Navigating NY CLE Requirements

Navigating NY CLE Requirements

New York imposes continuing legal education requirements on all attorneys practicing within its jurisdiction. New York State CLE requirements are designed to ensure that attorneys maintain their knowledge and skills throughout their careers, thereby providing high-quality legal services to the public. This blog post will delve into the specifics of NY CLE requirements, outlining the credit hours needed, the mandatory topics, and the deadlines for compliance.

NY CLE Requirements for Experienced Attorneys

Pursuant to the NY CLE rules, experienced attorneys, those admitted to the New York bar for more than two years, must complete a total of 24 CLE credit hours every two years. This biennial reporting cycle typically runs from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the following year.

New York New Attorney CLE Requirements

Newly admitted attorneys are subject to a transitional period, and the New York continuing legal education requirement is 32 credit hours over the first two years of admission. The NY CLE credit requirements include specific credit hour allocations for ethics and professionalism, skills, and practice management or areas of professional practice.

Mandatory New York CLE Topics

As part of the 24 CLE credit hours required of experienced attorneys, the following mandatory NY Bar CLE requirements apply:

· Ethics and Professionalism: At least 4 credit hours must be dedicated to ethics and professionalism topics.

· Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias: At least 1 credit hour must be devoted to courses addressing diversity, inclusion, and the elimination of bias in the legal profession.

· Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Data Protection: At least 1 credit hour must be earned in the area of cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection.

Additional New York CLE Considerations

· Carryover of Credits: For experienced attorneys, up to 8 CLE credits can be carried over from one biennial reporting cycle to the next. For new attorneys, a maximum of 8 credit hours may be carried over in the first year and 6 credit hours in the second year. Ethics and professionalism credits may not be carried over for new attorneys. View New York’s Carry Over CLE FAQ.

· Live vs. Non-Live Programs: While most CLE programs can be completed in person, New York CLE requirements also allow attorneys to earn credits through live webcasts, podcasts, or on-demand videos.

· Out-of-State CLE: Credits earned in other jurisdictions may be transferable to New York, subject to certain conditions and limitations.

Key Deadlines and Compliance

· Biennial Reporting: Attorneys must submit their CLE compliance certificates within 30 days of their birthday.

· Recordkeeping: Certificates of attendance must be retained for at least four years.

· Non-Compliance: Failure to comply with New York State CLE requirements can result in disciplinary action, including suspension or disbarment.

Resources for Further Information

· New York State Unified Court System: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/press/index.shtml

· New York State Bar Association: https://nysba.org/

Conclusion

Staying current with the ever-evolving legal landscape is essential for attorneys practicing in New York. NBI, a leader in the CLE industry for over 40 years, is here to help fulfill all your NY CLE requirements, with thousands of live and on-demand courses from which to choose.

This blog post is for general informative purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. You should consult with an attorney before you rely on this information. While we attempted to ensure accuracy, completeness and timeliness, we assume no responsibility for this post’s accuracy, completeness or timeliness.