An attorney's education does not just come to an end after they've passed the bar. To confirm that they're still capable of providing the kind of legal service that a certified professional should be able to provide for their clients, it's mandatory for attorneys to continually put effort into further education via CLE's.
The post-bar admission education that attorneys must periodically present evidence of completing is formally referred to as Continuing Legal Education (CLE). By regularly presenting their CLE, attorneys show evidence that they're still on top of the information needed to make them credible legal counsel professionals. Depending on where the attorney is located, the frequency of CLE presentation and the process of accreditation may vary.
CLE Frequency Requirement
Due to the fact that there's a minimum quota for the amount of continued education that an attorney needs to undergo, CLE may also be referred to as MCLEfor minimum or mandatory continued learning education. CLE credits must be reported on the appropriate regular basis outlined by the corresponding state's established reporting cycle. In New York, an experienced attorney must report their continued education on a biennial basis.
Why You Should Teach as well as Attend CLE Programs
Much like the frequency of the CLE credit-reporting cycle, the very process of CLE accreditation itself depends on the attorney's state of residence. Depending on the attorney's home state, the specific regulations for their accreditation process can vary a great deal. Even though there's no nationally standardized set of CLE rules, all attorneys must follow the state-outlined accreditation application process by submitting the proper special application form. There is usually also a small application fee and a minimum credit hour requirement of either 50 or 60 minutes. An additional benefit of presenting CLE's is that it counts as double for required credit hours as opposed to just attending.
Learn More
To learn more about CLE or any other legal matters that you may be concerned with, contact us at Smiley & Smiley LLP Attorneys at Law.
