Programs, Products and Topics

Are scholarships available for ABA Center for Professional Development Programs? How do I apply?
Do I have to be an ABA member to participate in a CLE program or buy one of your CLE products?
I’d like to register for one of your programs and I see that there are special rates for section members. How do I find out if I'm entitled the special discount?
How can I find programs on topics relevant to my practice area?
I registered for a program, but now I'm busy that day and cannot attend the program. Can I cancel my registration and get a refund?
I'm signed up for a webinar or teleconference, but I haven’t received the course materials yet. When will I get them?
I attended a recent program and paid for it with my personal credit card. I need to get an invoice so that my firm will reimburse me. How do I get an invoice?
Will the program be presented again or is there a recording available?
We purchased an audio CD [DVD] package from the ABA Web Store. Can more than one attorney in our firm listen to the program? Is there an additional fee for each use?
Does the Center for Professional Development offer any downloadable programming or podcasts?
Do downloadable CLE programs include course materials?
Can I purchase the written materials from a program?
Can I photocopy the written materials from a program?
Are transcripts of live programs available?
I am hearing [speech] impaired. Are there any services that can help me participate in a webinar or teleconference?
We’re interested in sponsoring an upcoming program. Do you have any sponsorship opportunities available?

MCLE - View MCLE information

What states currently approve MCLE credit for live webinars? Live audio and/or video webinars?
How do I obtain my MCLE certificate of attendance after I have participated in a live webinar or teleconference?
I’ve misplaced my certificate of attendance from a previous program. Can you provide me with a replacement?
Are self-study products available for CLE credit?
My organization is producing a CLE program? How do we get the program accredited?

Technical Assistance

What is needed to participate in a live webinar or teleconference program?
- Teleconference access
- Webinar access
- ABA Premier Speaker Series Webinar access
What technology is needed to listen to or watch an on-demand online course? Is special software or equipment needed?
- System requirements for audio and video online courses available for purchase via the ABA Web Store
- System requirements for text-based online courses available for purchase via the ABA Web Store
Do I need any special software to listen to a podcast or MP3 download?
Can audio CDs be played in any CD player? Are the written materials included on the CD?

ABA Promotions and Communications

How can I control e-mail updates on ABA programs and products?
What is the opt out procedure for ABA e-mail and/or mail promotions?

Programs, Products and Topics

Are scholarships available for ABA Center for Professional Development Programs? How do I apply?

Scholarships to defray tuition expense for ABA Center for Professional Development programs are available upon application on a program-by-program, case-by-case basis. Preference will be given to public interest lawyers, government lawyers, full-time law professors, solo or small firm practitioners of limited means, and unemployed attorneys. Click here for more information and to complete a scholarship request for a specific program. Please allow up to 1 week for processing. Scholarship applications must be received at least two weeks before the program start date. You will be notified prior to the program if your application is approved. A minimum fee may be charged on all approved scholarship applications to defray expenses.

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Is ABA membership required to participate in a CLE program or to buy CLE products?

No, most ABA Center for Professional Development programs and products are available to the legal community at large. Special discounts do apply if you are an ABA member or a member of the ABA entity sponsoring the program. Click here to view the full range of benefits and services available to members and to join the ABA.

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Registration for an ABA Center for Professional Development program shows a special rate for section members. How does one qualify?

Your profile page will give you a list of all the sections and other ABA entities of which you are a member. You can also sign up for new sections, divisions, forums, and other entities to take advantage of immediate discounts on live events and products produced by the entities, and to receive periodicals, newsletters, reports, and other publications that are included with your membership. Log into the ABA website to review your profile.

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How can upcoming programs on topics relevant to a specific practice area be found?

As the central resource for CLE within the ABA, the Center for Professional Development produces a wide range of programs with ABA entities. Visit the our upcoming events area to find a complete listing of upcoming programs produced by the ABA Center for Professional Development. Visit the ABA Publications & CLE area to browse all ABA continuing legal education programs by topic and delivery format.

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How can a program registration be cancelled and refunded?

Please contact the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221 to cancel your participation in an ABA Center for Professional Development program. Cancellations and refunds will be honored as follows:

Cancellation policy for live webinar registrants

Cancellations and requests for refund will be honored on the following basis: 2 business days or more, 100% refund; 1 business day or less, 100% refund minus a $25 administrative fee. Substitute registrants are welcomed. Scholarship applications are available upon request.

