How much credit do I get for a self-study education activity?
Providers are not required to give a certificate of attendance for approved self-study education, but they are required to specify the total amount of credit hours available and the number of those total hours allocated to the special requirement areas.
What kinds of approved activities always count for participatory credit?
The following activities always count for participatory credit:
"Live" education verified by a provider
A law school class (whether taught or attended)
Speaking or teaching at an approved MCLE education activity
What kinds of activities count only for self-study credit?
The following activities count only for self-study credit:
Self-assessment tests
Writing a legal article accepted for publication
Do I earn self-study or participatory credit for watching approved videotapes or listening to approved audiotapes?
Participatory credit for watching or listening to an approved education activity recorded on electronic media is available if:
the provider has the attorney sign in at the time of the activity and keeps a record of attendance;
the program is approved for participatory credit; and
provider gives the attorney a certificate of attendance.
Otherwise, an attorney receives self-study credit.
If I earn more than 25 hours, can I carry the excess hours forward?
If an attorney earns more than 25 hours during a compliance period, he/she cannot carry the excess hours forward to the next compliance period. [Rule 2.72(D)]
What activities count as participatory credit?
An education activity is participatory if a provider verifies the "participation." Provider verification consists of the following:
the provider has the attorney sign in at the time of the activity (electronic sign-in is acceptable),
the provider keeps a list of those who sign in, and
the provider issues a certificate of attendance to attendees
Online courses, and some CD- and tape-based courses can count for participatory credit if they are verified by an approved provider. Contact the individual provider to verify that the program has been approved for participatory credit.
How many hours of MCLE do I have?
The MCLE Compliance Department does not keep track of the education an attorney has completed: Attorneys are responsible for keeping certificates of attendance and a record of self-study activities. These records should be used to tally hours.
Certificates of attendance list the overall amount of credit available for an activity and whether any credit is available for legal ethics, prevention of substance abuse, or elimination of bias in the legal profession. Contact the provider directly regarding lost certificates of attendance or if information about an activity is incomplete.
A Special Master accompanies a peace officer serving a warrant. The Special Master informs the party being served of the specific items being sought and gives that person an opportunity to voluntarily provide the items requested. If the items are not voluntarily produced, the Special Master conducts a search in the areas indicated in the search warrant. All items, whether produced voluntarily or seized, are then sealed until a court hearing is held to determine if the items are privileged. Special Masters receive a handbook describing the program in greater detail.
Which areas does the California Board of Legal Specialization certify directly?
The State Bar Board of Trustees in March approved a new set of ethics rules for California attorneys, marking the first major overhaul in about 30 years.
