 CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Frequently Asked Questions—CLE Countdown 2007 Courses that have been approved for credit can be found at the CLE Course Search. Don't be concerned that transcripts are being mailed later this year. Preliminary notices will be mailed to non-compliant attorneys in November. All other forms will be mailed by January 11, 2008. As you may know, you can check your transcript online at your Member Control Panel using your ASB number and email address (if your email address has been provided by you to the Alabama State Bar). General Rule: New admittees professionalism requirement: As you may know, you can check your transcript online at your Member Control Panel using your ASB number and email address (if your email address has been provided by you to the Alabama State Bar). Do not be concerned if someone you know receives a notice before you. This year, preliminary notices will be mailed to non-compliant attorneys in November. All other forms will be mailed by January 11, 2008. As you may know, you can check your transcript online at your Member Control Panel using your ASB number and email address (if your email address has been provided by you to the Alabama State Bar). Exempt individuals may not have to return a CLE annual report. In fact, an individual who receives a transcript indicating that he/she is exempt from the CLE requirements in Alabama will not be required to send back a written report, unless:
If either of these applies, you must edit your form as necessary and return it prior to January 31, 2008 to: MCLE Commission Forms postmarked by January 31 will be accepted. Please remember to keep a photocopy of the form for your records. Reports received by fax will not be accepted. Review the basic guidelines for completing your form. Signature Please be sure the compliance report is signed in the space provided before returning it to our office. Some individuals may not have to return a CLE annual report. In fact, an individual who receives a form indicating that he/she is in compliance with the CLE requirements in Alabama will not be required to send back a written report, unless:
If either of these applies, you must edit your form as necessary and return it prior to January 31, 2008 to: MCLE Commission Forms postmarked by January 31 will be accepted. Please remember to keep a photocopy of the form for your records. Reports received by fax will not be accepted. Review the basic guidelines for completing your form. Signature Please be sure the compliance report is signed in the space provided before returning it to our office. 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. There should not be any carryover of on-line credit since 6 hours is the maximum you can earn annually. However, if you notice a numerical error or error in the calculation, please contact the CLE department at 334-269-1515. If you received notice that you are exempt from the CLE requirements in Alabama for 2007, read this section. >>> If you received notice that you are compliant, read this section. >>> If you receive notice that you are not compliant, read this section. >>> An individual who receives a form indicating that he/she still need additional CLE courses will be required to edit his/her form as necessary and return it to: Alabama State Bar Forms postmarked by January 31 will be accepted. Please remember to keep a photocopy of the form for your records. Reports received by fax will not be accepted. Review the basic guidelines for completing your form. Signature Please be sure the compliance report is signed in the space provided before returning it to our office. Contact Information Please make necessary corrections, but remember we are required to maintain and use your office address unless you do not have one or you are prohibited from receiving state bar mail at your office. We prefer to use full names to avoid possible confusion with a similar name. CLE Activity Additions Online Transcript Deletions Corrections Teaching Credit Amendments to Final Reports Signature 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. All courses must be completed by December 31, 2007 for this year's reporting. Under MCLE Rule 6.A "An attorney who fails to earn (12) approved CLE credits by December 31 of a particular year will be deemed not in compliance for that year." Therefore, as of January 1, 2008, you will officially be in state of non-compliance if all hours have not been earned. Your record on our files will reflect the same. However, if you know you are not able to take courses to satisfy the requirement in 2007, you may file a plan for making up the deficiency. According to MCLE Rule 6.A, "A plan for making up the deficiency by March 1 will be accepted if approved courses are listed and if the plan is received by January 31." In order to earn credits between January 1 and March 1, 2008 and remove yourself from non-compliance you must:
1. Complete the request for an extension past March 1. No extensions will be granted beyond April 1. A request for an extension of the March 1 deadline for earning credits under a deficiency plan may be considered if: (1) the request is in writing and a good cause is shown, as determined by the Commission, and (2) the request is accompanied by a fee of $100. This fee is in addition to the $100 late compliance fee and any late filing fee that may be due. No extensions will be granted beyond April.
Report compliance to the MCLE Commission no later than March 15, 2007, accompanied by a check for $100 made payable to the Alabama State Bar, as a late compliance fee. Late Filing/Late Compliance Any attorney who did not earn the required credits by December 31, must follow the instructions for requestion a deficiency plan and pay all appropriate fees. If you were exempt in 200and your reporting form does not reflect a claimed exemption, you must claim it on yourofficial reporting form. If you feel you are exempt, but have not been notified, please find which exemption applies and claim it on your form. If your form indicates you are exempt, but none of the exemptions below apply, please notify the bar immediately. 2007 Alabama State Bar Admittees Practitioners who are 65 years or older Rule 2.C.1. Active Duty Military Law Clerks/Staff Attorneys Special Members Social Security Benefits 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, 2008:
All contact information changes should be mailed to ms@alabar.org. December 31, 2007. Internet courses purchased or began on that date 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 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
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