The State Bar of California is the only entity authorized to approve providers and education activities for California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit.
Provider: An individual or entity approved by the State Bar to grant MCLE credit for an education activity, in California.
Education activity: MCLE that the State Bar approves as meeting standards for MCLE credit.
MCLE credit: The number of credit hours meeting the requirements of these rules that a licensee may claim.
Credit hours: Actual time spent in legal education instruction (i.e., actual time spent speaking, viewing, or listening to recordings of legal education programs, preparing materials for publication, and attending a law school class) less any time spent for breaks or other activities that lack educational content. Hours are to be rounded up or down to the nearest quarter hour and expressed in decimals. MCLE credit also includes time for introduction and concluding remarks and for questions and answers.
California licensees do not receive credit for break or lunch periods, and any nonlegal education functions such as networking, company business meetings, tours, demonstrations, etc.
Approved jurisdiction: Entity recognized by the State Bar as having MCLE requirements that substantially meet State Bar standards for MCLE activities and computing MCLE credit hours in a manner acceptable to the State Bar. View approved jurisdictions.
Participatory activity: An MCLE activity for which the provider must verify attendance. Participatory activities may be presented in person or delivered by electronic means.
Self-study activity: Any MCLE activity identified in Rule 2.83. Self-study activities may be presented in person or delivered by electronic means.
State Bar MCLE activity auditors: Individuals designated by the State Bar to conduct audits of MCLE activities on behalf of the State Bar for the purpose of evaluating compliance by providers with the State Bar MCLE Provider Rules.
A Single Activity Provider (SAP) is approved to grant credit for a single MCLE activity. To be considered for SAP status, the provider must first have an approved application in accordance with State Bar procedures. The application fee for SAP status is $90. When approved, the provider may either offer the approved activity once or multiple times, without any changes, during a two-year period. More information on becoming an SAP.
A Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) is approved to grant credit for any MCLE activity that complies with the terms of the MAP agreement. To be considered for MAP status, a provider must within a two-year period receive State Bar approval for four different single-activity programs. The four MCLE activities must each be different, not repeat presentations of the same program, and must be held on four different dates.
Additionally, the provider must submit an application for MAP status within the same period. The application fee for MAP status is $360. Once approved, a provider’s MAP status runs on a three-year renewal cycle, expiring on June 30 at the end of the three-year cycle. More information on becoming an MAP.
The State Bar’s legal specialization program certifies attorneys as specialists in certain areas of law. Certified specialists must take and report an additional number of Legal Specialization Continuing Legal Education (LSCLE) credits to maintain their certification. Depending on the course content, a provider may have to apply separately for LSCLE credit.
To be a Legal Specialist Single Activity Provider (LS-SAP), a provider must first apply for MCLE credit and, on the same application, select the applicable legal specialization areas. The application fee to obtain an LS-SAP status is a $90 processing fee plus an additional $22 for each specialty area.
For example, providers who want to offer a new course for Workers’ Compensation Law LSCLE credit, must:
Multiple activity providers are given blanket authorization during their approval period to offer credit in a designated area of law for certified specialist education activities that meet the standards for approval in Rule 3.114, Title 3, Division 2, Chapter 2 of the Legal Specialization rules. More information on becoming a legal specialist provider.
The State Bar of California MCLE Providers 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Email: providers@calbar.ca.gov
The State Bar of California Department of Legal Specialization 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Email: legalspec@calbar.ca.gov