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    Policy

    CLE Credit for Pro Bono

    Recruiting new and retaining existing volunteers is often the focus of pro bono programs. To encourage recruitment and retention, a number of states have  implemented rules that permit attorneys who take pro bono cases to earn credit toward mandatory CLE requirements.

    Currently 12 states have adopted such rules. Although there is some variation among these states, the amount of CLE credit that lawyers are allowed to claim for pro bono service averages out to 3 hours per year. The most common rate that is used for earning such credits is 5 hours of service for each CLE credit. 

    Alabama

    Alabama State Bar Rule for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rule 3.9

    The MCLE Commission shall award one hour of MCLE credit for every six hours of pro bono work completed for a maximum of three MCLE credits in a 12 month period running from October 1st through September 30th.

    Arizona

    Supreme Court Rule 45(a)(5)

    One CLE credit hour for every five hours of pro bono service, capped at five credit hours per year.

    Arkansas

    Rule 4 of the Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education and Rule 4.04 of the Regulations of the Arkansas Continuing Legal Education Board

    Attorneys can claim one hour of credit for every 3 hours of pro bono work, with a maximum of 3 hours of credit per CLE year. Pro bono work must be completed under the supervision of a sponsoring entity. Sponsoring entities are: 

    Colorado

    Rule of Civil Procedure 260.8

    One CLE credit hour for every five hours of pro bono service, capped at nine credit hours every three years.

    Delaware

    Rule for CLE 8(D)

    One CLE credit hour for every six hours of pro bono service, capped at six credit hours every two years

    Louisiana

    Sup. Court Rule XXX, Rule 3, Reg 3.21

    One CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono, capped at three hours of CLE credit per year.

    Minnesota

    State Board of CLE, Rule 6D

    One CLE credit hour for every six hours of pro bono service, capped at six credit hours every three years

    New Hampshire

    53.1 NHMCLE Requirement

    May claim up to three hundrend and sixty (360) general minutes of CLE credit per reporting period at the rate of sixty (60) CLE minutes for every 300 billable-equivalent minutes of pro bono representation provided to the client. CLE ethics minutes cannot be earned from pro bono service.

    New York

    CLE Board Regs Section 3D(11)

    One CLE credit hour for every two hours of pro bono service, capped at ten CLE credits for each two year reporting period.

    Nevada 

    Supreme Court Rule 210

    One hour of general credit for each three hours of uncompensated legal services, maximum of four hours annually. 

    North Dakota

    CLE Policy 1.19 of Section 1

    One CLE credit for every six hours of pro bono service, capped at three credit hours every three years.

    Ohio

    Sup Court Rule X, Section 5(H)

    One CLE credit hour for every six hours of pro bono service, capped at six CLE credit hours every two years

    Oregon

    Rule 5.13(b)

    One CLE credit hours for every two hours or pro bono service capped at six credit hours every three years.

    Pennsylvania

    Pilot Program for CLE Credit-beginning 2019

    Three year pilot program will allow registered Pennsylvania lawyers to receive one CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono legal work completed, up to a maximum of 3 credits per year toward their annual requirement.

    Tennessee

    Sup Court Rule 21, Section 4.07(c)

    One CLE credit hour for every five hours of pro bono service, capped at three credit hours every year.

    Washington

    State Court Rule 11.2(a)(4)

    Six CLE credit hours awarded each year for two hours of pro bono training and four hours of pro bono service

    West Virginia

    Rule 6.05 (f) of the State Bar Administrative Rules

    "A lawyer obtain one credit hour for every three completed hours of pro bono legal service which satisfies Rule 6.1 of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct and is performed during the reporting period through one or more of the following approved pro bono organizations:

    1. Legal Aid of West Virginia;
    2. the State Bar’s West Virginia Free Legal Answers Program;
    3. the State Bar’s Tuesday Legal Connect Program; and
    4. the West Virginia University College of Law Center for Law and Public Service."

    This rule goes into effect July 1, 2020. 

    Wisconsin

    SCR Chapter 31.05(7)

    One CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono service, capped at six credit hours per reporting period.

    Wyoming

    CLE Rule 5(d)

    One CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono service, capped at three credit hours per year

    Updated May 2024