California CLE Requirements

California-licensed attorneys are required to complete 25 credits, including 4 ethics CLE credits, 1 elimination of bias CLE credit, and 1 competence issues credit every three years.

All of Quimbee’s on-demand courses are considered participatory and can fulfill the California CLE requirement. Quimbee’s California bundle provides multiple required credits, including ethics CLE, elimination of bias CLE  - competence issues coming soon!

California approves two types of education: participatory or self-study. No more than 12.5 self-study credits are allowed per reporting cycle.

Participatory activities

• Attend approved CLE courses, in person or delivered via live or recorded technology.
• Teach at an approved CLE course. Single speakers may earn the total credit of the actual minutes of speaking times 4. Panelists may earn the actual minutes of speaking time 4, plus the remaining time in attendance.
• Attending a law school class. Attorneys may earn 1 credit for each hour of attendance.
• Teaching a law school class. Attorneys may earn the total credits of the number of units of the course times 12.

Self-Study activities

• Self-assessment tests
• Writing published legal materials. Attorneys may earn 1 credit for each hour writing published legal materials.
• Unverified electronic education (CDs, online courses, etc.)

California attorneys will report credit based on their compliance group. Attorneys are assigned to one of three compliance groups based on the last name on their admit cards when they are sworn in. An attorney will remain in the same compliance group, even if there is a name change.

• Group 1 (A-G): Reports February 1, 2022
• Group 2 (H-M): Reports February 1, 2021
• Group 3 (N-Z): Reports February 3, 2020

No, carryover is not allowed.

A new California attorney’s first reporting cycle begins on the first day of the month of admission and ends when the assigned compliance group cycle ends. If the attorney’s initial cycle is less than three years, the requirement may be reduced. See the Proportional Requirements table to determine if you have a reduced requirement.

New California attorneys are required to complete the State Bar New Attorney Training.

Program within 12 months of admission. This is a 10-hour program accessed through the attorney’s State Bar Profile. The training includes 4 hours of ethics, 3 hours of basic skills, 1.5 hours of competence, and 1.5 hours on the elimination of bias that can be applied toward the CLE requirement.

California attorneys must report compliance by February 1 of their reporting year. See California’s Compliance Group page to see when each group reports.

California attorneys must submit a statement of compliance by logging into their California State Bar profile.

MCLE Program

The State Bar of California

180 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

888-800-3400

[email protected]

California MCLE Rules - Attorneys

California MCLE FAQ