New Jersey CLE Requirements

New Jersey-licensed attorneys must complete 24 credits, including 5 ethics CLE credits every two years. At least 2 out of the 5 required ethics credits must be in diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias.

COVID-19 Update: Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the New Jersey Board on Continuing Legal Education has relaxed the live, in-person requirement and attorneys may earn all 24 credits through alternative verifiable formats until further notice.

New Jersey attorneys may complete up to 12 credits through Quimbee’s on-demand courses.

• Attend live, in-person approved courses.
• Complete alternate verifiable learning (AVL) format courses. AVL courses include videotape, audiotape, remote-place viewing, on-line Internet computer presentations, webinars, webcasts, podcasts, satellite simulcasts, teleconferences, videoconferences, and Internet computer self-study.
• Teach an accredited CLE course. Attorneys who teach can earn twice the credit for the amount of time spent teaching.
• Participate in an Inns of Court program. Attorneys participating as masters, barristers or pupils in Inns of Court programs can earn 1 credit for each hour of participation.

Each New Jersey attorney is assigned to one of two compliance groups:

• Group 1 (birthday during January 1 through June 30). Attorneys in Group 1 are required to complete their MCLE credits by December 31 in odd-numbered years.
• Group 2 (birthday during July 1 through December 31). Attorneys in Group 2 are required to complete their MCLE credits by December 31 in even-numbered years.

Yes, attorneys can carry over up to 12 credits into the following reporting cycle.

New attorneys’ first compliance period begins January 1 of the year immediately following admission to the New Jersey Bar. Newly admitted attorneys will automatically be assigned to a compliance group based on their birthdays.

During their first full two-year compliance period, newly admitted attorneys must complete 15 of the 24 credit hours in five of the following nine subject areas: NJ basic estate administration; NJ basic estate planning; NJ civil or criminal trial preparation; NJ family law practice; NJ real estate closing procedures; NJ trust and business accounting; NJ landlord/tenant practice; NJ municipal court practice; and NJ law-office management.

Each New Jersey attorney is assigned to one of two reporting groups:

• Group 1 (birthday during January 1 through June 30). Attorneys in Group 1 are required to complete their credits by December 31 in odd-numbered years and certify their compliance on their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing Statement the following year.
• Group 2 (birthday during July 1 through December 31). Attorneys in Group 2 are required to complete their credits by December 31 in even-numbered years and certify their compliance on their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing Statement the following year.

New Jersey attorneys certify their compliance on their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing Statement. Group 1 certifies compliance in even-numbered years and Group 2 certifies compliance in odd-numbered years.

The New Jersey Board on Continuing Legal Education will conduct random audits to monitor compliance.

Supreme Court of New Jersey Board on Continuing Legal Education 

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex 

25 Market Street, 8th Floor, North Wing 

Trenton, NJ 08625-0965 

609-815-2930  

[email protected]

New Jersey CLE Board Regulations

New Jersey CLE FAQ