Courses that have been approved for credit can be found at the CLE Course Search.
General Rule:
Each attorney admitted to practice in Alabama whose qualification to practice law is subject to Code of Alabama (1975), Section 40-12-49, shall attend, or complete an approved substitute for attendance, a minimum of 12 actual hours of approved continuing legal education, 1 hour of which shall be ethics or professionalism, each calendar year, beginning January 1, 2004.
New admittees professionalism requirement:
Within twelve (12) months of being admitted to the Bar, or within twelve (12) months of being licensed to practice law in Alabama, whichever shall last occur, each lawyer shall complete a six (6) hour course in professionalism; provided, however, that lawyers who are exempt from these Rules pursuant to Rule 2. C.1. shall also be exempt from the provisions of this Rule 9.A. while they are so exempt. Once a lawyer’s exemption under Rule 2.C. 1. ends, the lawyer must complete the course in professionalism during the calendar year following the year in which the exempt status ends.
As you may know, you can check your transcript online.
Under MCLE Regulation 3.6, carryover credit may only be applied to the succeeding calendar year. That means, essentially, you cannot carry-over more than a maximum of twelve (12) total CLE hours, which includes (1) ethics hour.
Your form has been modified to reflect that regulation.
However, if you notice a numerical error or error in the calculation, please contact the CLE department at 334-269-1515.
Teaching Credit is earned by teaching lawyers or law students in approved CLE activities. If you provided a substantial handout, you may claim 6.0 credits per 60 minutes of instruction; if the required handout was not provided, you may not claim extra credit. If you taught a law school course, you may claim 6.0 credits per law school credit earned by students taking the course, e.g., 12.0 CLE credits for 2.0 academic credits. Repeat presentations qualify for one half the credits earned for an initial presentation. Repeated or second section law school courses qualify for one half the credits earned for the initial course offering. Panel discussion time must be divided equally among the panelists for purposes of calculating credit, unless the MCLE Commission is informed otherwise.
See "Deficiency Plan"
See "Deficiency Plan - request for extended Deficiency Plan past March 1."
Alabama State Bar Admittees
Alabama State Bar New Admittees are exempt from earning credits or filing reports; during their first calendar year of admittance however, if credits have been earned to carry over, they must be reported no later than January 31. Courses earned prior to admission to the Alabama State Bar may not be claimed. New admittees must comply with Rule 9, Professionalism. See MCLE Rule 9, Professionalism.
Practitioners who are 65 years or older
If you became 65 during 2008 and did a "preliminary transcript" indicating that you were exempt from the CLE requirements, please claim exemption "B" on your form.
Rule 2.C.1.
Exemptions are available for full-time judges, members of the U.S. and Alabama House and Senate, active duty military and attorneys prohibited from private
practice by Constitution, law or regulation. (exemption "C"). Assistant attorneys general, district attorneys and assistant or deputy district attorneys and public defenders are not exempt.
Active Duty Military
If you served on active duty military for any part of 2008, you are exempt from the 2008 CLE requirement and any credits earned during 2008 may be carried forward to 2009 if they are reported on the 2008 CLE reporting form.
Law Clerks/Staff Attorneys
If you served as a judicial law clerk or staff attorney for any part of 2008, you are exempt from the 2008 CLE requirement, and any credits earned up to 12.0 credits including 1.0 ethics may be carried forward.
Special Members
Special Members are those who did not practice law in Alabama after January 1 and paid special membership dues to the Alabama State Bar. If your "status" is Special Member you are automatically exempt and do not have to claim an exemption. Special note: Attorneys Who Held a Regular, Private Practice License during any part of the current CLE year are required to report compliance, even if they have changed to special, inactive status or recently changed from special to active status.
Social Security Benefits
Attorneys who are receiving Social Security benefits and have reached the age of 62 before or during the current CLE year fall under exemption "E".
Under MCLE Regulation 2.7 "An attorney who resides and maintains a principal office for the practice of law in another state that requires Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) and who can demonstrate compliance with the Mandatory CLE requirements of his or her principal state of practice is exempt from the rules…"
Few individuals will fit within this exemption, so it does not appear on the "preliminary transcript." However, if you are claiming Regulation 2.7, you will need to do the following prior to January 31:
- Complete this statement (PDF) indicating that:
- Your primary law practice is in a mandatory state, and
- You have met the CLE requirements of that state for the current CLE year
- Attach to the statement a copy of your current CLE transcript from the state wherein you practice.
All contact information changes should be mailed to ms@alabar.org.
December 31. Internet courses must be completed by midnight.
If after all the instructions herein carefully, you still need assistance, you may address written and telephone inquiries to:
MCLE Commission
Alabama State Bar
P.O. Box 671
Montgomery, AL 36101
(334) 269-1515
(800) 354-6154
