Vermont CLE Requirements

In Vermont, active status attorneys must complete 24.00 CLE credits every 2 years to maintain good standing with the Vermont Bar.

In addition, Vermont attorneys must complete 2.00 ethics credits, 1.00 attorney wellness credit, and 1.00 diversity & inclusion credit during every reporting period. Credits earned in attorney wellness and diversity & inclusion do not count towards the ethics credit requirement.

Vermont attorneys must complete and report all 24.00 required credits by June 30 in their reporting year.

The CLE reporting period in Vermont is 2 years and ends on June 30. When you are admitted to the Vermont Bar, you will be assigned to report in either even-numbered or odd-numbered years.

Vermont attorneys must certify compliance with the MCLE requirements on the licensing statement that you must file at the end of each reporting period when you renew your license. For reporting periods and license renewal, please visit the Attorney Licensing page.

Experienced attorneys can fulfill their Vermont CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Vermont Board of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. Examples of accepted course formats include:

Moderated programming or non-moderated programming with interactivity (Minimum 18.00 Hours)

• Webcast/Webinar
• In Person
• Teleseminar
• Video Replay
• Webcast/Webinar Replay
• Recorded Ondemand Online
• Video or Audio File – MP3, MP4
• Video or Audio Tape – DVD, DVR

Non-moderated programming without interactivity (Maximum 6.00 Hours)

• Self Study

Vermont attorneys may carry any excess CLE credits earned in the 2nd year of their reporting period to the next reporting period. This may include ethics, attorney wellness, and diversity & inclusion credits as long as such credits were not used to meet any minimum requirements in the reporting period those credits were earned.

The term "self-study" has been replaced with "non-moderated programming without interactivity". Attorneys in Vermont can earn a maximum of 6.00 CLE credits with courses that are non-moderated programming without interactivity.

No. In-program attendance verification is not required.

• State Contact Information
  • Address: MCLE Board Costello Courthouse 32 Cherry St., Suite 213 Burlington, VT 05401
  • Phone Number: (802) 859-3000
  • Email: attylicensing@vtcourts.gov
  • Website: https://vermontjudiciary.org

• Vermont CLE Rules, Newly Admitted Requirement and Accredited Sponsors
  • Courses for the VT Newly Admitted Requirement
  • Vermont Judiciary Website
  • Newly Admitted Attorney Compliance Form
  • List of Accredited Sponsors in Vermont

In addition to the mandatory continuing legal education requirements for all attorneys, newly admitted attorneys in Vermont must complete 15.00 hours of specially approved CLE credits on Vermont practice and procedure.

At least 9.00 of those 15.00 CLE hours must be earned through programs delivered either as moderated programming or as non-moderated programming with interactivity as a key component. You must complete these requirements within 1 year of admission to the Vermont Bar.

Your first reporting period begins on the date you are admitted to practice law in Vermont and ends on June 30 of the second full year after admission.

Yes. The 15.00 CLE credits earned by completing your new attorney requirements during your first year of admission may be used toward the 24.00 total Vermont MCLE credits required for your first reporting period. Credits earned up to one year prior to admission to the bar may be used to satisfy CLE requirements.

Yes. In addition to Vermont MCLE requirements, newly admitted attorneys must attend specific courses and participate in a mentorship program. You must report compliance of both requirements by submitting a certification of completion through the Vermont Attorney Portal.

New Attorney CLE Credits

New attorneys must complete 15.00 hours of specially approved CLE credits on Vermont practice and procedure. At least 9.00 of those 15.00 CLE hours must be earned through programs delivered either as moderated programming or non-moderated programming with interactivity as a key component.

Courses taken to satisfy the first-year CLE requirement will count toward the MCLE requirement during your first reporting period. Those 15.00 hours must be completed no earlier than 1 year before, and no later than 1 year after, admission to the Vermont State Bar.

Mentorship Program

Newly admitted attorneys by exam or transferred UBE score must also participate in a six-month mentorship, which must include 40 hours of specific activities and at least 10 meetings with your mentor. The mentorship must be completed within 1 year of your date of admission. Mentorship hours do not satisfy any MCLE credit requirements.

Attorneys having practiced for more than 1 year are considered experienced in Vermont.

Vermont attorney can earn MCLE credit through participation in the following activities (if no financial compensation is received):

• Teaching at an accredited CLE program or teaching a law course at a law school, university, college or community college
• Teaching legal programs to non-attorneys
• Legal writing that is published or accepted for publication
• Mentoring newly admitted attorneys
• Serving as an active judge; service as a moot court judge
• Serving on approved volunteer committees.

Attorneys licensed for the first time and having practiced for less than 1 year are considered newly admitted in Vermont.