Louisiana CLE Requirements

Everything you need to know to stay in compliance


MCLE State

Overview

Required Louisiana CLE Credits:

Total credit hours: 12.50 credit hours every year.

A minimum of 8.50 credit hours must be taken as live programs.

A maximum of 4.00 credit hours may be taken as self study programs.

Louisiana CLE Reporting Deadlines:

Deadline to Complete CLEs: December 31

Reporting Deadline: January 31

Reporting Period: 1 year


Common Questions About Louisiana Continuing Legal Education Rules and Regulations

General Louisiana Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements

How many CLE credits do you need in Louisiana?

Active status attorneys in Louisiana must complete 12.50 CLE credits every year to maintain good standing with the Louisiana State Bar.

When is the Louisiana CLE reporting deadline?

Louisiana attorneys must complete all 12.50 required credits by December 31 each year. Attorneys must report their credits by January 31 of the following year.

How long is the Louisiana CLE reporting period, and when does mine end?

The compliance year is 1 year and ends on December 31 for all attorneys. If you are a new attorney, your first compliance period ends on December 31 of the year following your year of admission to the Louisiana State Bar.

How do I report my Louisiana CLE credits?

Program sponsors will report your CLE attendance to the MCLE Committee. You may check your transcript online at the Louisiana State Bar Association website.

On or before December 1 of each year, the Committee will email you a preliminary report of compliance with MCLE requirements for that year. If your preliminary report is accurate, you don’t need to take further action. If your preliminary report is inaccurate, you have until January 31 of the following year to make corrections.

How many Louisiana CLE credits can I carry over?

Louisiana attorneys can carry over 8.00 CLE credits to the following year.** No ethics or professionalism CLE credits can be carried over.

**Due to COVID-19, up to 8.00 excess hours earned in the 2019 compliance year may be carried forward to compliance year 2022 or 2023.

How many CLE credits can I complete with self study courses?

Attorneys in Louisiana can complete a maximum of 4.00 CLE credits each year with self study courses.

What are the specialty credit requirements in Louisiana?

All Louisiana attorneys need 1.00 ethics credit and 1.00 professionalism credit every year. These credits cannot carry over. Ethics and professionalism credits may be earned through live or self study courses.

Is in-program attendance verification required to receive Louisiana CLE credit?

No. In-program attendance verification is not required.

Are you newly admitted to the Louisiana State Bar? Here’s what you need to know:

What are the Louisiana CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys?

Newly admitted attorneys in Louisiana must complete 12.50 hours of approved CLE between the date of admission and the end of the calendar year following the year of admission. At least 8.00 of those hours must concern legal ethics, professionalism, or law office management.

Can I carry over credits I completed during my first year of practice?

Yes. The regular rule for carryover credits applies. If you earn in excess of 12.50 CLE credits in your first reporting period, you may carry over up to 8.00 CLE credits to the following year.

When does my first reporting period end?

Your first reporting period begins when you are admitted to practice law in Louisiana and ends on December 31 of the calendar year following the year you were admitted to the Louisiana State Bar.

Are there any special credit requirements for new attorneys in Louisiana?

Yes. You must complete 12.50 CLE credits by December 31 of the calendar year after you are admitted to practice law in Louisiana, and 8.00 of those credits must be in legal ethics, professionalism, or law office management.

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