Thank you for your inquiry into accreditation of CLE programs for Arizona bar members. Arizona has two programs which require attorneys to complete certain annual CLE requirements: (1) Mandatory Continuing Legal Education ("MCLE"); and (2) The Board of Legal Specialization ("BLS"). The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit programs for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement or the Board of Legal Specialization requirement.

The State Bar does not retain or track CLE records for individual attorneys. It is the responsibility of each attorney to keep documentation to support the annual affidavit filed, demonstrating compliance with the MCLE or Board of Legal Specialization Rules.

MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

Arizona does have a mandatory education requirement for all active, non-exempt bar members; however, Arizona does not approve or accredit programs for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement.

The MCLE Rule (Rule 45, Ariz.R.S.Ct.) and its accompanying Regulations, are predicated on the assumption that attorneys can evaluate CLE activities offered based on the guidelines set forth in the Regulations, and report their activities by affidavit. The standards are very broad and many sponsors routinely meet these standards. Please note the requirement that all CLE activities must present written materials.

We ask that you provide certificates of attendance to the seminar participants. (Please see the certificate of attendance sample form attached.) You may use any format that contains the same information. Please forward any certificates of attendance directly to the seminar participants.

Our MCLE Rule does not require you to send us any information regarding the seminar.

We base credit-hour calculations on a 60-minute hour of instruction, omitting breaks and introductory remarks that do not substantively relate to the topic of the activity. Please see Regulation 104(B)(1)(a) for the exact language regarding the calculation of hours.

BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION

The Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (BLS) certifies attorneys as specialists in eight areas: Bankruptcy, Criminal, Estate and Trust Law, Family Law, Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation, Real Estate, Taxation, and Workers' Compensation. Certified specialists must attend at least 12 hours annually of advanced level programming, within their particular field, plus three hours of ethics. We base credit-hour calculations on a 60-minute hour of instruction, omitting breaks and introductory remarks that do not substantively relate to the topic of the activity.

In the past, the Board of Legal Specialization reviewed and approved CLE activity for this program. Beginning with the 1993 educational year, the Board eliminated this approval process. The certified specialists are responsible for applying the CLE standards to each CLE activity to determine if that activity qualifies for credit.

We ask that you provide certificates of attendance to seminar participants. All CLE activities must include written materials that are distributed to seminar participants.

The BLS Regulations do not require you to send us any information regarding the seminar.

PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE

The State Bar of Arizona requests that in the advertisement of your CLE activities, the following language be used:

• "The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to _____ hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including _____ hour(s) of professional responsibility."

If your CLE activity includes advanced level education in an Arizona specialization area which appear to meet the criteria stated in the Board of Legal Specialization Rules & Regulations, the State Bar of Arizona requests that you add the following language:

• "The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Board of Legal Specialization CLE requirement. This activity may qualify for up to _____ hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State of Arizona, including _____ hour(s) of professional responsibility and including _____ hours of advanced level training in the area of __________." (Insert applicable area: Bankruptcy, Criminal Law, Estate and Trust Law, Family Law, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, and Workers' Compensation.)

SAMPLE CERTIFICATE