MCLE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is the educational year?
The educational year runs July 1 to June 30 of every year

How many hours do I need?
You are required to get a total of 15 hours of CLE. Three of those hours must be in ethics. New admittees sworn in during the first half of an educational year need 10 hours of CLE with 2 hours of those hours in ethics.

When is my affidavit due?
Every member must file an affidavit by September 15 of each year.

What happens if I don’t complete the requirements or file the affidavit on time?
Members who fail to complete the requirements on time or fail to file the affidavit on t ime are subject to both delinquent compliance fees and delinquent filing fees. Please consult Rule 45(d), Ariz.R.S.Ct. for a schedule of fee amounts. If you are still not compliant after December 15, summary suspension may result.

What qualifies as a CLE event or program?
Essentially, a CLE must meet the following criteria to qualify towards MCLE requirements:

1. The program must have attorneys as primary audience and the seminar must target attorneys. In-house seminars must have at least 5 attorneys present.
2. Main goal to increase the member’s competence as a lawyer.
3. It must deal with matters directly related to the practice of law, professional responsibility, or ethical obligations of member. For example, a tax attorney studying to be a CPA will not get CLE credit for such courses.
4. Must have an agenda, written materials, and a certificate of completion or attendance

For online programs, how do I know if it qualifies for interactive or self-study?
Where the order of presentation or the content of the course material is dependent on the member’s response and the member has an opportunity to respond to prompts initiated by the faculty or placed within the course material, it is considered to be interactive. All of the State Bar's Online Programs are considered interactive. Click here to access their online programs list.

How much credit do I get for teaching?
If your presentation is accompanied by original written materials prepared, or augmented - the speaker may earn teaching credit as follows:
     For the original presentation: First hour of presentation x 6 = total credit hours
     Additional hours of presentation x 2 = total credit hoursIf your presentation is not accompanied by original written materials you earn one credit hour for each hour of presentation.

How many carry forward hours can I have?
You may carry forward only what is required for the following year, 15 hours. Carry forward hours do not change classification when they carry. For example, self-study credit does not become live interactive credit. Even though you may have seven extra self study hours, you may only carry five of those.

What kind of limitations exist relative to the types of hours I can acquire?
Self Study – max 5 hours
Teaching – max 10 hours
Writing – max 10 hours
Law School Courses – max 10 hours
Bar Review Course – max 5 hours

Do I still have to do CLE and file an affidavit for Arizona if I reside in another state?
That depends. If you are admitted to another bar that has an MCLE requirement, and you live AND practice in that state, you only have to meet the requirements of that state – but you still have to file the annual form affidavit. If that Bar does not have MCLE requirements, you must meet the Arizona requirement. Similarly, if you live and work in another jurisdiction but are not admitted to that Bar, you must meet Arizona’s requirement.

Do I need to file even though I do not practice law?
If your membership status is active, you must complete the hours and file the affidavit as proscribed. Membership status inquiries should be directed to the Membership Resource Center at 602-340-7239.

If I am subject to COJET, do I still need to file an affidavit?
If you are on regular active status, you will still have to file an annual affidavit indicating that you are under COJET requirements. If you are on “judicial” status, you are not required to file an annual affidavit.

I recently changed from “inactive” to “active”, are my requirements prorated?
No. You must meet the 15-hour requirement by June 30, regardless of when you became active. Any lawyer who is active on June 30 of the educational year must meet the requirements and file an affidavit.

Where can I find a CLE course?
The State Bar offers CLE at our Publications and Programs page.

How do I get a CLE approved by the State Bar?
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 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.