Rhode Island CLE Requirements

All active status attorneys in Rhode Island must complete 10.00 CLE credits every year.

There are a few exceptions under Section 3.2(b) of Article IV of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules for attorneys not engaged in the practice of law and for those over the age of 70.

Rhode Island attorneys must complete and report all 10.00 required credits by June 30 of each year.

The reporting period runs for 1 year from July 1 through June 30 of the following year for all Rhode Island attorneys. New attorneys are exempt from Rhode Island CLE reporting requirements for the reporting year in which they are admitted and for the next full reporting year.

Accredited sponsors will report your CLE attendance to the Rhode Island CLE Commission. You are responsible for reporting your compliance with Rhode Island MCLE requirements online by June 30 by using the MCLE Portal.

Rhode Island attorneys can carry over 10.00 CLE credits to the next reporting period.** Ethics credits may be carried over.

**Due to a temporary rule change, attorneys were relieved of the obligation to complete CLE credits for the 2021 reporting year. All CLE credits earned between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021 will be applied to the 2022 MCLE reporting year. All credits submitted in the MCLE portal for the 2021 reporting year by June 30, 2021 will be automatically moved to the 2022 MCLE reporting year. Credits that were carried into the 2021 MCLE from 2019 and 2020 will automatically be applied to the 2022 MCLE reporting year.

You can satisfy a maximum of 6.00 CLE credits with video replay courses.

Rhode Island attorneys must complete 2.00 CLE credits in legal ethics each year.

Yes. In-program attendance verification is required.

Newly admitted attorneys in Rhode Island are exempt from MCLE reporting requirements for the current and next full MCLE reporting year. However, new attorneys must complete the Rhode Island Bridge the Gap program by June 30 of the first full MCLE reporting year after admission to the Rhode Island Bar.** Attorneys admitted in another jurisdiction for at least 3 years prior to admission in Rhode Island are exempt from the Bridge the Gap requirement.

**Due to a temporary rule change, new attorneys required to file proof of their attendance at the Rhode Island Bridge the Gap course by June 30, 2020 and by June 30, 2021 now have until June 30, 2022 to file.

Yes. If you complete CLE credits during the time you are exempt, you may carry over up to 10.00 credits to your first reporting period. Note that you do not earn MCLE credits for the one-day Rhode Island Bridge the Gap program.

You are exempt from reporting Rhode Island CLE requirements for the duration of the reporting year in which you are admitted and for the first full CLE reporting year following your admission to the Rhode Island Bar. Your first CLE reporting period begins on the second July 1 after your admission to the bar and ends the following June 30.

Yes. All new attorneys must complete the one-day Rhode Island Bridge the Gap program by June 30 of the first full MCLE reporting year after admission to the Rhode Island Bar.** The Bridge the Gap Program is sponsored by the Rhode Island Bar Association or an educational institution approved by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Note that you do not earn MCLE credits for the Bridge the Gap Program.

Attorneys admitted in another jurisdiction for at least 3 years prior to admission to the Rhode Island Bar are exempt from the Bridge the Gap requirement.

**Due to a temporary rule change, new attorneys required to file proof of their attendance at the Rhode Island Bridge the Gap course by June 30, 2020 and by June 30, 2021 now have until June 30, 2022 to file.