AUGUST 2006
CLE FAQ
ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED CLE QUESTIONS
BY TONI SAROCKA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEVADA BOARD OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
How many CLE credits do I need to earn each year?
Active attorneys are required to earn a total of twelve (12) CLE credit hours each calendar year, ten (10) general credits and two (2) ethics credits. You may carry forward a maximum of fifteen (15) general credits, and four (4) ethics credits that are in excess of the required number of credits in a calendar year. Extra ethics credits (more than two) may be used to satisfy the general credit requirement. You may not use excess general credits to satisfy the ethics requirement.
Members who are inactive or over seventy-years of age are not obligated to fulfill a CLE requirement.
What is the requirement for newly-admitted attorneys?
Newly-admitted attorneys are exempt from the above CLE requirement during the calendar year in which they are admitted and for the next full calendar year. Instead of earning CLE credits, they must attend the program titled “Introduction to Nevada Practice and Procedure” (also called “Bridge the Gap”) within the first year of admission. The live seminar is offered through the State Bar of Nevada once a year in November in both Reno and Las Vegas. If unable to attend the live seminar, a new member may purchase the audio program instead. Regardless of format, this program must be completed within one year of being admitted to the State Bar of Nevada.
If you are admitted in a different calendar year than you passed the Bar, please contact the Nevada CLE Board, as your length of exemption may change.
3. How do I report my CLE credits?
At each CLE seminar presented by the State Bar of Nevada, attendees receive a certificate of attendance. The certificate comes with two copies. At the end of the seminar or when leaving the seminar, the attorney should turn in the top (white) copy of this completed certificate. If you do not turn in the certificate at the time of attendance, you may mail or fax it to the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education. The mailing address and fax number for the Board is on the back of the certificate of attendance.
When attending a CLE seminar not presented by the State Bar of Nevada, you should submit the certificate of attendance within sixty (60) days of the date of the program. Contact the Nevada CLE Board if you are unsure if the program has been approved for credit. It is the attendee’s responsibility to see that the certificate of attendance is submitted to the Nevada CLE Board. The State Bar of Nevada’s audio programs come with affidavits of completion which should also be sent to the Nevada CLE Board.
It is the attorney’s responsibility to report CLE credits to other states in which they are licensed. The duplicate copies of the State Bar’s certificate of attendance are provided for this purpose. It is also recommended that the attendee keep a copy of all certificates of attendance/affidavits for their own personal records. If a certificate of attendance is misplaced, the attendee may call the State Bar. If the CLE staff can confirm attendance at the seminar in question, it will provide a replacement.
What is the deadline for earning CLE credits?
The CLE requirement runs from January 1st to December 31st. All credits for this period must be completed by December 31st.
What if I don’t have my CLE hours completed in time?
If you believe you will not have your CLE requirements met by December 31st, you may contact the Nevada CLE Board and ask about an extension. A written request must be made to the Board, accompanied by an extension fee. The Board may deny requests for extensions if the member has a history of late compliance. Extensions are granted only until March 15th. Attorneys who do not complete their CLE requirement and do not ask for an extension will be subject to late fees as well as other fees and penalties.
How do I find out how many CLE credits I currently have?
In October of each year, the Nevada CLE Board mails out a courtesy notice to members who have not yet completed their annual requirement. In mid-January of the following year, the Board will mail a Compliance Report (form 6) reflecting credits earned from the previous year to each active member. If you need an update on your CLE credits, you can contact the Nevada CLE Board and they will be happy to send you a transcript.
Does Nevada compute CLE hours on a fifty-minute or sixty-minute hour?
Nevada uses a sixty-minute hour. Some states use a fifty-minute hour. If taking a course based on a fifty-minute hour, you will receive fewer credit hours in Nevada. Nevada rounds down to the nearest one-half (1/2) credit.
Can I get credit for self-study CLE courses?
Yes. Nevada Bar members may earn all of their credit hours through self-study. All of the audio programs provided by the State Bar of Nevada are pre-approved for credit. If a self-study program has not been sponsored by the State Bar of Nevada, it is advisable to check with the Board to determine whether or not that program has been approved.
Self-study courses are stale dated three (3) years from the original presentation date. You may not earn credit for attending the live program and then listening to the taped version at a later date.
Can I get credit for teaching a CLE course?
Yes. Up to five (5) credits may be allocated for preparation time for each one (1) hour of instruction. Example: If you teach two hours of a six-hour class and attend the remaining four hours, you can claim two (2) hours of teaching time, a maximum of ten hours for preparation, and four hours of attendance time, for a total of sixteen (16) credits. Board Form 5 should be used for this purpose. The State Bar of Nevada’s CLE Department provides its speakers with this form. If you have questions or need help completing the form, feel free to contact either the Nevada CLE Board or the State Bar of Nevada.
What is the difference between the State Bar of Nevada CLE Department and the Nevada CLE Board?
The State Bar of Nevada CLE Department is a provider of continuing legal education programs. The Nevada CLE Board is the reporting agency for tracking the compliance of active Nevada attorneys. The Nevada CLE Board approves the courses which can fulfill the yearly requirement.
If a Nevada attorney makes a change in name, address or status, he or she should contact both entities and provide them with the new information.
Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education
605 Forest Street
Reno, NV 89509
Phone: (775) 329-4443
Fax: (775) 329-4291
State Bar of Nevada – CLE Department
600 E. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Phone: (702) 382-2200
Fax: (702) 385-2045
Website: nvbar.org