Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) is classified under different categories, participatory or self-study credit.
The difference is generally whether you take a course in person or through electronic media with other participants, or if you study the material alone. However, many activities can qualify for either participatory or self-study credit.
Under the requirements, at least half of the 25 MCLE hours you report must be activities known as “participatory.” Also, you cannot take more than 12.5 hours of credit in “self-study” activities.
The provider can verify your participatory credit if:
Courses taken online or with the help of media such as CDs and tapes may also count towards participatory credit if the provider has been approved for it. Make sure to contact the provider beforehand to verify if participatory credit has been approved and if the information is still current.
The MCLE rules specify that some types of activities qualify for self-study credit. They include:
See more detailed information on the specific MCLE rules that apply for each type of credit.
Attorneys are responsible for making sure the MCLE hours they report are approved for credit by the State Bar or by another U.S. state or country that the bar has designated as an “approved jurisdiction.” See the list of approved jurisdictions.
If the State Bar has not approved the provider, activity or jurisdiction, attorneys can complete and file a MCLE Credit Request Form to get approval for their attendance.
The State Bar does not approve the following activities:
For questions contact the State Bar’s MCLE Program at
MCLE Program The State Bar of California180 Howard St.San Francisco, CA 94105 Email: MCLE@calbar.ca.gov
Related links
See the rules on specific types of credit
See the breakdown for MCLE credit requirements