California adopted new Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements that start with the current compliance period. Attorneys in Group 1 (last name A – G) have a compliance period ending January 31, 2025. Group 1 attorneys have a compliance period of 2/1/2022 – 1/31/2025. If you have a January 31, 2025 compliance deadline you are required to meet the new MCLE requirements. The new California CLE requirements now require 10 specialty credit hours. Yes, you read that correctly, 10!
The new CA MCLE course requirements are as follows:
Ethics (4 hours required):
- At least 4 hours of legal ethics (Legal Ethics Credit)
Elimination of Bias (2 hours required):
- At least 1 credit hours of dealing with recognition and elimination of bias in the legal profession and society by reason of, but not limited to, sex, color, race, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical disability, age, or sexual orientation.
- At least 1 credit hour must focus on implicit bias and the promotion of bias-reducing strategies to address how unintended biases regarding race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics undermine confidence in the legal system.
Competence Credit (2 hours required):
- At least 1 hour focused on prevention and detection education that addresses substance use or other mental or physical issues that impair a licensee’s ability to perform legal services with competence (prevention and detection competence). Both hours can be on Prevention and Detection which means you don’t need a wellness hour (see below).
- An optional hour focused on wellness education, including physical and mental wellness and wellbeing or stress management, in the context of the practice of law and the impact these issues can have on an attorney’s ability to perform legal services with competence (wellness competence).
Technology in the Practice of Law Credit (1 hour required):
- One hour addressing technology in the practice of law, including education on technology tools, programs, or applications to assist attorneys in their law practice.
Civility in the Legal Profession Credit (1 hour required):
- One hour addressing civility in the legal profession, including education that discusses the link between civility and bias, incivility that is directed at opposing parties or counsel, and incivility aimed at the judiciary.
So, to break this down in an easier to read format.
Minimum CA MCLE Specialty Requirements:
4 Ethics
1 Elimination of Bias
1 Implicit Bias
2 Prevention and Detection Competence
1 Technology
1 Civility
Attorney Credits is one of the largest California MCLE providers, #13825. You can find our current CA bundles here. Get your law firm to pay for your CLE with Teams by Attorney Credits, the easiest and most affordable law firm solution in the industry. We can also help your firm with CLE accreditation. If you have any questions, please contact us at 760-434-1885 or email us at cle@attorneycredits.com.