Don’t panic, you’re not going to be disbarred (at least not today!) The good news is that many attorneys miss their deadline each year so states have mechanisms to help get you back in compliance. We recently sat down with CLE & Professional Development Directors to get their perspective on how they handle missed CLE deadlines and some tips for making sure you don’t miss your next deadline.
What you should do if you miss your CLE reporting deadline
First, go to your state’s bar association website and see what the CLE grace period is; there is a possibility you may be able to simply file with no other action needed.
Next, check to see whether you need to do a formal non-compliance report, and if so, whether there is a hard deadline for this. In some states, once you report this non-compliance you get an extension to complete the required CLE.
Prepare to pay potential fines. Even if you are covered by a grace period, you may still have to pay fines. These fines may or may not have to come out of your own pocket; be sure to check your firm’s policy on fines as they may not cover this expense.
Best practices and tips for meeting future CLE deadlines
Set calendar and email reminders. Make a note of your CLE deadline and set calendar reminders 60 and 30 days out from the reporting date. Send yourself emails with a “delivery delay” for 45, 20 and 2 days prior to the deadline.
Break down the number of required credits into manageable monthly increments, and schedule them ahead of time.
Check to see what online CLE resources are available through your firm. Many firms provide their attorneys with on-demand access to webinars and other forms of training that will meet your credit requirements. Completing online CLE credits gives you the flexibility to take CLE webinars around your schedule.
Look for states that allow carryover credit hours. If you have a Professional Development Director in your firm, ask for guidance on carryover credits.
Check to see if your firm offers in-person, in-house CLE programming. There may be programs you are already attending but have not requested credit for, and there may be other programs that you had mild interest in but did not attend. Make sure to attend—and get credit for—those programs.
Ensure you are keeping a record of your completed CLE hours for smoother reporting. Develop a personal system, and check in with your Professional Development Director as he or she may be able to help track your CLE hours. This will be especially helpful should you get audited by your state bar.
If you are a newly admitted attorney, check if there are special CLE requirements relevant to those in their first few years of practice.
While it is unlikely that you will be disbarred for missing one CLE deadline, it can happen. The biggest take-away from the list above is to understand the process for reporting in after you miss. Next, take advantage of the in-house programming and online CLE tools in your firm. Finally, try to make time each month to complete CLE credits so when it comes time for reporting, you’re not spending hours completing credits crammed into a few business days.
If you’re currently in need of any CLE credits at this time, be sure to check out West LegalEdcenter’s Live and On-Demand CLE webinars. You can also find your states CLE requirements and reporting period here.
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