Cancellation policy for National Institute registrants

Cancellations received 5 business days or more before the program will receive a 100% refund, less a $50 cancellation fee. No refunds will be provided for cancellations after that date; however, substitute registrants are welcome at any time. To cancel your registration or substitute another individual, please call the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221 or fax your request to 312-988-5528. Registrants who do not cancel within the allotted time period and who do not attend the program will receive a copy of the program course materials after the program.

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When are course materials for upcoming programs made available?

Course materials for live webinars are generally available 3-5 business days before the program, and are posted on the program attendee page in PDF format. You can access the program attendee page for the program at the URL provided in your confirmation e-mail.

Course materials require Adobe Reader®.

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How is reimbursement and invoicing handled for programs paid with a personal credit card?

Contact the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221 to request an invoice and have your order number, ABA ID, event code, event title, and event date ready.

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Once a program has ended, will it be presented again or available as a recording?

Program registrants can access a recording of the program for 30 days after the event via the program's course materials and confirmation page.

Most programs are recorded and available as audio or video CD-ROMs, DVDs, online courses, audio downloads and/or video downloads two to three weeks after the program. Audio or video CD-ROMs and DVD packages can generally be pre-ordered through the ABA Web Store. A link to the recording can generally be found on the description page for the live program. To find a recording of the live program, search by the live program title or keyword.You can also use the Advanced Search to search by topic or sponsoring entity. You can also contact the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221.

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Can several attorneys in one firm listen to or watch programs (CD-ROM or DVD package) purchased from the ABA Web Store? Is there an additional fee for each use?

Audio or video CD-ROMs and DVD packages produced by the ABA Center for Professional Development can be used by more than one attorney and there is no additional fee for each subsequent use. Many firms and organizations purchase our products for their libraries and allow attorneys to "check out" the audio CD or DVD and the accompanying written materials, listen to or watch the program, and then return the program to the library for other attorneys to use. Attorneys can earn self-study credit in accordance with their state rules and regulations and complete the necessary CLE certificates/confirmation for their individual use.

Some firms also like to use our products for group in-house presentations to their own attorneys, where multiple attorneys listen to or watch a program together. This is perfectly acceptable and requires no additional license or permission to use the audio CD or DVD in this limited use; state MCLE rules generally require that each attorney present have access to his or her own copy of the course materials at the time of the program. The ABA holds the copyright on these written materials, so they cannot be copied or reprinted without the ABA's permission, but the ABA Center for Professional Development does offer bulks discounts for additional course materials or licenses for reproducing the materials for these types of in-house presentations. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing course materials or in-house presentations.

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Does the ABA Center for Professional Development offer downloadable programming?

The ABA Center for Professional Development offers downloadable audio and video CLE products available for purchase via the ABA Web Store

Click here for more information on the many downloadable offerings from the ABA.

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Are course materials included with online courses or downloadable CLE programs?

All downloadable CLE programs and online courses include course materials in PDF. However, many downloads offered by the ABA are not CLE programs and do not include course materials or qualify for CLE credit because of state MCLE rules on minimum length of presentation the requirements for accompanying written materials. Please review a program's or product’s description page for clarification on whether a program or product includes PDF course materials and whether CLE credit is available.

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Can program materials from a live webinar or National Institute be purchased separately?

Course materials from some ABA Center for Professional Development National Institute programs can often be purchased from the ABA Web Store.

Course materials for live webinars are not available for individual purchase, but are available as part of the CD-ROM, online course, and downloadable programs (i.e., MP3, WMV downloads). Visit the ABA Web Store to search our current selection of audio and video products. Audio or video CD-ROMs and DVD packages include program course materials. Streaming online courses and downloadable courses include PDF course materials.

Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing course materials in bulk for in-house presentations to five or more attorneys.

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Can written materials from a program be photocopied?

You may not photocopy or otherwise duplicate or redistribute written materials or audio or video content from ABA programs without written permission from the ABA.

Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing course materials in bulk for in-house presentations to five or more attorneys.

To request permission to reprint excerpts, please contact the ABA Copyrights and Licensing Department.

