6 LEGAL SPECIALIZATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
6-10 CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT RULE

RULE 6-10.3 MINIMUM CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

(a) Applicability. Every member except those exempt under rule 6-10.3(c)(4) and (5) shall comply and report compliance with the continuing legal education requirement.

(b) Minimum Hourly Continuing Legal Education Requirements. Each member shall complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved continuing legal education activity every 3 years. Five of the 30 hours must be in approved legal ethics, professionalism, substance abuse, or mental illness awareness programs. Courses offering credit in professionalism must be approved by the center for professionalism. These 5 hours are to be included in, and not in addition to, the regular 30-hour requirement. If a member completes more than 30 hours during any reporting cycle, the excess credits cannot be carried over to the next reporting cycle.

(c) Exemptions.

(1) Active military service.

(2) Undue hardship.

(3) Nonresident members not delivering legal services or advice on matters or issues governed by Florida law.

(4) Members of the full-time federal judiciary who are prohibited from engaging in the private practice of law.

(5) Justices of the Supreme Court of Florida and judges of the district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts, and such other judicial officers and employees as may be designated by the Supreme Court of Florida.

(6) Inactive members of The Florida Bar.

(d) Course Approval. Course approval shall be set forth in policies adopted pursuant to this rule. Special policies shall be adopted for courses sponsored by governmental agencies for employee attorneys that shall exempt such courses from any course approval fee and may exempt such courses from other requirements as determined by the board of legal specialization and education.

(e) Accreditation of Hours. Accreditation shall be as set forth in the policies adopted pursuant to this rule. If a course is presented or sponsored by or has received credit approval from an organized state bar (whether integrated or voluntary), such course shall be deemed an approved course for purposes of this rule. (emphasis added. Click Here to view our California State Bar provider approval - or click here for the Calif. Bar Website)

(f) Full-time Government Employees. Credit hours shall be given full-time government employees for courses presented by governmental agencies. Application for credit approval may be submitted by the full-time government attorney before or after attendance, without charge.

(g) Skills Training Preadmission. The board of legal specialization and education may approve for CLER credit a basic skills or entry level training program developed and presented by a governmental entity. If approved, credit earned through attendance at such course, within 8 months prior to admission to The Florida Bar, shall be applicable under rule 6-10.3(b).