Wisconsin CLE Requirements

Everything you need to know to stay in compliance


MCLE State

Overview

Required Wisconsin CLE Credits:

Total credit hours: 30.00 credit hours every 2 years.

A minimum of 15.00 credit hours must be taken as live programs.

A maximum of 15.00 credit hours may be taken as repeated on-demand programs.

Wisconsin CLE Reporting Deadlines:

Deadline to Complete CLEs: December 31

Reporting Deadline: February 1

Reporting Period: 2 years


Common Questions About Wisconsin Continuing Legal Education Rules and Regulations

General Wisconsin Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements

How many CLE credits do you need in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, active status attorneys must complete 30.00 CLE credits every 2 years to maintain good standing with the State Bar of Wisconsin.

When is the Wisconsin CLE reporting deadline?

Wisconsin attorneys must complete all 30.00 required credits by December 31 in their reporting year. Attorneys must report their credits by February 1 of the following year to avoid a late fee.

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

The Wisconsin CLE reporting period is 2 years and ends on December 31 in your reporting year.

There are two reporting groups:

  • Attorneys who were admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in an even year report CLEs in even years.
  • Attorneys who were admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in an odd year report CLEs in odd years.

How do I report my Wisconsin CLE credits?

Wisconsin attorneys must report their CLEs by filing a CLE Form 1 (available online) with the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners. Attorneys can do this online by using the Wisconsin Court System’s CLE Reporting System.

How many Wisconsin CLE credits can I carry over?

Wisconsin Attorneys can carry over 15.00 CLE credits to the next reporting period. Ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits cannot be carried over.

How many CLE credits can I complete with repeated on-demand courses?

Attorneys in Wisconsin can complete a maximum of 15.00 CLE credits with repeated on-demand courses. Ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits cannot be earned from repeated on-demand courses.

What are the specialty credit requirements in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin attorneys must complete 3.00 ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits every reporting period. EPR credits cannot be earned from repeated on-demand CLE courses.

Attorneys can also earn up to 6.00 credits towards their WI CLE requirements in each of the following subject areas (12.00 CLE credits total):

  • Lawyer Understanding and Awareness (LAU): LAU CLE courses focus on attorney wellness, addressing topics of mental health, substance abuse, and dependence disorders, among other related topics.
  • Law Practice Management (LPM): LPM CLE courses focus on topics related to law firm management. Topics include managing client communications, maintaining trust accounts, proper record-keeping practices, etc.

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

No. In-program attendance verification is not required.

Are there additional methods Experienced Attorneys in WI can fulfill their CLE requirements?

Experienced attorneys in Wisconsin can fulfill their CLE requirements by:

  • Attending activities approved by the Board of Bar Examiners.
  • Teaching an approved continuing legal or judicial education activity (2.0 credits for each hour of presentation).
  • Teaching a course, or teaching as a guest presenter in a course, in a law school approved by the American Bar Association (2.0 credits for each hour of presentation).
  • Attending an educational activity approved by the judicial education committee.
  • Completing repeated on-demand programs (maximum of 15.0 credits per reporting period).
  • Service on the office of lawyer regulation preliminary review committee, special preliminary review panel, district committee or as an office of lawyer regulation special investigator (maximum of 3.0 credits per reporting period).
  • Pro bono legal services (1.0 credit for every 5 hours of service, maximum of 6.0 credits per reporting period).
  • Grading the essay portion of the Wisconsin bar exam (maximum of 6.0 credits per examination administration).

Published legal writing, written in whole or in substantial part by the lawyer, in the form of an article, chapter, book or significant revision. Materials developed and distributed at CLE activities do not qualify.

What if a WI attorney principally practices in another jurisdiction?

A lawyer whose practice is principally in another jurisdiction that has mandatory CLE requirements and who is current in meeting those requirements is exempt from the 30-hour Wisconsin attendance requirement but must comply with the reporting requirement to file the CLE Form 1 on or before February 1 following the last day of the reporting period.

Additional CLE resources for Wisconsin attorneys

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

What are the Wisconsin CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys?

Newly admitted attorneys in Wisconsin are exempt from CLE reporting requirements for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are admitted to the bar.

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

Yes. You can carry over up to 15.00 credits that were completed during the calendar year you were admitted to practice law in Wisconsin. Ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) credits cannot be carried over.

When does my first reporting period end?

You are exempt from CLE reporting requirements for the year in which you were admitted to practice law in Wisconsin. Your first reporting period ends on December 31 of the second full calendar year after you were admitted to the bar.

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

No. There are no special CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys in Wisconsin.

Who is considered a Newly Admitted Attorney in Wisconsin?

A newly admitted attorney is an attorney who is in the calendar year of his or her admission to the practice of law in Wisconsin.

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