California MCLE Requirements

California Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Requirements

California attorneys must complete 25 hours of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every three years, as required by the State Bar of California. These 25 hours must include:

• 4 hours in Legal Ethics

• 2 hours in Elimination of Bias (1 hour of which must cover Implicit Bias)

• 2 hours in Competence (1 hour focused on Prevention and Detection, and 1 hour on Wellness Competence)

• 1 hour in Technology and the Practice of Law

• 1 hour in Civility in the Legal Profession

The remaining hours can be fulfilled through general MCLE courses.

The State Bar of California assigns attorneys to one of three compliance groups based on their last name. Each group follows a specific MCLE compliance period and reporting deadline:

• Group 1 (A-G)

  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2022 – March 30, 2025

  • Reporting Deadline: April 1, 2025

• Group 2 (H-M)

  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2024 – March 29, 2027

  • Reporting Deadline: March 30, 2027

• Group 3 (N-Z)

  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2023 – March 29, 2026

  • Reporting Deadline: March 30, 2026

Attorneys must complete their MCLE requirements within their designated compliance period and submit their credits by the reporting deadline.

LexVid is an accredited MCLE provider in California. All of LexVid’s on-demand courses qualify as participatory credit and count toward fulfilling your California MCLE requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About California MCLE Compliance

How do I report my California MCLE compliance?
LexVid will report all of your LexVid credits to the State Bar of California for you. No additional fees are required for reporting.

What if I'm a newly admitted attorney in California?
New attorneys in California have a reduced MCLE requirement under Rule 2.72(C). The number of MCLE hours you need to complete is proportional to the amount of time you have been a member of the bar. You can find the proportional requirement table here: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/

What if I've been inactive or exempt for part of my California MCLE cycle?
Attorneys who were inactive or exempt for any amount of time during their CLE cycle are subject to the same proportional requirement as new attorneys under Rule 2.72(C). You can find the proportional requirement table here: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/

What if I don't comply by my California MCLE deadline?
Failing to comply with the CA MCLE deadline results in a $75 late fee. You must pay the fine and comply by June 30th in the year of your deadline. Otherwise, you will need to request an extension or risk disciplinary action.?

What if I take a continuing legal education course outside of the state of California?
Attorneys can earn credit for courses taken while physically outside of California as long as the course was accredited by an Approved Jurisdiction. The list of Approved Jurisdictions can be found here: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/

How are California continuing legal education credit hours calculated?
CLE credit is calculated by rounding the length of the program instruction to the nearest 1/4.

Can I carry over extra California CLE credit hours?
Sorry, according to Rule 2.72(D), attorneys who earn more than 25 hours during a compliance period cannot carry excess hours forward to the next compliance period.

Are LexVid programs participatory in California?
Yes! All of our on-demand programs are considered participatory in California. That means you can fulfill your entire MCLE requirement right here!

Can I earn self-study CLE credits in California?
All LexVid CLE courses are participatory. However, you can earn up to a maximum of 12.5 self-study credits [Rule 2.72].

How long do I need to keep my California MCLE certificates?
Attorneys must maintain their records of CLE program attendance for one year from the time compliance is reported in case they are audited. All of your LexVid certificates can be found at lexvid.com/secure/completed/california-mcle. To learn more about what to do in case of an MCLE audit, please visit the following link: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/

How can I contact the California MCLE board?
   The State Bar of California MCLE Department
   180 Howard Street
   San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
   Phone: 888-800-3400
   Email: mcle@calbar.ca.gov

What do I do if I am audited by The California Bar?
The California Bar will notify you via mail and email if your MCLE compliance is being audited. If you are audited, you will need to log into your State Bar Profile and complete the online MCLE Summary Log. Next, you will need to email your certificates of compliance in a single PDF attachment to auditsubmission@calbar.ca.gov. Make sure you reference your bar number in the subject line of the email.

Please note that you can download all of your LexVid certificates at once into a ZIP file by visiting lexvid.com/secure/completed/california-mcle.
Failure to submit adequate proof by the stated deadline will result in a $75 penalty, and issuance of a 60-day Notice of Non-Compliance. If such proof and penalty payment is not submitted by the final deadline of October 30th, you will be placed on Not Eligible to Practice status effective on October 31st of your audit year.

Who qualifies as an experienced attorney in California?
In California, attorneys are considered "experienced" if they actively practice law after fulfilling their New Admission requirements.

Can California attorneys carry over MCLE credits?

No, attorneys in California cannot carry over MCLE credits to the next reporting period.

What are the MCLE compliance groups in California?

California attorneys are assigned to an MCLE compliance group based on the first letter of their last name as listed on their admit card. The groups and their compliance periods are:

• Group 1 (A-G) – Compliance Period: 2/1/22 – 3/29/2025

• Group 2 (H-M) – Compliance Period: 2/1/24 – 3/29/2027

• Group 3 (N-Z) – Compliance Period: 2/1/23 – 3/29/2026

Attorneys must complete their MCLE requirements within their designated compliance period.

Are there alternative ways for experienced attorneys in California to earn MCLE credit?
Of course! In addition to traditional MCLE courses, experienced attorneys in California can earn credit through the following methods:

1. Self-Study (Up to 12.5 Credits)
   • Attorneys can earn up to half of their required MCLE credits (12.5 hours) through self-study activities, which include:
     • Completing non-verified MCLE programs
     • Taking open- or closed-book self-test exams and submitting them for grading
     • Participating in MCLE activities where attendance is not verified
2. Legal Writing
   • Attorneys can receive MCLE credit for authoring or co-authoring published legal materials, including articles, chapters, or books, that contribute to legal education.
3. Teaching Law School Courses
   • Attorneys who teach a law school class approved by the California Bar Association can earn credit based on course units. The number of credit hours is calculated by multiplying the units granted by the law school by 12
   • Example: Teaching a 2-unit class qualifies for 24 hours of MCLE credit.
4. Teaching CLE Activities
   • Attorneys who teach or speak at an approved CLE activity can earn additional credit:
     • For first-time presentations, speakers receive four times the actual speaking time.
     • Repeat presentations only qualify for the actual speaking time.
5. Pro Bono Service
   • The Florida Supreme Court allows attorneys to earn one hour of CLE credit per hour of pro bono work, up to five credits per three-year reporting cycle. Attorneys must submit a Pro Bono Service Request for CLE Credit Form to apply these hours toward their general CLE requirement.

These alternative methods provide flexibility for attorneys to meet their California MCLE requirements while enhancing their legal knowledge and professional contributions.