From the President, 0217 GABJ, GSB Vol. 22, No. 5, Pg. 6
ICLE Transition a Win-Win for Bar Members
Since 1965, the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) has existed as the not-for-profit educational service for members of the State Bar of Georgia and, until the end of 2016, was a fully self-supporting consortium of the State Bar and the law schools at the University of Georgia, Emory University, Mercer University, Georgia State University and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
For more than three decades, ICLE was generously hosted by the University of Georgia. Effective Dec. 31, 2016, the administrative relationship between ICLE and the University of Georgia ended. Under the prior arrangement, the University handled employee salaries and benefits, with ICLE providing reimbursement of payroll and program planning costs.
Since the beginning of this year, the State Bar of Georgia has assumed the administrative duties for ICLE. With much gratitude to all of the law schools in Georgia for their support and guidance over the years, I see a very positive outlook for both ICLE and the State Bar as we make this transition.
ICLE’s revenue is derived from tuition charges and the sale of publications. ICLE receives no revenue from State Bar dues and exists solely to serve the educational needs of practicing lawyers. Income from registration fees are allocated toward CLE credit reporting, marketing and bro-chures, books and publications, food and beverage, professional speaker expense reimbursement and ICLE overhead. Any surplus funds are used entirely for the improvement of continuing legal education products and services.
All of the institute’s activities are designed to promote a well organized, properly planned, and adequately supported program of continuing legal education by which members of our profession are afforded a means of enhancing skills and keeping abreast of developments in the law, and engaging in the study and research of the law, so we as lawyers are able to fulfill our responsibilities to the profession, the courts and the public.
Georgia is one of 46 states that require mandatory CLE for attorneys admitted to practice in their jurisdictions. Bar Rule 8-101 states, “It is of utmost importance to members of the Bar and to the public that attorneys maintain their professional competence throughout their active practice of the law.”
Bar members are required to keep abreast of changes in the law by attending a minimum of 12 hours of education sessions each year. At least one hour must be...
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