General Arkansas Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements
Active status attorneys in Arkansas must complete 12.00 CLE credits (including 1.00 ethics credit) every year to maintain good standing with the State Bar of Arkansas. Attorneys or judges who have reached age 70 or have completed 40 years of licensure in Arkansas are exempt from Arkansas CLE credit requirements.
Credit Hour: 60 minutes (rounded to the nearest 1/4 hour).
Ethics CLE must focus on topics such as professional conduct, integrity, client communication, malpractice prevention, or attorney discipline. One hour of ethics credit is required each reporting period.
Arkansas attorneys must complete all 12.00 required credits by June 30 every year. All credits must be reported by July 31st. You can always sign in to your attorney profile to review your transcript on the Court’s CLE portal.
The reporting period is 1 year and runs from July 1 to June 30 for all active Arkansas attorneys.
Attorneys who fail to complete or report their CLE credits by June 30 (completion) and July 31 (reporting) may be deemed non-compliant. This can lead to fines, referral to the Office of Professional Conduct, and ultimately license suspension.
In some circumstances, such as illness, military duty, or other hardship, you may request an extension or waiver from the Arkansas CLE Board. Requests must be submitted in writing and supported with documentation.
Arkansas attorneys are responsible for tracking and reporting their own CLE credits. Additional information and forms for self-reporting other types of credit can be found on the Arkansas Courts website.
Yes. Arkansas attorneys are responsible for tracking and reporting their CLE completions. Attendance verification is required for downloadable or self-study programs and must meet Arkansas CLE Board standards.
You can view your CLE transcript and check your compliance status by logging into your attorney portal at the Arkansas Judiciary CLE Portal.
Experienced attorneys can fulfill their Arkansas CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Arkansas CLE Board. Examples of accepted course formats include:
Live CLE
- CLE classes in Live Traditional classroom
- Satellite
- Live telephone
- Live computer interactive
OnDemand
- OnDemand courses
- Video Programs
Yes. All active attorneys in Arkansas, regardless of their practice setting, must meet the 12.00 credit annual CLE requirement, including the 1.00 ethics credit.
Yes. Arkansas attorneys who have reached age 70 or who have completed 40 years of licensure in Arkansas are automatically exempt from CLE reporting requirements.
You may carry over 12.00 CLE credits for one reporting period. You may carry over 1.00 ethics credit. Excess ethics credits earned will first apply to the total 12.00 CLE credit requirement for that reporting period before being carried over.
Yes. Arkansas allows attorneys to complete all 12.00 CLE credits through OnDemand, live webinar, or video programs as long as the provider is accredited and the program is approved.
Yes, but with conditions. Attorneys may earn up to 6.00 hours per year through in-house CLE programs. These programs must be approved in advance by the CLE Board, with the application submitted at least 30 days before the event.
You may earn all 12.00 CLE credits with OnDemand courses.
No. You may earn all required CLE credits through OnDemand programs, including your ethics hour.
Yes. In-program attendance verification is required for downloadable courses.
There are several other ways to earn CLE credit, including:
- Speaking at approved CLE Courses:
- Solo speakers: Speakers earn 4.00 hours of credit for every hour of initial presentation and 2.00 hours of credit for repeat presentation of the same material
- Panel discussions: Participants in panel discussions receive 3.00 hours of credit for every hour
- Authorship: Up to 12.00 credit hours may be earned through authorship of an ABA published law article, a law-related article published by an ABA accredited law school, or published books on legal matters
- Law school courses: 12.00 credit hours may be earned for each academic credit hour taught
- In-house programs: Up to 6.00 credit hours per reporting period may be earned through in-house CLE programming. Application and documentation must be submitted and approved 30 days prior to the event.
- Pro bono credit: Up to 3.00 credit hours may be earned in each reporting period. Arkansas attorneys earn I.00 hour of CLE credit for every 3 hours of pro bono service (rounded to the nearest quarter hour).
Yes. Arkansas awards CLE credit for speaking in-person at approved CLE events, participating in panel discussions, writing published legal articles or books, and teaching law school courses, subject to specific credit caps and approval.
Yes. Arkansas attorneys may earn up to 3.00 CLE credits per year for pro bono work. Credit is earned at a rate of 1.00 CLE hour for every 3 hours of pro bono service, rounded to the nearest quarter hour.
- Arkansas CLE Board Contact Information:
- Address: Arkansas CLE Board. 1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 170, Little Rock, AR 72201
- Phone Number: (501) 801-5678
- Email: kfrye@arkbar.com
- Website: www.arkbar.com
Are you newly admitted to the Arkansas Bar? Here’s what you need to know:
Newly admitted attorneys in Arkansas are exempt from Arkansas CLE reporting requirements for the duration of the reporting period in which they are admitted. They must complete all 12.00 CLE credits, including 1.00 ethics credit, by June 30 of the reporting period after their admission.
Yes. If you earn credits during the reporting period in which you are admitted (when you are exempt from Arkansas CLE reporting requirements), you may carry up to 12.00 CLE credits (including 1.00 ethics credit) over to the next reporting period.
You are exempt for the reporting period in which you are admitted to practice law in Arkansas. You must complete your 12.00 CLE credits by June 30 of the following reporting period.
For example, an attorney admitted to the Arkansas Bar in October 2022 (in the middle of the 2022-2023 reporting period) would not be required to report CLE credits until June 30, 2024.