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Rules on Specific MCLE Credits

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Live Education

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)]

Electronic Education

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:

  • Activities transmitted by satellite, television, radio or other broadcast
  • Interactive instruction via video or internet
  • Audiotape
  • Videotape
  • Compact disc
  • Streaming media
  • Internet audio
  • Other media

See the State Bar’s online catalog of courses

Self-Assessment

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.

  • See the archive of California Bar Journal MCLE self-study tests
  • Related links:
    The difference between participatory and self-study credits

Law School Classes

Rule: Attending - Rule 2.80, Teaching - Rule 2.82
Type: Participatory

Attending a class

  • Attendees must officially register for and satisfactorily complete the class
  • Obtaining an LLM degree falls into the category of a law school class

How to calculate credit: One hour of credit may be claimed for each hour you attend. [Rule 2.51(D)]

Approval criteria:

  • A law school does not have to be an approved provider
  • A law school does not have to be accredited
  • A class must be a regularly scheduled degree-related course

Teaching a class

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.

Writing published legal materials

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 attorney's (or licensee's) practice or employment or to accompany speaking in an approved education activity.

Approval criteria:

  • Articles, chapters, books which were not prepared in the ordinary course of the attorney's or (licensee's) practice or employment or to accompany speaking in an approved education activity
  • An article on a legal subject for a non-legal publication

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)

Types of Activities that can
be Approved
Type of Credit Type of Approval Required
"Live" Education; Speaking in approved activities Participatory Activity or provider must be approved for credit:
  • If the activity takes place inside California: By State Bar of California
  • If the activity takes place outside California: By State Bar of California or Approved Jurisdiction
If the State Bar has not approved the provider, activity or jurisdiction, file a MCLE Credit Request Form to seek approval for your individual attendance.
"Electronic" Education (e.g. online; CDs; audio/ videotapes) • Not verified
 - Self-study

• Verified - Participatory
Self-Assessment Tests Self-study
Law School Classes
(attending & teaching)
Participatory Activity is automatically approved if it meets the criteria in the MCLE Rules and Regulations. (No other approval is required.)
Writing Published Legal Materials Self-study

Related links:

What qualifies as self-study versus participatory CLE?

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