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Are transcripts of live programs available?

Transcripts of ABA Center for Professional Development programs are not available for purchase; however, you can purchase a recording, complete with program course materials, in a variety of different formats including audio or video CD-ROMs, DVDs, streaming online courses, and downloadable audio or video versions of most ABA Center for Professional Development programs. Visit the ABA Web Store to search our current selection of self-study products.

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) service provides instant accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing by delivering the spoken word as a real time stream of text. CART service is firewall friendly and works in almost any network environment with internet access, and is compatible with all major web browsers. Transcripts are available for CART programs. Persons with hearing or speech related disabilities also use CART.

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Are there services available to help the hearing or speech impaired participate in a live webinar or teleconference?

ABA Center for Professional Development programs are often delivered via simulcast teleconference. The Telecommunications Relay Service(TRS)offers participants with hearing or speech disabilities have the option to participate by placing the call via their service. Simply dial 711 if you have the proper equipment available.

TRS is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories for local and/or long distance calls. TRS providers – generally telephone companies – are compensated for the costs of providing TRS from either a state or a federal fund. There is no cost to the TRS user. Click here for more information on the services offered by the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) service provides instant accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing by delivering the spoken word as a real time stream of text. CART service is firewall friendly and works in almost any network environment with internet access, and is compatible with all major web browsers. Transcripts are available for CART programs. Persons with hearing or speech related disabilities also use CART.

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Are program sponsorship opportunities available?

Sponsorship, exhibitor, and/or advertising opportunities may be available for programs produced by the ABA Center for Professional Development, depending on the nature of the program. Please contact us to inquire about a specific program.

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MCLE - View MCLE information

What states approve MCLE credit for live webinars and teleconferences?

Please visit our MCLE Information area for information on approval of ABA programs by format.

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How can MCLE certificates of attendance be obtained after participating in a live webinar or teleconference?

After a program, please complete the following three-step process to receive your certificate of attendance.

Complete the Program Evaluation immediately following the program. Access the program evaluation via the link on the program attendee page. Once the evaluation has been submitted, you will be redirected to the attendance confirmation form.
Print, complete, and sign the attendance confirmation form and fax it to 312.988.5368 no later than 5 business days after the live program.
A Certificate of Attendance will be emailed to you approximately 15 days after the program.

Failure to submit the form within 5 business days of the live program will result in a delay in receiving your Certificate of Attendance.

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Can missing or misplaced certificates of attendance be replaced?

If the program was sponsored by the ABA Center for Professional Development, please use the Online Contact form to request a replacement certificate. Since the ABA produces hundreds of programs each year, please provide as much detail as you can about the program including name, title, date, event code, and sponsors.

If the program was sponsored by the ABA but not by the ABA Center for Professional Development (e.g., a program from a section's fall meeting), please contact the program’s sponsor to obtain a replacement certificate of attendance. Click here to view a list of ABA entities and access a particular entity's website for contact information or call the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221.

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Are self-study products available for CLE credit?

Many states allow attorneys to earn CLE credit through distance-learning. Although there is wide variation in specific definitions and approval of specific formats among the states, self-study generally includes CLE programs recorded from a live event or produced on their own, and presented in such formats as audio CDs and DVDs, archived or on-demand online courses or webinars, and newer formats such as podcasts and MP3 downloads.

Please visit our MCLE Information area for information on approval of ABA programs by format.

My organization is producing a CLE program? How do we get the program accredited? Does the ABA accredit programs?

The ABA is not an accrediting body or regulatory agency, but a provider of continuing legal education to the legal community at large. CLE accreditation is given on a state-by-state basis. There is no nationwide accreditation since the MCLE programs are administered by the state supreme courts through a special CLE commission or board.

Overall, the process for MCLE accreditation is a lengthy one, requiring about two to three months of advance preparation. Each state with an MCLE requirement administers its own program with its own distinct set of rules, regulations, and sponsor fees. Therefore, a CLE provider seeking MCLE accreditation of its programs must apply to each state individually. Individual attorneys may also request accreditation from their particular states after the program has taken place by providing course materials, a special application, and possibly a small fee. Again, each state has its own procedure. To learn more, visit the website of the Continuing Legal Education Regulators Association (CLE reg), which contains links to individual MCLE state websites where you may download or review the MCLE rules and regulations. You will also find contact names, addresses and telephone numbers, and a Uniform Application for Accreditation.

