New Jersey CLE Requirements

Everything you need to know to stay in compliance


Temporary Rule Change: The Supreme Court of New Jersey has issued a rule change stating that until further notice, New Jersey attorneys may take all 24.00 credits through alternative learning formats.

MCLE State

Overview

Required New Jersey CLE Credits:

Total credit hours: 24.00 credit hours every 2 years.

A minimum of 12.00 credit hours must be taken as live programs. However, this rule has been relaxed to allow all 24.00 credits to be taken as alternative learning programs until further notice.

New Jersey CLE Reporting Deadlines:

Deadline to Complete CLEs: December 31

Reporting Deadline: December 31

Reporting Period: 2 years


Common Questions About New Jersey Continuing Legal Education Rules and Regulations

General New Jersey Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements

How many CLE credits do you need in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, active status attorneys must complete 24.00 CLE credits every 2 years to maintain good standing with the New Jersey State Bar.

When is the New Jersey CLE reporting deadline?

New Jersey attorneys must complete all 24.00 required credits by December 31 in their reporting year. Attorneys must certify compliance with NJ CLE requirements on their Annual Attorney Registration Statement.

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

The reporting period is 2 years and ends on December 31 in your reporting year. There are 2 reporting groups.

You are permanently assigned to a Compliance Reporting Group based on your birthday as follows:

  • Compliance Reporting Group 1: Birthday between January 1 and June 30
  • Compliance Reporting Group 2: Birthday between July 1 and December 31

Depending on your reporting group, you may have a 1-year transitional reporting period before your first regular 2-year reporting period. Group 1 completes requirements in odd-numbered years (and reports in even-numbered years) and Group 2 completes requirements in even-numbered years (and reports in odd-numbered years).

How do I report my New Jersey CLE credits?

New Jersey attorneys must keep track of CLE credits and maintain records for 3 years. You must certify compliance with New Jersey CLE requirements online through the attorney registration link.

How many New Jersey CLE credits can I carry over?

New Jersey attorneys can carry over 12.00 CLE credits for one compliance period.

How many CLE credits can I complete with alternative verifiable learning format courses?

Attorneys who reside or work on a regular and continuous basis in New Jersey or in another mandatory CLE jurisdiction for the entire compliance period can complete a maximum of 12.00 CLE credits with alternative learning formats.*

However, attorneys who reside in, work in, and are licensed in a MCLE jurisdiction that allows for 100% of CLE courses to be taken through alternative learning formats can satisfy their CLE requirements in New Jersey through 100% alternative learning formats through reciprocity.

*Due to COVID-19, this limit has been temporarily relaxed. Until further notice, New Jersey attorneys may take all 24.00 of 24.00 CLE credits through alternative learning formats.

What are the specialty credit requirements in New Jersey?

New Jersey attorneys must complete 5.00 ethics/professionalism credits every 2 years. Of these, 2.00 credits must be in diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias.

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

Yes. In-program attendance verification is required.

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

What are the New Jersey CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys?

Newly admitted attorneys are not required to report CLE credit during the year they are first admitted to practice law in New Jersey. However, newly admitted attorneys must complete 15.00 credits in the following subject areas in their first 2-year compliance period.

  • New Jersey basic estate administration
  • New Jersey basic estate planning
  • New Jersey civil or criminal trial preparation
  • New Jersey family law practice
  • New Jersey real estate closing procedures
  • New Jersey trust and business accounting
  • New Jersey landlord/tenant practice
  • New Jersey municipal court practice
  • New Jersey law office management

Can I carry over credits I completed during my year of admission?

Yes. If you complete CLE credit after admission to the New Jersey State Bar and prior to December 31 of that year, you may carry over up to 12.00 credits to your first compliance period.

You may also carry over CLE credit for courses taken after graduation from law school but before admission to the New Jersey State Bar, as long as those credits were earned no less than 12 months prior to your admission.

When does my first reporting period end?

Your first reporting period begins on January 1 of the year immediately following your admission to the New Jersey Bar and ends 24 months later.

You are permanently assigned to a Compliance Reporting Group based on your birthday as follows:

  • Compliance Reporting Group 1: Birthday between January 1 and June 30
  • Compliance Reporting Group 2: Birthday between July 1 and December 31

Depending on your reporting group, you may have a 1-year transitional reporting period before your first regular 2-year reporting period.

If you have a 1-year reporting period, you must complete half of all CLE credits required for a normal 2-year compliance period (12.00 total, which must include 2.50 ethics/professionalism, of which 1.00 credit must be in diversity, inclusion, & elimination of bias).

Are there any special credit requirements for new attorneys in New Jersey?

Yes. Newly admitted attorneys must complete 15.00 CLE credit hours in at least 5 of the following 9 subject areas within their first 2-year compliance period:

  • New Jersey basic estate administration
  • New Jersey basic estate planning
  • New Jersey civil or criminal trial preparation
  • New Jersey family law practice
  • New Jersey real estate closing procedures
  • New Jersey trust and business accounting
  • New Jersey landlord/tenant practice
  • New Jersey municipal court practice
  • New Jersey law office management
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