Keith Mack
Attorneys in Ohio must complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years to maintain active status with the Ohio State Bar. These credits are administered by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education, which was created by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1988. The Commission requires attorneys to complete 2.5 of these credits in professional conduct by December 31 every two years. Compliance groups are assigned by the attorney's last name, with those whose last names start with A-L completing their requirements in odd-numbered years, and M-Z in even-numbered years. While the rules vary from state to state, it is possible to receive CLE credit for activities completed in other states, and some states allow attorneys to fulfil their entire CLE requirement using online resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| CLE requirements | Attorneys must complete 24 credits, including 2.5 credits in professional conduct, by December 31 every two years |
| Compliance periods | Attorneys with last names A-L must complete requirements in odd-numbered years; M-Z in even-numbered years |
| Carry-over credits | A maximum of 12 credits can be carried over to the next compliance period |
| Self-study caps | Removed as of January 1, 2023 |
| Live courses | Live courses, live webcasts, and live interactive webinars are accepted formats |
| Reporting | Attorneys can add credits to their record after 35 days from the date of the program through the Attorney Portal |
| CLE record | The Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on CLE maintains a CLE record for each attorney |
| CLE sponsors | PLI and the SEC Institute are sponsors of CLE programs |
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What You'll Learn
CLE Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys
The Commission on Continuing Legal Education, established by the Supreme Court of Ohio, mandates that attorneys complete 24 credits, encompassing 2.5 credits in professional conduct, by December 31 every two years. Compliance cycles are determined by attorneys' last names, with those bearing surnames from A to L fulfilling their requirements in odd-numbered years, and those from M to Z in even-numbered years.
Attorneys admitted by examination are exempt from the standard CLE requirements during their initial biennial cycle but must undertake 12 hours of New Lawyers Training Instruction (NLT) within this period. This instruction must be delivered through live courses, encompassing formats such as in-person sessions, live webcasts, or interactive webinars. Newly admitted attorneys in Ohio are subject to the standard CLE requirements, with the number of credits potentially prorated based on their admission date.
It's important to note that in-program attendance verification is necessary to obtain Ohio CLE credit. Attorneys are responsible for maintaining records to demonstrate compliance with CLE requirements and can add credits to their record 35 days after the program through the Attorney Portal, using the provided activity code.
While there were previously caps on credits earned through self-study formats, these have been lifted since January 1, 2023, allowing attorneys to fulfill their CLE requirements through approved self-study courses without restrictions.
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CLE Requirements for Attorneys Licensed in Ohio but Residing in Another State
Attorneys licensed in Ohio but residing in another state are required to comply with the same CLE requirements as those based in Ohio. There are no special provisions for attorneys living or working outside of Ohio.
To maintain their license, attorneys admitted to practice in the State of Ohio must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of approved continuing legal education for each two-year compliance period. This includes 2.5 hours of instruction in professional conduct.
Compliance groups are based on the first letter of the attorney's last name at the time of admission. Attorneys with last names beginning with A through L must complete credits by December 31 of each odd-numbered year, while attorneys with last names beginning with M through Z must complete credits by December 31 of every even-numbered year.
Attorneys can meet these requirements by attending live seminars, live webcasts, one-hour briefings, on-demand programs, MP3s, and MP4s, which qualify as "live" or "self-study" credit. There is no limit to the number of credits an attorney can earn via live or self-study courses.
It is important to note that courses approved for CLE credit in other states may not necessarily be eligible for CLE accreditation in Ohio. Attorneys should check with the sponsor of the programs they wish to attend to confirm accreditation in Ohio.
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CLE Credit for Teaching
The Commission on Continuing Legal Education, Supreme Court of Ohio, requires attorneys to complete 24 credits, including 2.5 credits in professional conduct, by December 31 every two years. Compliance periods are based on attorneys' last names: A through L must complete their requirements in odd-numbered years, while M through Z must complete their requirements in even-numbered years. A maximum of 12 credits can be carried over to the next compliance period.
Thirty minutes of actual instruction or other approved activity equals one-half credit hour. No CLE credit is given for breaks, opening or closing remarks, or keynote speeches. Partial hours are rounded to the nearest quarter of an hour, provided a minimum of half a credit hour of CLE credit has been earned.
If you teach at an approved CLE activity, you may receive three hours of CLE credit for each hour taught during your initial presentation and one hour of CLE credit for each hour taught for subsequent presentations of the same material during the same calendar year. If it is a panel presentation, you will receive twice the number of credit hours requested for your initial presentation and the same number of credit hours for subsequent panel presentations of the same material during the same calendar year.
