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IMLA CLE Corner for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)

For IMLA Physical Events

For all IMLA physical events, such as the Mid-Year Seminar, Annual Conference, and Stand-Alone CLE Events, all CLE information will be available (via email, drop box  or the IMLA App). The primary purpose of this page is for IMLA distance learning events, such as webinars.

Distance Learning Events

Webinars are training provided online as well as through live telephone audio

IMLA webinars deliver CLE live via the telephone and internet. To join the program, participants can login or call a toll-free number from their offices, homes, or anywhere they have a phone connection and writing surface available. The programs are typically 60-90 minutes in length, with adequate time allotted for questions and answers. IMLA webinars can be a stand-alone, repeated from live programs, or delivered in conjunction with periodicals and publications. Webinars provide quick CLE programming based upon hot topics such as recent court decisions or in combination with publications and issues affecting the local government lawyer.

What states currently approve MCLE credit for IMLA Webinars?

The following states accept IMLA Webinars for MCLE credit. Some states may not approve specific programs or topics. Other restrictions and guidelines may apply. For further information on your state MCLE requirements (see listings in general MCLE Information section). IMLA will submit application for CLE credit upon request for the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona*, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, , New Hampshire*, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
*States where you must self-determine and self-report.

It is cost effective for most attorneys to self-file and report with their states.

Required Steps to receive CLE credit (you must follow all steps):

NOTE: There is no filing fee for just the Certificate of Attendance if you file directly for credit approval with your state bar/agency. However, you must check first with your State Bar to see if they will accept direct/self-filing & self reporting.

1.  Each person requesting CLE must download and fill out the CLE Request Form.

2.  The attorney must participate in the entire webinar, including Q&A. If you are participating in a group, you must use and submit to IMLA a sign-in/sign-out sheet that contains the names of the people who are requesting CLE.

3.  The attorney must listen and record a specific “code” that will be announced during the webinar and write this code on the certificate of attendance form.

4.  The attorney must complete an online evaluation after the conclusion of the webinar. The link to the online evaluation will appear at the conclusion of the webinar and is also included in the login email that is sent to each attorney requesting accreditation (prior to the event).

5.  A link to a certificate of attendance form and a sign-in sheet will populate on your screen at the conclusion of the online evaluation form. Each attorney must complete the complete evaluation form in order to obtain these forms. These forms are also included in the login email sent to registrants.

6.  The certificate of attendance form and sign-in sheet must be completed, signed, and emailed to cle@imla.org. The individual signed certificate of attendance form will be returned to the attorney within 30 days. If you must meet a filing deadline, please call Trina Shropshire-Paschal at (202) 742-1383 to expedite the process.

7.   If you are seeking CLE credits and wish for IMLA to process, IMLA will make an application to the MCLE state bar requested (on CLE request form) upon conclusion of the webinar. This process will require an administrative processing/application fee which is charged from your state bar to IMLA. To not pay the administrative processing/application fee, you may self-file for individual course attendee accreditation directly with your state bar.

Please submit any questions about the CLE process to cle@imla.org

Download the CLE Request Form

By Registering for an IMLA Webinar you confirm and accept the following:

There will be a hard writing surface available and you will participate in its entirety to receive the specific webinar “code” to include on their certificate of attendance form. When participating in a group (two or more) setting print, complete and sign the Official Sign-in & Sign-out Report and email it to cle@imla.org within 60 minutes of the event (only if IMLA you want IMLA to apply for CLE on your behalf). This is not required if you are applying directly/self-filing & reporting with your state agency.

Post Event Credit Posting: The number of CLE credits received for an event and any IMLA CLE event are located on the processed certificate of attendance form and CLE charts.  This information will be sent to registrants only.

General Information Section

Q: What does MCLE stand for?

MCLE stands for mandatory or minimum continuing legal education.

Q: What role does the IMLA play in the CLE accreditation process?

