MCLE RULES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Who needs to comply with the new MCLE rules in New Jersey?
Any lawyer holding a New Jersey law license is subject to MCLE. This
includes plenary admissions (most lawyers), limited admissions (certain in-house counsel) and even judges and law professors. The only people not included are "inactive" lawyers - those who have practiced more than 50
years or more; those who have reached age seventy-five regardless of length of tenure at the Bar; those on full-time active duty in the armed forces, VISTA or Peace Corps; and those who have completely retired from practicing
law.
2. How many credits do you need to take and by when to be in compliance with the MCLE rules?
Generally you need 24 credits over a two year period with a minimum of 4 ethics all of which may be taken at any time during the two years. At least half the credits must come from in-person courses; the other half may be taken in an alternative verifiable learning format. 12 carry-over credits are also allowed under these rules.
3. Are these rules applicable to all attorneys?
No. There are additional mandatory requirements for newly admitted attorneys
who must satisfy 15 of the 24 credit hours in any 5 of 9 specified subject areas. An attorney who has completed at least the first full year's requirements of the Skills and Methods course will be considered to have met the additional requirements. (We could provide the link you suggested for
the requirements for the Newly Admitted New Jersey Attorneys here). All attorneys certified as civil trial, criminal trial, matrimonial, municipal court or workers' compensation attorneys can use their credit hours towards their general requirements.
4. What do you need to prove compliance?
You must sign in and sign out on the provider attendance/certification/roster form at the time you attend the course. A signed certification will be made available by the course provider. It is the attorney’s responsibility to file and keep the signed certificates for every class attended for a minimum of three years. Providers are not required to report your course attendance to the Board on Continuing Education. At reporting time, you must sign a certification that you are in compliance. In the circumstance that you get audited by the Board you will be required at that time to provide the documentation detailed above.
5. What happens to the courses you took in other states?
Except for the Skills course requirements, you will receive 1:1 credit. However, attorneys complying with requirements in other states that do not have the ethics/professionalism component must still comply with the requirement as set forth in BCLE Reg:201 to be considered in full compliance in New Jersey.