I submitted an Affidavit of Compliance with my missing hours. Is there anything else I need to do?
Yes. Please pay all noncompliance fees and ensure that the hours included on your Affidavit are reported by the provider and appear on your account. It is the attorney’s responsibility to ensure attendance is timely and accurately reported in order to avoid fines and possible suspension of their license. Non-accredited courses submitted by attorneys for […]
Do CLE hours carry forward to the next year?
Yes, up to one full year’s worth of both General hours (12) and Ethics/Professionalism hours (3) can be carried forward to the next compliance year.
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 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.
I passed the bar exam or entered via comity and have been sworn in this year. What is my CLE obligation?
If you were sworn in prior to September 1, you must complete the full 15-hour CLE obligation for the year. If you were sworn in on or after September 1, your CLE obligation begins the year after you were activated.
May I receive CLE credit for serving on a governmental commission?
Yes, attorneys may earn up to up to six general credits and three ethics/professionalism credits for participation as members of governmental commissions, committees, or other governmental bodies – at the local, state or national level- involved in formal sessions for review or drafting of legislation, rules, or regulations. To receive credit, please submit a formal […]
Can I get CLE credit for the Tennessee Law Course I was required to complete?
No. The mandatory online Tennessee Law Course must be completed prior to licensing and admission, but it does not provide CLE credit.
What qualifies for Ethics/Professionalism credit?
All Ethics/Professionalism credit is designated as dual credit. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21 § 3.01(b). Dual credit is granted when the subject matter of the program is the Rules of Professional Conduct or ethical considerations applicable to attorneys. Dual credit will also be granted to programs or topics:a. designed to sustain or increase the […]
I have been certified as a Rule 31 mediator. How does this affect my CLE obligations?
The CLE Commission does not accredit Continuing Mediation Education (CME) courses or record hours for mediation purposes, and the Commission is unable to confirm whether a course is approved for CME credit. You may find information regarding CME here. Attorneys certified as mediators must comply with their yearly CLE obligations. A CME course may also count […]