CLE, or Continuing Legal Education classes, might not be foremost on the minds of law students who haven’t yet graduated, but they are a very significant aspect of life after law school. These classes are the professional education of attorneys after their initial admission to the bar. In most states, these classes are mandatory for attorneys to maintain their licenses to practice.
The purpose of the classes is for the material to represent the most current and relevant thinking involving a specific legal subject. The courses are necessary to keep lawyers up-to-date with the most recent information and to ensure they know all current updates and changes with the law even years after they pass the bar.
Ohio attorneys are required to earn 24 hours of CLE credits every two years by December 31. Attorneys with last names beginning A-L report their credit hours every odd-numbered year, and attorneys with last names beginning M-Z report their credit hours every even-numbered year. Several specialty credits are also available and some are required, like professional conduct hours.
CLE classes in the U.S. are given on a state-by-state basis, and usually held by the state bar association, national legal associations or other legal organizations such as non-profits. These activities are usually taught by fellow attorneys and cover a range of topics from legal theory to practical experience.
Browse the Ohio State Bar Association’s variety of in-person, webcast and on-demand CLEs here.
To learn more about Ohio’s CLE requirements, visit the American Bar Association’s website.
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