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Technical Assistance

What is needed to participate in a live webinar or teleconference program?

Special equipment isn't needed to participate in a live webinar. After registering, you'll receive a confirmation e-mail containing the website address for the program attendee page. This page will provide instructions for accessing the webinar or teleconference. The general technical requirements for a program are listed on the program's description page.

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Webinar Access

On the program attendee page, click the link provided in the "Participation Instructions" area of the program attendee page. Test your system.

To access the course you will need:

- High-speed Internet connection

- Computer speakers

- Current web browser (free, download Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer)

- Current version of Adobe Flash software (free, download now)

- Current version of Adobe Reader software (free, download now)

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Teleconference Access

For programs with a teleconference option, you can participate via teleconference with a telephone from any location (either land line or cell phone). Your program confirmation e-mail will provide access to the program attendee page where you can find dial-in instructions for accessing the webinar or teleconference and instructions for accessing the live webinar. After the live program, you can access an archived webinar of the program from the program confirmation page for up to 30 days after the event.

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ABA Premier Speaker Series Webinar Access
(See technical assistance instructions above.)

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What technology is needed to listen to or watch an on-demand online course? Is special software or equipment needed?

ABA Center for Professional Development offers live webinars and on-demand online courses in a variety of formats that have different requirements. A program’s description, registration, or page in the ABA Web Store will indicate whether any special software is required.

Access to online courses purchased from the ABA Web Store is provided via e-mail. After placing your order you will receive an order confirmation email and an e-mail for each online course you purchased. Access e-mails for online courses are sent to the e-mail provided for each during checkout. If you do not receive an access email within several minutes of your order, please check your junk email folder to see if it was blocked by spam filtering software.

System requirements for audio and video online courses available for purchase via the ABA Web Store

High speed Internet access
Computer Speakers
Windows Media Player (available here at no charge)
Pop-up blockers disabled

Course materials require Adobe Reader®.

System requirements for text-based online courses available for purchase via the ABA Web Store

View system requirements for the Advanced Writing for Lawyers with Gary Kinder series and the Title Transfer & Title Insurance Online Skills Training Series.

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Is special software needed to listen to or watch an MP3 audio or video download?

To listen to a CLE audio download (also known as downloadable audio and video courses), you must have a media player (Windows Media Player, Quicktime, RealPlayer, iTunes, etc.) installed on your computer to download the file, listen to the file, or transfer the audio program from your computer to a portable digital media device such as an iPhone® or iPod® MP3 player.

Please view your media player's help file or instructions for assistance with playing the MP3 file or transferring it to a portable MP3 player.

Video downloads are offered in Windows Media Player format. Click here to download windows media player.

Downloadable CLE programs include written course materials in PDF format, which require Adobe Reader®.

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Can ABA Center for Professional Development CD-ROMs be played in regular CD players? Are course materials included on the CD-ROM?

ABA Center for Professional Development CD-ROMs produced from live webinars include MP3 audio files or Windows Media Video files. Course materials and CLE certificates are included on the disc in PDF. Playback and use on PC or Mac with a CD-ROM drive is required. The disc will not play in a standard CD player, but program audio can be played in many MP3 compatible audio CD players. To play the audio on your computer in MP3 format or play the video in Windows Media Video format, your will need a media player such as iTunes,Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or Quicktime. For instructions on loading MP3 files or WMV files to a portable media device, please refer to your device's instruction manual.

Course materials and CLE certificates require Adobe Reader® or software capable of opening PDF files .

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ABA Promotions and Communications

How can I control e-mail updates on ABA programs and products?

You can also customize your ABA experience and help us to provide you with the information you want. You may log into the ABA website, update your profile and select your preferred areas of interest.

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What is the opt out procedure for ABA e-mail and/or mail promotions?

To change your e-mail address or remove your name from any future distribution e-mails:

ABA Members:

You may either log in to the ABA website to edit your member profile, call the ABA Service Center at 1.800.285.2221 or write us:

American Bar Association
Service Center
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Non-ABA Members:

Please call the ABA Service Center at 1.800.285.2221 or write us at the address above.

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