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Washington CLE Requirements

Whether you're an experienced Washington attorney or a Washington newly admitted attorney, here's what you need to know about Washington’s mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) requirements.

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Washington CLE Requirements - General Information

General Information
CLE credit requirement45 credits every 3 years
Categories

24 Any category

15 Law and legal procedure

6 Ethics

CLE Compliance deadline

COVID-19 Update: The Supreme Court of Washington has extended the reporting period for those in Group 2 (reporting period 2018-2020) to December 31, 2021. The next reporting period will be a shortened two year reporting period: 2022-2023. The order allows for the additional 15 carryover credits (30 total carryover credits, up to 4 of which may be ethics) to be earned in the extended reporting period.


December 31

CLE Reporting deadline

COVID-19 Update: The Supreme Court of Washington has extended the reporting deadline for those in Group 2 (reporting period 2018-2020) to February 1, 2022.


February 1

Approved Quimbee formats

Quimbee CLE courses for Washington attorneys are coming soon. Click here to be notified via email.


On-demand

Carryover

15 credits, including 2 ethics credits

CLE reporting instructions

Washington attorneys self-report attendance using the MCLE Online System.

Washington CLE Requirements

Washington attorneys must complete 45 credits, including 15 law and legal procedure credits and 6 ethics credits, every 3 years.

Quimbee CLE courses for Washington attorneys are coming soon. Click here to be notified via email.

Washington attorneys can complete all 45 credits through Quimbee’s on-demand courses.

  • Attend approved, live CLE courses.

  • Attend bar review courses for jurisdictions other than Washington.

  • Attend law school courses.

  • Teach an approved CLE course.

  • Publish legal writing.

  • Teach law school classes.

  • Perform pro bono services.

  • Participate in a mentoring program.

  • Judge and prepare students for moot court, mock trials, and recognized competitions.

COVID-19 Update: The Supreme Court of Washington has extended the reporting period for those in Group 2 (reporting period 2018-2020) to December 31, 2021. The next reporting period will be a shortened two year reporting period: 2022-2023. The order allows for the additional 15 carryover credits (30 total carryover credits, up to 4 of which may be ethics) to be earned in the extended reporting period.


Washington attorneys must complete their requirements by December 31 of their reporting year.

  • Group 1 (2020-2022)

  • Group 2 (2018-2020)

  • Group 3 (2019-2021)

Yes, up to 15 credits, including 2 ethics credits, may be carried over to the following reporting cycle.

Newly Admitted Attorneys

Newly admitted Washington attorneys are exempt from the CLE requirement during the calendar year in which they are admitted.

CLE Compliance and Reporting

COVID-19 Update: The Supreme Court of Washington has extended the reporting deadline for those in Group 2 (reporting period 2018-2020) to February 1, 2022.


Washington attorneys must report CLE credits by February 1 following their reporting year.

Washington attorneys must self-report their attendance using the MCLE Online System.

Resources

WA State Board of CLE 

2101 Fourth Avenue, 4th Floor 

Seattle, WA 98121-2330 

206-733-5987

WA MCLE Rules

WA MCLE Info for sponsors

Newest Washington courses

Attorney Professionalism: There’s More to it Than Just Making a Lot of Money and Having a Lot of Clients

by Ken Kula
On demand
1h 1m 39s
An attorney is a professional; and being a good and respected attorney means more than just making lots of money and having lots of clients. It means displaying, encouraging, and garnering reciprocal professionalism. In this introduction to legal professionalism, we cover some of the major temptations, quandaries, and slip ups that attorneys can handle properly if they adhere to a high standard of professionalism. We also review a sample state’s creed on professionalism, as well as a recent ethics - related case before ending with a summary of suggested best practices for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and avoiding the scrutiny of the local bar’s ethics board.
Buy this course - $49

Cannabis Conundrum: Weeding Among the Hazy Legal Ethics Lines

by Jan L. Jacobowitz
On demand
1h 3m 06s
The entrepreneurial cannabis industry requires legal assistance like any other growing, innovative business sector. However, the cannabis industry does not necessarily resemble other evolving start-up business areas. Unlike most other industries, cannabis continues to be a federally designated illegal controlled substance, while various states have legalized cannabis and planted a patchwork garden of cannabis statutes, regulations, and ethics advisory opinions. What’s a lawyer to do? Legal ethics questions abound! What type of legal assistance may a lawyer provide to a client involved in the cannabis industry? May a lawyer accept product or an interest in a cannabis business in lieu of fees? Will a lawyer who participates in a medical marijuana program or indulges in recreational cannabis face ethical repercussions? This course will explore the historical context of the cannabis debate, the legal ethics implications for lawyers seeking to represent cannabis clients, and the current state of the legal profession’s response to legal ethics questions posed by lawyers traipsing through the patchwork garden of state regulations.
Buy this course - $49

Humanizing the Defendant Through Criminal Mitigation Evaluations: Rethinking Presentence Strategies as a Strategic Tool for Criminal Defense Lawyers

by Mark Silver
On demand
1h 2m 12s
This course provides an advanced overview of criminal mitigation as a key strategic tool for criminal defense lawyers, and reviews various humanizing processes that a criminal law attorney can utilize to better advocate for his or her client. Mr. Silver discusses how the use of psycho-social analysis, which can also impact the factual analysis of the case, can provide a more positive and informed narrative of a client and increase their chances of success in the courtroom. Both experienced and novice lawyers will gain important insight into various criteria to consider and deploy at the pre-sentence or pre-plea stage of representation.
Buy this course - $49

Introduction to Copyright Law: The Charles Dickens of Law

by Ken Kula
On demand
1h 0m 14s
Copyright Law can be the Charles Dickens of the law. It can be the best of times; it can be the worst of times. It truly is A Tale of Two Scenarios. If the attorney handling the copyright matter for the client is well prepared, does the initial research, and understands the general principles, it will be the best of times—going from initial application through final issuance and, possibly, victory at trial. If the attorney handling the copyright matter is unprepared, does not conduct sufficient research ahead of time, or does not understand the general principles of copyright law, then it will be the worst of times. The initial application may result in rejection from the U.S. Copyright Office, or the attorney could find himself embroiled in protracted and, ultimately, unsuccessful copyright-infringement litigation. In this introduction to Copyright Law, we cover the basics from application through litigation in an effort to ensure the attorney practices Copyright Law in the best of times.
Buy this course - $49
See all Washington courses