I am inactive with or suspended by the CLE Commission. What must I do become active again?
To be eligible for active status, inactive attorneys are required to complete up to 2 years of CLE missed while inactive. Only credits earned in the two years immediately preceding reinstatement shall be counted. A suspended attorney is required to complete up to 5 years of CLE. Thus, if an attorney is suspended for 2 years, […]
Are disabled attorneys exempt from CLE requirements?
Attorneys on disability inactive status with the Board of Professional Responsibility are automatically placed on disability inactive status with the CLE Commission is exempt from CLE requirements. To return to active status, they must make up CLE credits missed while inactive, up to a maximum of two years of credit. Only credits earned in the […]
What’s the deadline for filing an exemption?
If you qualify for an exemption, you may claim it after the compliance year ends (on December 31) when you file your Annual Report Statement. The Commission sends out Annual Report Statements by the end of February each year. To avoid penalty, you must claim your exemption by March 31. If you fail to claim […]
I am over 70 years old. Am I now exempt from CLE obligations?
Attorneys who have reached the age of 71 are exempt from Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21 and are no longer required to earn CLE. However, they may continue to earn as much CLE as they wish. The age exemption is applied automatically.
I have not lived in Tennessee for years and have been claiming the non-resident exemption. This year I [provided a little advice or Tennessee law/ made a short appearance in court/ filed a legal document and the case closed days later]. Can I still claim the non-resident exemption for this compliance year?
No, if you practiced Tennessee law, even briefly, you cannot claim the exemption for the year. Remember that providing counsel and advice counts as the practice of law. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NON-RESIDENT EXEMPTION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2026 COMPLIANCE YEAR.
What exemptions are available?
“The Commission shall recognize the following exemptions: (a) Nonresident attorneys from other jurisdictions who are temporarily admitted to practice for a case or proceeding shall not be subject to [Rule 21]; (b) Members of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not be subject to this Rule. Any attorney claiming active duty military exemption shall […]
I lived outside of Tennessee and did not practice Tennessee law during the compliance year. Am I exempt from CLE?
Attorneys are not automatically exempt, but may be eligible to claim one of the exemptions enumerated in Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, Section 2. Other than the age exemption, exemptions must be claimed annually after the December 31 close of each compliance year by filing an online Annual Report Statement (ARS). Failure to timely file […]
I requested and received exceptional relief. If my situation/condition has not changed, do I need to apply again for exceptional relief?
Yes. Exceptional relief is provided only for the compliance year(s) specified in the Commission’s grant of such relief. It is not ongoing.
Are attorneys with inactive law licenses required to earn CLE?
No, attorneys on inactive status are not required to earn CLE. Before resuming the practice of law in any U.S. jurisdiction, attorneys are required to make up any CLE missed during the last two years.
Can attorneys go inactive with the Commission on CLE?
Yes, attorneys on any inactive status with the Board of Professional Responsibility, or who are otherwise exempt from Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 under Section 10.3, are automatically designated as inactive with the CLE Commission, unless otherwise ordered by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Before resuming the practice of law in any U.S. jurisdiction, attorneys are […]