Rules: Rule 2.80, Rule 2.81 Type: Participatory
Live education includes panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions and in-house education where the teacher is physically in the room with the attendees. [Rule 2.80]
You can also report MCLE credit for speaking in approved education activities. [Rule 2.81]
A speaker at an activity may claim actual speaking time multiplied by four only for the first presentation. For repeat presentations, the speaker may only claim actual speaking time. [Rule 2.81(A)]
A panelist may claim MCLE credit hours for their scheduled speaking time multiplied by four, plus the actual time spent attending the remainder of the presentation. If a specific speaking time is not scheduled, you can divide the total time of the activity by the number of panelists.
For repeat presentations, a panelist may claim only actual speaking time, plus the actual time spent in attendance at the remainder of the presentation. [Rule 2.81(B)]
Rules: Rule 2.80, Rule 2.83 Type: Self-study or participatory (depends on provider verification)
This includes electronic recordings of approved activities and approved electronic activities:
See the State Bar’s online catalog of courses
Rule: Rule 2.83(B) Type: Self-study
The State Bar provides a number of MCLE self-study tests that are accessible on the internet through its monthly publication, the California Bar Journal.
Rule: Attending - Rule 2.80, Teaching - Rule 2.82 Type: Participatory
How to calculate credit: One hour of credit may be claimed for each hour you attend. [Rule 2.51(D)]
Approval criteria:
How to calculate credit: Calculate credit hours by multiplying the number of units the law school grants by 12. Example: Teaching a two-unit law school class translates into 24 hours of MCLE credit.
An attorney teaching a law school class that begins before his or her current compliance period may claim prorated credit based on the percentage of the hours taught in the current compliance period.
An attorney who teaches a law school class and engages a guest lecturer or substitute teacher for one or more individual meetings or sessions of the class, qualifies for MCLE credit for teaching the entire class.
If you are a guest lecturer or substitute teacher in a law school class, you can calculate credit hours by multiplying your hours of instruction by four.
Rule: Rule 2.83(C) Type: Self-study
Attorneys can get MCLE credit for preparing written materials that are published or accepted for publication as an author or co-author. The material must contribute to the legal education of the attorney. For example, they must be articles, chapters, books which were not prepared in the ordinary course of the member's practice or employment or to accompany speaking in an approved education activity.
How to calculate credit: An attorney may count the self-study credit for the preparation of written materials in the compliance period in which either the materials are published or the attorney received written notice that the materials have been accepted for publication.
An attorney may claim one hour of self-study credit for each hour spent preparing written materials.
However, written materials a speaker prepares for an approved education activity cannot be claimed under Rule 2.83(C). They are considered part of preparation for speaking or teaching and are included in the formula for calculating credit hours for speaking/teaching. Credit can be claimed only by the person who actually speaks or teaches the activity. (See Rule 2.81)
What qualifies as self-study versus participatory CLE?