IMLA is not an accrediting body or regulatory agency, but a provider of continuing legal education to the legal community at large. CLE accreditation is given on a state-by-state basis. There is no nationwide accreditation since the MCLE programs are administered by the state supreme courts through a special CLE commission or board.

Q: What must a CLE provider do to offer participants credit for its courses?

Overall, the process for MCLE accreditation is a lengthy one requiring about two months of advance or post preparation. Each state with an MCLE requirement administers its own program with its own distinct set of rules, regulations and sponsor fees. Therefore, a CLE provider seeking MCLE accreditation of their programs must apply to each state individually. Please be aware that individual attorneys may also request accreditation from their particular states after the program has taken place by providing course materials, a special application and possibly a small fee. Again, each state has its own procedure. For more information, please visit your individual MCLE state Web sites where you may download or review the MCLE Rules and Regulations. You will also find contact names, addresses and telephone numbers; and a Uniform Application for Accreditation (accepted by most states as California, Delaware and Ohio have their own application form).

Q: What can the IMLA do as a CLE provider?

IMLA Events Department can provide you with administrative assistance with the CLE accreditation application process. The service may require a fee per state, per event and includes custom preparation of required administrative course documents. IMLA programs are generally approved by MCLE U.S. jurisdictions. For more information, please contact cle@imla.org or call 202-466-5424.

(M) CLE States and Contact Information
 46 U.S. jurisdictions (and increasing) require lawyers to take mandatory or minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) courses in order to practice law within that particular jurisdiction. All lawyers are encouraged to contact their state accreditation body to discern any state particularities, limitations or regulations in any and all formats (state contact info listed below)

Q: What states have adopted an MCLE requirement for its lawyers?

The following U.S. jurisdictions have an MCLE requirement:

Alabama, Alaska,* Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey (2010), North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

*Alaska has a mandatory ethics CLE (MECLE) requirement for its lawyers, as well as mandatory reporting of voluntary CLE taken. The following jurisdictions do not have an MCLE requirement:# Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Below we have provided a list of the 46 MCLE jurisdictions and their contact information.

Click Here for Contact Information for U.S. Jurisdictions Requiring MCLE

Q: Which states have a 50‐minute hour of credit?

Colorado; Florida; New York; Kansas; Wisconsin; Missouri; Oklahoma; Rhode Island; and West Virginia.

Q: Which states have a 60‐minute hour of credit?

Alabama; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Delaware; Georgia; Idaho ; Maine; Indiana; Iowa; Kentucky; Louisiana; Minnesota; Mississippi; Montana; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Carolina; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; Wyoming.

Description of the “hourly” calculations
MCLE jurisdictions determine credit hours by dividing the running time of instructional program by either 60 or 50 minutes. For example, a 90-minute program may earn 1.5 hours of CLE credit in a state that bases its credit on a 60 minute credit hour, and 1.8 hours in a state that bases it credit on a 50 minute credit hour. Some states round down credit to the nearest 1/2 or 1/4 hours (ie New York, which rounds down to the nearest 1/2 hour and Illinois, which rounds down to the nearest 1/5 hour).

Q: How do I obtain my MCLE certificate of attendance after I have participated in a live webinar?

After a program, please complete the following three-step process to receive your certificate of attendance.

  1. Complete the Program Evaluation immediately following the program. Access the program evaluation via the link on the program’s confirmation and course materials page. Once the evaluation has been submitted, you will be redirected to the certificate of attendance confirmation form.
  2. Print, complete, and sign the attendance confirmation form and fax it to 202-785-0152 or email to cle@imla.org no later than 10 days after the live program. This form is not certified until signed by an IMLA Representative
  3. A Signed Certificate of Attendance will be faxed to you within 4 weeks after the program, or 30 day of credit approval from state agency.

Failure to submit the form within 10 days of the live program will result in a delay in receiving your Certificate of Attendance. When participating in a group (two or more) setting, print, complete and sign the Official Sign-in & Sign-out Report and fax it to 202-785-0152 within 30 minutes of the webinar.