
South Carolina
Hours required: 14 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 3/1
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th hour
Caps: 8 hours maximum can be earned on our Live webinar and Ondemand recorded formats, as they are considered "Distance Learning".
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professional responsibility. Once every three reporting periods, 1 of those 2 hours must be on substance abuse or mental health issues as they relate to the legal profession.
South Carolina CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Hours required: No requirements
Click Here for additional information
Tennessee
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/100th of an hour
Caps: There are no longer limitations on distance-learning continuing legal education (“CLE”) credit in TN.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics and professionalism.
Tennessee CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Texas
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: End of attorney's birth month
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics or legal professional responsibility.
Texas CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Utah
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: 1 years
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 1 hour must be on ethics or professional responsibility. 1 hour must be on Professionalism and Civility.
Utah CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Vermont
Hours required: 24 hours
Length of time: 2 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 6/30
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 12 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics, 1 hour on Diversity, and 1 hour on wellness.
Vermont CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Virginia
Hours required: 12 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 10/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 8 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics or professionalism.
Virginia CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Washington
Hours required: 45 hours
Length of time: 3 years, dependent on when admitted
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: None. All credits can be earned via our Live webinar and/or Ondemand formats.
Special requirements: 6 hours must be on ethics and professional responsibility. 15 hours must be law and legal procedure(general). At least 1 of the ethics credits must be on the topic of equity, inclusion, and the mitigation of both implicit and explicit bias in the legal profession and the practice of law.
Washington CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
West Virginia
Hours required: 24
Length of time: 2 years
Deadline: 6/30 of even years
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/10th of an hour
Caps: 12 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics, office management, substance abuse or elimination of bias in the legal profession.
West Virginia CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Wisconsin
Hours required: 30 hours
Length of time: 2 years
Deadline: 12/31, dependent on when admitted
Credit hour: 50 minute credit hour, round down to the nearest 1/2 hour
Caps: 15 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 3 hours must be on ethics and professional responsibility. (up to 6 credits may be earned in law practice management or one of the following which are considered "Lawyers Awareness and Understanding": Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, Stress management, Work/life balance relating to the legal profession
Wisconsin CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Wyoming
Hours required: 15 hours
Length of time: One year
Deadline: 12/31
Credit hour: 60 minute credit hour, round up to the nearest 1/4 hour
Caps: 6 hours maximum can be earned on our Ondemand recorded format. There is no limit to the amount of credit that can be earned via our Live webinar format.
Special requirements: 2 hours must be on ethics.
Wyoming CLE courses
Click Here for additional information and requirements
Formats Available From Lorman Education Services for Lawyer Education and Training
Lorman Education Services delivers a wide range of CLE courses that meet the requirements of your state. The different formats available give you options that work best for your learning style. You can choose from visual, audio and written formats. You'll find topics on many different aspects of the law to match the area in which you practice.
Choose one or more of these formats available from Lorman Education Services.
- Live webinars: With live webinars, you get the fresh, updated content of an in-person class without the need to travel to an offsite location. Experienced legal professionals with expertise in specific legal areas teach the webinars.
- OnDemand webinars: Even with the online format, you can't always fit a live webinar into your schedule. Take the webinar on your schedule with our OnDemand webinars. You can watch the webinars when they fit into your schedule.
With the annual all-access pass, you can go to an unlimited number of live webinars. You can also access all other formats of recorded and written content. Browse through the variety of courses we have available for your state, and take as many as you want.
Complete Your Minimum CLE Credits Now
Lorman Education Services delivers quality CLE courses that not only fulfill your yearly requirements, but also expand your knowledge with useful, relevant, current information. Different plans give you purchasing options that fit your budget. Whether you choose an individual course or go for the yearly all-access pass, choosing Lorman Education Services for your CLE hours gives you the professional quality and flexibility you demand.
