Maine CLE Requirements

Everything you need to know to stay in compliance


MCLE State

Overview

Required Maine CLE Credits:

Total credit hours: 12.00 credit hours every year.

  • 1.00 - Ethics (must be earned through live programs)
  • 1.00 - Harassment and Discriminatory Education (must be earned through in-person programs) However, the in-person requirement has been waived through December 31, 2023, but this credit must still be taken through live programs.

A minimum of 7.00 credit hours may be taken as live programs.

A maximum of 5.00 credit hours may be taken as self study programs.

Maine CLE Reporting Deadlines:

Deadline to Complete CLEs: December 31

Reporting Deadline: 4:30pm Eastern on the last business day of February

Reporting Period: 1 year


Common Questions About Maine Continuing Legal Education Rules and Regulations

General Maine Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements

How many CLE credits do you need in Maine?

Active status attorneys in Maine must complete 12.00 CLE credits every year to maintain good standing with the Maine State Bar.

When is the Maine CLE reporting deadline?

Maine attorneys must complete all 12.00 required credits by December 31 of each year. Each year, attorneys subject to the MCLE rules shall certify the accuracy of their individual MCLE Annual Report Statement to the CLE Committee no later than the close of business on the last business day of February.

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

The reporting period is 1 year and ends on December 31.

How do I report my Maine CLE Credits?

NBI will report your attendance at live credit courses to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar CLE Committee.

For self study courses, you must track and report your own credits. NBI will send you a verified certificate of completion, which you should sign and submit to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar CLE Committee. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

Each year, you will certify compliance with the Maine MCLE rules by submitting your MCLE Annual Report Statement. This can be done online through your Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar CLE website.

How many Maine CLE credits can I carry over?

Maine attorneys can carry over 10.00 CLE credits to the next reporting period. No more than 5.00 self study credits may carry over. The live requirement for ethics and professionalism credit must be satisfied each reporting period. The in-person requirement for harassment and discriminatory must be satisfied each reporting period.*

Excess harassment and discriminatory education credits may be used to satisfy ethics and professionalism requirements. Once ethics requirements are complete, harassment and discriminatory education credits carry over as general credits.

*In-person requirement has been waived through December 31, 2023, but this credit must be taken through programs approved for live credit.

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

Attorneys in Maine can complete a maximum of 5.00 CLE credits with self study courses.

What are the specialty credit requirements in Maine?

Maine attorneys must complete 1.00 ethics credit every year. This credit must be earned through live programs.

In addition, all attorneys need 1.00 CLE credit in harassment and discriminatory education. This credit must be earned through in-person programs.*

*In-person requirement waived through December 31, 2023, but this credit must be taken through programs approved for live credit.

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

No. In-program attendance verification is not required.

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

What are the Maine CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys?

Newly admitted attorneys in Maine are exempt if they have been admitted for less than 3 months of the calendar year.

When does my first reporting period end?

The reporting period ends on December 31 of each year. If you have been admitted for less than 3 months of the calendar year, you are exempt from reporting for that year. For example, if you were admitted in October, your first reporting period ends on December 31 of the following year.

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

No, there are no special CLE credit requirements for newly admitted attorneys in Maine.

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