New Jersey CLE requirements
Whether you're an experienced New Jersey attorney or newly admitted, here's what you need to know about New Jersey’s mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) requirements.
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New Jersey CLE requirements - general information
| General information | |
|---|---|
| CLE credit requirement | 24 credits every 2 years |
| Categories | 19 General CLE 5 Ethics CLE (2 must be Diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias) |
| CLE compliance deadline | December 31 |
| CLE reporting deadline | December 31 |
| Approved Quimbee formats | COVID-19 Update: Until further notice, attorneys may complete all credits through alternative verifiable learning formats, including on-demand courses. On-demand, up to 12 credits |
| Carryover | 12 credits |
| CLE reporting instructions | New Jersey is a self-reporting jurisdiction and Quimbee does not report your completed courses to the Supreme Court of New Jersey Board on Continuing Legal Education. Quimbee on-demand courses are considered alternative verifiable learning format courses. You are limited to 12 AVL credits per reporting cycle. Please retain your certificate as proof of your attendance. You may also access your certificates from our website at any time. COVID-19 Update: Until further notice, all 24 credits may be earned through alternative verifiable formats. |
New Jersey CLE requirements
What is my requirement as a New Jersey-licensed attorney?
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.
How can Quimbee help me complete my CLE requirement?
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.
Quimbee is an accredited provider in Ohio.
How else can I earn CLE credit?
- 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.
When must I complete my CLE requirement?
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.
Can I carry over credit from my last reporting cycle?
Yes, attorneys can carry over up to 12 credits into the following reporting cycle.
Newly Admitted Attorneys
I'm a new attorney. When do I report CLE credit?
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.
CLE compliance and reporting
When do I report the CLE credits that I have earned?
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.
How do I report the CLE credits that I have earned?
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.
Resources
Contact info
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
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