Vol. 28, No. 6 #1 (December 2005). Top 10 Questions about Continuing Legal Education.

Wyoming Bar Journal

2005.

Vol. 28, No. 6 #1 (December 2005).

Top 10 Questions about Continuing Legal Education

WYOMING LAWYER December 2005/Vol. XXVIII, No. 6 Top 10 Questions about Continuing Legal Education

1. How many CLE credits do I need to earn each year? Active attorneys are required to earn 15 hours of CLE credits, including one hour of ethics, each calendar year. This does not mean that you must earn 16 hours of credit; it means that of the 15 hours of CLE that you earn, one of those hours must pertain to ethics. Inactive, honorary and retired members are not required to fulfill the CLE requirement.

2. What is the requirement for newly admitted attorneys?

   Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from the CLE requirement during the calendar year in which they are admitted; however, they must attend the mandatory Pathways to Professional Practice program in person or online within the first year of admission. For instance, if you were admitted in October 2005, you are not required to earn 15 hours of CLE for 2005, but you will need to earn 15 hours during 2006. The four-hour Pathways to Professional Practice program will count toward this requirement.

3. How do I report my CLE credits?

   For each program you attend, you must submit an Application for CLE Credit, which can be printed from our website, www.wyomingbar.org. Sponsors cannot report CLE credits for you; you must submit this form yourself. Letters or alternative forms will not be accepted.

4. What is the deadline for submitting CLE credits?

   The CLE reporting period runs from January 1 to December 31. All credits for the reporting period must be submitted by January 30 of the following year.

5. What if I don't have my CLE hours completed in time?

   Good news -- you can "buy" yourself extra time. If you don't have your CLE hours for the previous reporting period by March 31, $100 will buy you an extra 30 days. If you still don't have your CLE by May 1, you can buy another 45 days for an additional $200. If you are still delinquent on June 15, you will be fined another $300 and be recommended for suspension to the Supreme Court.

6. If I earn more than 15 CLE hours in a calendar year, can I carry them forward?

   You may carry up to 30 hours of CLE forward to the next year, including two hours of ethics.

7. How do I...