MANY CALIFORNIA ATTORNEYS COULD LOSE ELIGIBILITY TO PRACTICE LAW FOR NOT COMPLETING MCLE REQUIREMENTS

MCLE COMPLIANCE DEADLINES EXTENDED

Despite the passing of the Januart 31, 2001 MCLE compliance deadline, many members of the California State Bar's MCLE Compliance Groups 1 (A-G) and 2 (H-M) have still not completed their MCLE requirement. These attorneys were to have completed 25 (or in some cases 61) hours of Minimum Continuing Education credit by the State Bar of California-mandated the January 31 deadline. (Click here for more information on the MCLE deadlines.) On June 29, 2001, the Bar sent an MCLE Non-Compliance 60-Day Notice to those attorneys.

This 60-Day Notice served as a de facto final extension of the MCLE requirements for those attorneys. The Notice clearly stated the reason the attorney receiving the letter was not in compliance and notified them that compliance cards and non-compliance fees must be received by the Bar's FINAL DEADLINE OF AUGUST 31, 2001 AT 5 P.M. Those attorneys who do not fulfill their MCLE requirements by the August 31 date will be placed on "Not Entitled" status by the Bar and will not be eligible to practice law. Attorneys who continue to practice law while on "Not Entitled" status will be considered by the Bar to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and may be subject to further sanctions.

Non-complying attorneys with "Not Entitled" status must submit proof of MCLE compliance and pay a $200 reinstatement fee to the California Bar before they will be returned to "Active" status and permitted to practice law again. (Proof of complaince will be certificates of attendance/completion for MCLE semianrs and courses attended and a log of the attorney's MCLE self-study.)

The "Not Entitled" designation will also be added to the attorney's "Member Record" on the California State Bar's web site.

Attorneys with question, or needing assistance should call the California State Bar's Office of Certification at 415/538-2155 or email certification@calsb.org.

For low cost online CLE see Internet For Lawyers' own online CLE quizzes.

Every month the Internet For Lawyers' free newsletter delivers Internet legal research and marketing information to your e-mail inbox, as well as updates to our calendar of upcoming seminars and events.