4.00 Legal Ethics
California MCLE Requirements
CA MCLE Requirements
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2.00 Competence Issues (1.00 hour must focus on Prevention and Detection Competence)
2.00 Elimination of Bias (at least 1.00 of which must be in Implicit Bias and the promotion of bias-reducing strategies)
1.00 Technology
1.00 Civility
A minimum of 12.50 credit hours must be taken as participatory programs.
A maximum of 12.50 credit hours may be taken as self-study programs.
CA MCLE Reporting Deadlines
Reporting deadline: February 1
Reporting period: 3 years
NBI reports your credit to the State Bar of California.
California
General California Continuing Legal Education Requirements
How many MCLE credits do you need in California?
Active status California attorneys must complete 25.00 CLE credits every 3 years to maintain good standing with the State Bar of California.
When is the California MCLE reporting deadline?
Attorneys in California must complete all 25.00 required credits by January 31 of their assigned reporting year. CLE sponsors will report your attendance to the California State Bar.
How long is the California MCLE reporting period, and when does it end?
You are permanently assigned to a compliance group based on the first letter of your last name as it is listed on your admit card. All compliance periods end on January 31, but reporting years vary depending on your assigned compliance group.
- Compliance Group 1 (Last Names A-G): 2025
- Compliance Group 2 (Last Names H-M): 2024
- Compliance Group 3 (Last Names N-Z): 2026
How do I report my California MCLE credits?
NBI reports your credit to the State Bar of California.
California attorneys must report MCLE compliance to the State Bar of California at the end of their three-year compliance period.
Can I carry over excess MCLE credits in California?
No. MCLE credit can only be applied to the compliance period in which it is completed. No credits may be carried over.
How many California MCLE credits can I earn with self-study courses?
You can earn up to 12.50 credits of your CA MCLE requirements with self-study courses.
You must complete 12.50 credits with courses approved as a participatory activity. A participatory activity may be in-person or online and is an MCLE activity for which the provider must verify attendance.
What are the specialty credit requirements in California?
As part of their 25.00 credits required every 3 years, CA attorneys must complete CLE in the following topics:
- 4.00 credits in legal ethics.
- 2.00 credit in competence issues (one hour must focus on prevention and detection).
- 2.00 credits in elimination of bias (at least 1.00 of which must be in implicit bias and the promotion of bias-reducing strategies).
- 1.00 credits in technology.
- 1.00 credits in civility.
Specialty credit may be taken in participatory or self-study format.
Is in-program attendance verification required to receive California MCLE credit?
No. In-program attendance verification is not required.
Additional CLE resources for California attorneys
- State Contact Information
- Website: http://www.cabar.ca.gov/Attorneys/MCLE-CLE
- Main Office Address: 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94205
- Main Office Phone Number: (415) 238-2000
- Los Angeles Office Address: 845 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515
- Los Angeles Phone Number: (213) 765-1000
Are you newly admitted to the State Bar of California? Here’s what you need to know:
What are the California MCLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys?
Newly admitted attorneys in California must complete a State Bar New Attorney Training Program during their first year of admission.
You may have prorated CA MCLE requirements for your first reporting period, depending on your date of admission to the State Bar of California.
Can I carry over credits I completed during my first year of practice in California?
No. CLE credits may not be carried over. However, credits earned from your State Bar New Attorney Training Program count toward your CLE requirement.
When does my first reporting period for California end?
You are permanently assigned to a compliance group based on the first letter of your last name as it is listed on your admit card. Your first reporting period begins on the first day of the month in which you were admitted. All compliance periods end on January 31, but reporting years vary depending on your assigned compliance group.
- Compliance Group 1 (Last Names A-G): 2025
- Compliance Group 2 (Last Names H-M): 2027
- Compliance Group 3 (Last Names N-Z): 2026
Are there any special credit requirements for new attorneys in California?
Yes. Newly admitted attorneys in California must complete the 10-hour New Attorney Training Program provided by the State Bar of California. You may apply these hours to the MCLE requirement for the compliance period in which they were completed. The courses are available only through your California attorney online login.
You must complete the New Attorney Training Program within 1 year from the last day of the month in which you were admitted to the bar. For example, if you were admitted to the bar on December 1, 2022, you must complete the New Attorney Training Program by December 31, 2023.
Who is considered a newly admitted attorney in California?
An attorney in their first year following admission is considered a California Newly Admitted Attorney.
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