| Legal education in the United States |
|---|
| Stages |
| Pre-law Law school Trial practice Legal clinic Law degree |
| Exams |
| LSAT Bar examination Continuing Legal Education |
| Organizations |
| Law School Admission Council American Bar Association |
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) are requirements for attorneys in the United States to maintain their ability to practice law after initial admission to the bar. CLE is also known as MCLE (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education)
CLE accreditation is given on a state-by-state basis. There is no nationwide accreditation since the MCLE programs are administered by the State Supreme Courts through a special CLE Commission or Board.[1]
CLE credit usually have a set class-hour requirement for a period of years, sometimes with specific hour requirements for special topics including but not limited to ethics, diversity training, Elimination of Bias, Professional Responsibility, Basic Skills, Substance Abuse, Professional, Prevention of Malpractice, Attorney Client Disputes and other topics.
CLE courses are offered throughout the year by state bar associations, national legal organizations such as the American Bar Association, law schools, and many other legal associations and groups such as non-profit CLE provider Practising Law Institute (PLI), as well as other private, for-profit enterprises, such as West LegalEdCenter. Courses are usually open to all lawyers (and sometimes non-lawyers), but organizations often offer discounts to their own members. Uniquely, Kentucky allows all licensed attorneys in the state to complete their annual CLE requirement without a registration fee through a two-day program known as Kentucky Law Update, offered annually in at least seven locations throughout the state.[1]
In recent years, many states allow CLE classes to be taken on-line as part of distance education courses or by listening to MP3 downloads. Often, a portion of CLE requirements may be satisfied through reading and other self-study as well. CLE courses are usually taught by attorneys and cover legal theory as well as practical experiences in legal practice. Classroom materials can be extensive and may represent the most current and advanced thinking available on a particular legal subject. Competency testing is usually not required as part of CLE.
Experienced attorneys may receive credit for speaking or teaching at an accredited CLE program;[2] for moderating or participating in a panel presentation at an accredited CLE activity; for teaching law courses at an ABA-accredited law school; for preparing students for and judging law competitions, mock trials and moot court arguments, including those at the high school or college level; for published legal research-based writing; and for providing pro bono legal services.
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