A request for teaching credit (CCLE Form 2) must be submitted within thirty days of the presentation. You may also receive three hours of CLE credit for each semester hour of a course completed at an ABA-accredited law school. Pro-rata credit will be granted for quarter or trimester hours. Law school attendance credit may be requested by completing a Form 4, Request for Credit for Law School Attendance, and submitted within thirty days after the last day of the course.
Additionally, the Commission may allow three credit hours for each semester hour of a course taught by an adjunct or part-time professor at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association the first time the course is taught by that professor and one-half credit hour for each semester hour the course is taught subsequently. The Commission may allow one-half credit hour for each semester hour taught by a full-time professor at an ABA-accredited law school. Prorated credit may be granted for quarter or trimester hours. Law school teaching credit may be requested by completing a Form 3, Request for Credit for Law School Instruction, and submitted within thirty days after the last day of the course. A $25 late fee will be assessed for credits submitted more than thirty days after the semester ends.
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CLE Compliance Deadlines
The compliance deadlines for CLE requirements vary by state. Here is a summary of the CLE compliance deadlines for a few states:
Ohio
Attorneys in Ohio must complete 24 credits, including 2.5 credits in professional conduct, by December 31 every two years. Compliance periods are based on attorneys' last names. Those with last names from A through L must complete their requirements in odd-numbered years, while those with last names from M through Z must complete their requirements in even-numbered years.
California
California attorneys are divided into three compliance groups based on their last names: Group 1 (A-G), Group 2 (H-M), and Group 3 (N-Z). Each group has a three-year compliance period. For example, Group 1's compliance period is from 2/1/22 to 1/31/25, with a deadline to report by 2/1/25. Attorneys are responsible for tracking their CLE credits and reporting compliance to the State Bar of California at the end of the reporting period.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has three compliance groups to which attorneys are permanently assigned randomly by attorney ID number. The reporting periods and compliance dates vary for each group. Group I's reporting period is from May 1 through April 30 every year, Group II's is from September 1 through August 31, and Group III's is from January 1 through December 31. Attorneys have 30 days after the compliance date to report credits.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Supreme Court moved the 2019-2020 CLE compliance deadline to June 30, 2021, and the reporting deadline to August 10, 2021, combining the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 reporting cycles. For that period, Kentucky attorneys were required to complete a total of 24 credits, including 4 ethics credits, and certify their compliance by the reporting deadline.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Supreme Court has made decisions regarding self-study credits for the 2019 and 2022 compliance years. For the 2019 compliance year, the Court suspended the 4-hour limitation on self-study credits for members who were delinquent, allowing them to complete their CLE requirement through unlimited online continuing legal education credits if they became compliant by the May 15, 2020 deadline. For the 2022 compliance year, the Court increased the limit for self-study credits to 6 hours annually.
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CLE Course Formats
The CLE course formats vary depending on the state and the provider. The CLE Board sets standards for accreditation, and providers must apply for each program they wish to be accredited.
The American Bar Association (ABA) offers CLE courses from leading speakers, including practitioners, government representatives, and judges. These courses are available in many formats, including on-demand, audio CDs, archived or on-demand online courses or webinars, and newer formats like podcasts and MP3 downloads. The ABA does not offer self-study for products viewed outside of their online platform, such as MP3s, CDs, or DVDs.
PLI, a sponsor with the Commission on Continuing Legal Education in Ohio, offers live seminars and co-sponsored locations in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, which qualify as "live" credit. They also offer live webcasts, one-hour briefings, on-demand programs, MP3s, and MP4s, which qualify as "self-study" credit.
TRTCLE is another provider of online CLE courses, with almost 33 years of experience in educating lawyers. Their courses are available in various formats, including video courses, live lectures, and discussions via videoconference.
Some states, like New York, also offer CLE credit for non-traditional course formats, such as pre-recorded videos. However, specific definitions and approval of formats vary among the states.
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Frequently asked questions
Attorneys in Ohio must complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years, including 2.5 CLE credits in professional conduct.
The deadline for completing the CLE requirement in Ohio is December 31 of each attorney's reporting year.
Yes, newly admitted attorneys in Ohio must complete 12 hours of New Lawyers Training Instruction (NLT) accredited by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education.
You can check with the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on CLE to see if a course is approved for CLE credit.
