Kara Sears
In California, all attorneys who are actively practicing law must complete ongoing legal training, also known as Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). The State Bar of California mandates that 25 hours of MCLE credits be completed every three years, including credits on ethics, competence issues, and the recognition and elimination of bias. To become an approved MCLE provider, law firms must first be approved by the State Bar of California, which grants MCLE credit for approved education activities. This guide will explore the steps law firms can take to become approved MCLE providers in California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who needs to complete MCLE requirements? | With a few exceptions, all attorneys who are actively practicing law in California must complete ongoing legal training. Lawyers who are retired but still maintain an "active" status are also responsible for meeting the MCLE requirements. |
| How often do attorneys need to complete MCLE? | 25 hours of MCLE are required every three years. |
| What must these hours include? | Credits on ethics as well as competence issues, such as substance abuse and mental health. |
| How many of these hours must be dedicated to specific topics? | Legal Ethics: at least 4 credit hours; Elimination of Bias: at least 2 credit hours; Technology: at least 1 credit hour; Civility: at least 1 credit hour. |
| How many hours must be "participatory credit"? | At least 12.5 hours. |
| How many hours can be "self-study"? | No more than 12.5 hours. |
| Who approves providers and education activities for California MCLE credit? | The State Bar of California. |
| What is a "provider"? | An individual or entity approved by the State Bar to grant MCLE credit for an education activity. |
| Where can I find a list of California MCLE providers? | The State Bar of California's official website. |
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What You'll Learn
California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit
California's Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirement mandates that all attorneys actively practising law in California must complete ongoing legal training. There are a few exceptions, including for those on "inactive status", who are not required to accumulate MCLE credit hours or report their compliance to the State Bar of California.
The State Bar of California approves providers and education activities for California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit. A "provider" is an individual or entity approved by the State Bar to grant MCLE credit for an education activity.
To complete California's MCLE requirement, 25 hours of MCLE are needed every three years. These hours must include credits on ethics and competence issues, such as substance abuse and mental health. Specifically, at least four of these credit hours must be in legal ethics, and at least two must be in dealing with the recognition and elimination of bias in the legal profession and society. Additionally, at least one credit hour must be in education addressing technology in the practice of law, and at least one hour in education addressing civility in the legal profession.
Participatory credit must account for at least 12.5 hours of the total 25 hours. Courses taken on the internet or with the assistance of media like CDs and tapes may also be eligible as participatory credit if the provider has gained approval for this style of education. Credit hours listed as "self-study" cannot exceed a total of 12.5 hours.
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MCLE provider approval
The State Bar of California approves providers and educational activities for California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit. A "provider" is an individual or entity approved by the State Bar to grant MCLE credit for an educational activity.
To become an approved MCLE provider, a law firm must submit an application to the State Bar of California. The application must include information such as the name and address of the firm, the names and contact information of the firm's attorneys who will be providing the MCLE training, and a description of the educational activities that the firm will offer.
The State Bar of California will review the application and approve the firm as a provider if it meets the required standards. These standards include having qualified attorneys who are experienced in the areas of law they will be teaching and offering educational activities that cover the required topics for MCLE credit.
Once approved, the law firm will be able to grant MCLE credit to attorneys who complete their educational activities. The firm must keep records of the attorneys who participate in their activities and the number of MCLE credits earned by each attorney. The firm may also be subject to periodic reviews by the State Bar to ensure that it continues to meet the required standards for MCLE providers.
It is important to note that there are specific requirements for MCLE in California. Attorneys who are actively practicing law in California must complete 25 hours of MCLE every three years, including credits on ethics and competence issues such as substance abuse and mental health. Of these 25 hours, at least 12.5 must be "participatory credit", and no more than 12.5 can be listed as "self-study".
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MCLE course costs
The costs of MCLE courses vary depending on the provider and the format of the course. Generally, courses can be free or low-cost, or they can be relatively expensive.
Free Courses
The UCLA School of Law's library, for instance, offers free MCLE materials to current UCLA Law faculty, staff, and students. The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) offers free recorded webinars that are available to anyone, and the San Diego Law Library provides a list of free and low-cost MCLE opportunities, including:
- 4FreeCLE, which tracks free MCLE offerings and provides registration links.
- Above the Law, which offers a free self-study class each month that is approved for credit in California.
- Attorney Protective, an insurance firm that hosts free CLE webinars, some of which provide Ethics credit for California.
- The Beverly Hills Bar Association, which offers 15 hours of free on-demand CLE on a variety of topics and a comprehensive catalog of CLE courses for a low monthly fee.
- Cozen O'Connor, a global law firm that hosts regular webinars, some of which offer free MCLE credit.
