I’m a federal justice, judge or magistrate and have claimed the federal exemption in the past. What are my options now that the federal exemption is no longer available?
If you assume federal inactive status with the Board of Professional Responsibility under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.3(a), you will be designated as inactive with the CLE Commission and thus exempt from CLE requirements, unless otherwise ordered by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Section 2D(2)(c) of the Regulations of the Tennessee Commission on Continuing […]
I’ve claimed the military exemption in the past. What are my options now that the exemption is no longer available?
Attorneys who assume active military exempt status with the Board of Professional Responsibility pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.3(c) are automatically exempted from CLE requirements. See Regulations of the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, Section 2D(1)(a). When your miliary service has ended and you wish to return to regular, active status, […]
I live out of state and have claimed the non-resident exemption in the past. Now that the exemption is no longer available, what are my options?
If you are not practicing in Tennessee, you may go inactive with the Board of Professional Responsibility. This will automatically make you inactive with the CLE Commission and exempt you from CLE requirements. To return to active status, you will need to complete up to two years of CLE credits. If you live outside Tennessee […]
Can I earn CLE credits by means other than taking an approved and accredited CLE course or attending an approved activity?
Yes, you can receive credit for: teaching in an approved continuing legal education activity teaching at a law school or teaching law-related courses at the undergraduate or graduate level or at a community college judging or coaching moot court or mock trial at an approved law school enrollment of a post-graduate nature at an approved […]
I earned CLE credits in a year that I was exempt. Will any or all of my credits carry forward?
If an attorney was exempt from the CLE requirement and earned credit hours during the exempt compliance year, hours up the annual 15-hour annual requirement will carry forward to the succeeding compliance year. See Regulation 4A.
Is an in-house seminar or a law firm-sponsored course eligible for CLE credit?
In general, an “in-house activity” (defined as an activity conducted primarily for the benefit of attorneys in a single firm, corporation, or governmental entity) does not qualify for CLE credit. Courses sponsored by law firms that are strictly limited to in-house counsel and/or clients and primarily for the benefit of attorneys are not eligible for […]
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 […]
Is it possible to have the non-completion or suspension fees waived?
Fees can be waived only when they were erroneously assessed and the attorney was in CLE compliance by the stated deadline. Compliance means all hours were earned and all fees were paid. An attorney may request a waiver of fees in exceptional circumstances by completing the Exceptional Relief Request. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21 […]
I live outside Tennessee but occasionally advise on Tennessee law and must comply with the 15 hour CLE requirement. May I apply CLE credit from my resident state?
Yes. There are a few ways to report out-of-state CLE. If the course you’ve taken is accredited in Tennessee, just ask the provider to report your hours to Tennessee. Providers of accredited courses are required to report and pay for CLE hours. If the course has not been accredited in Tennessee, you or your provider […]