Regulations

Regulation 103

• The course must have significant intellectual or practical content. Its primary objective must be to increase the attendee's professional competence and skills as an attorney, and to improve the quality of legal services rendered to the public.
• The course must pertain to a recognized legal subject or other subject matter which integrally relates to the practice of law, or to the professional responsibility or ethical obligations of the participants.
• A course which addresses law practice management may be approved so as to promote the efficient, economical and competent delivery of legal services.  The course must cover topics that teach attorneys how to organize and manage their law practices and other law practice issues, which if improperly handled, could result in malpractice, disciplinary complaints or client dissatisfaction.  A course which primarily focuses on marketing techniques, client development or other general business topics applicable to any business shall not be approved.  (Comment: See MCLE Board Opinion 17.)

• A course which addresses substance abuse, stress management, or work/life balance issues may be approved if the topics relate to the practice of law and the quality of legal services rendered to the public.  (Comment: See MCLE Board Opinion 19.)
• A course which addresses general skills topics such as time management, writing, communication or presentation skills may be approved provided the topics are specifically directed to an attorney audience and are covered in the context of the practice of law.
• A course may be approved for credit in the area of legal ethics or professionalism only to the extent that the course constitutes or contains one or more qualified ethics or professionalism components as defined in Regulation 101.  Topics which will not generally be approved for ethics credit include ethics standards of conduct applicable to other professions such as government employees, government contractors, accountants and businesses including corporate compliance.  Also, rules of procedure, rules of evidence and litigation tactics will not generally be approved for ethics credit.  (Comment: See MCLE Board Opinion 13.) A minimum scheduling of thirty (30) minutes in the aggregate of one or more qualified ethics or professionalism components is required before an approved course can be approved for credit in the area of legal ethics or professionalism.

Distance Learning Regulation 103(i):

A course presented by distance learning methods which otherwise satisfies the requirements of these Regulations may be approved provided the speakers and attendees are participating simultaneously. Pre-recorded courses in any electronic form which otherwise satisfy the requirements of these regulations may be approved however no other form of self-study will be approved.  (Comment: See MCLE Board Opinion 16.) 

12 hours every year

2 hours of professionalism or legal ethics credit per reporting period

60 minutes per credit hour

Docs required: See page 4 for required documents and information

Application deadline: At least 30 days prior to the presentation

Application fee: $75.00

Application formats: Print application only

Length of reporting period: 1 year

Compliance date: October 31

Compliance Reporting date: December 15

(1) If the Board determines that a sponsor regularly provides a significant volume of continuing legal education courses, that these courses uniformly meet the approval criteria of Regulation 103, and that the sponsor will maintain and submit the records directed by these Regulations, the Board may designate such a course provider as an "accredited sponsor" under the Rule. Such designation shall be effective for a period of no more than two years unless renewed.

(2) A sponsor applying for status as an accredited sponsor shall submit to the Board all information called for on the Application for Status as Accredited Sponsor of Continuing Legal Education.