- Fastcase, which offers a few free online webinars that are eligible for CLE credit.
- FindLaw, which provides ideas for finding free and low-cost CLE online.
- LawPay, which offers several dozen on-demand courses for free CLE credit, mostly related to ethics.
- The Legislative Intent Service, Inc., which offers three hours of free California-approved MCLE, including one hour of Ethics.
- The National Academy of CLE, which offers one free hour of CLE for California (registration required).
- PLI Pro Bono MCLE, which offers a complimentary MCLE program for eligible legal services attorneys, pro bono attorneys, government attorneys, and attorneys over 65 (application required).
- Quimbee, which provides a free trial for one class that can be canceled at any time and unlimited access for $99 per year.
- The San Diego Law Library YouTube Channel, which includes a playlist of over 70 MCLE webinars that can be viewed for free for self-study MCLE credit.
Low-Cost Courses
The UCLA School of Law also provides a guide to help attorneys locate free and low-cost MCLE options. The LA Law Library offers MCLE classes for $20 or $25 per credit, with some free options and an annual "cram day" program at a reduced rate of $75 for six hours. Versatape provides online access to MCLE from the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and Pasadena Bar Association, including complete MCLE bundles in multiple specialty areas for $179. The Rutter Group offers a $595 RUTTERPASS for a year of unlimited MCLE.
High-Cost Courses
The Practising Law Institute (PLI) primarily offers high-quality but expensive MCLE for big law attorneys. Their standard MCLE can be costly, but their MCLE on pro bono topics is reasonably priced, and they offer fee waivers for organizations or individuals performing public interest work. The Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) also offers a 25-hour compliance package for $750, as well as a year-long unlimited hours subscription for $840.
Required Hours
It's worth noting that the State Bar of California requires attorneys to complete 25 hours of approved education credit every three years. These hours must include specific credits on ethics, competence issues, elimination of bias, civility, and technology.
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MCLE course content
To become an MCLE provider in California, a law firm must be approved by the State Bar of California. The State Bar also approves education activities for California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit.
- Legal Ethics: This includes at least four credit hours of legal ethics, covering topics such as professional responsibility and ethical decision-making.
- Elimination of Bias: At least two credit hours must be dedicated to recognizing and eliminating bias in the legal profession and society. This includes addressing biases based on sex, race, religion, age, and other protected characteristics.
- Competence Issues: This includes substance abuse, mental health, and other competence-related topics. At least one credit hour should focus on competence prevention and detection.
- Technology: Attorneys must complete at least one credit hour of education addressing technology in the practice of law, including the use of legal research tools and software.
- Civility: At least one hour of education should focus on civility in the legal profession, promoting respectful and professional conduct among attorneys.
MCLE courses can be offered in various formats, including live in-person programs, virtual live programs, webinars, podcasts, and self-study options. Self-study courses often include online articles, videos, or other resources that attorneys can access at their own pace. Some providers also offer compliance packages or unlimited access passes for a year, which can be a cost-effective way to complete MCLE requirements.
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MCLE reporting and compliance
The State Bar of California mandates the requirements for fulfilling Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). With some exceptions, all attorneys actively practising law in California must complete ongoing legal training. This amounts to 25 hours of MCLE every three years, including credits on ethics and competence issues such as substance abuse and mental health. At least four of these credit hours must cover legal ethics, and at least two must cover the recognition and elimination of bias in the legal profession and society. Additionally, at least one credit hour must address technology in the practice of law, and another civility in the legal profession.
The State Bar approves providers and education activities for California MCLE credit. A "provider" is an individual or entity approved by the State Bar to grant MCLE credit for an education activity. The UCLA School of Law offers free MCLE materials to current UCLA Law faculty, staff, and students. The UCLA Law Library also provides a guide to help attorneys locate free and low-cost MCLE options. Versatape provides online access to MCLE from the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and Pasadena Bar Association, including complete MCLE bundles in multiple specialty areas for $179. The popular Quimbee study aids also offer a year of unlimited hours for $199.
MCLE compliance can be reported online. Attorneys can also confirm MCLE compliance deadlines, reporting cycles, group requirements, and credit breakdowns from their approved California CLE provider.
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Frequently asked questions
MCLE stands for Minimum Continuing Legal Education. It refers to the mandatory 25 hours of ongoing legal training that attorneys actively practising law in California must complete every three years.
MCLE training must cover ethics, competence issues (e.g. substance abuse and mental health), recognition and elimination of bias, technology, and civility.
To become an approved MCLE provider, your firm must be approved by the State Bar of California.
Becoming an approved MCLE provider can help your firm establish itself as a contributor to attorney education in California. It can also be a good way to network with legal professionals across the state.
