Keeping track of MCLE

It’s that time of year when you need to track down the paperwork you need to prove you’ve completed your Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements. What do you do if your paperwork is missing or damaged?

No need to panic. Keeping track of your MCLE doesn’t have to be a chore, especially when the State Bar has a tool to help you.

It’s called the MCLE Tracking Tool. Think of it as an MCLE savings account, designed to sock away credits and remind you of all of those you’ve earned through the State Bar. It tracks special credits, like elimination of bias, how many hours you received and what the course was called. It also shows you credit areas you may be lacking.

If you’ve never used it before, here’s how to find it:

1. Sign into your member profile at My State Bar Profile. This is where you can pay your fees, change your address and report MCLE compliance.
2. After you sign in, you’ll see a number of options under your name and State Bar number.
3. Choose the fourth option titled “CLE Summary and Tracking Tool.” Click on “Review the number of MCLE hours I have earned.”

You should see a page called “My State Bar Profile - CLE Summary and Tracking Tool”

• This page lists all of the MCLE classes you have taken through the State Bar, whether you’ve taken it through a section or online provider.
• It also notes which group you belong to and the three-year period your MCLE covers. The tool tracks the latest period, but you can also see previous periods by choosing “All” in the dropdown menu.
• To help you keep track of what you’re missing, your courses are broken down into one of four categories: general, elimination of bias, legal ethics and competency.

The chart below it lists the training you took by name, title, number of credits and who gave it.

What’s missing?

What the tool will NOT list are any MCLE you took through self-study, credits NOT provided by the State Bar, such as those taken out of state, through a local bar association or other provider.

When you’re done reviewing your credits, you can then go back into the My State Bar Profile menu to report your MCLE. Remember to keep any paper certificates or receipts you were given after taking the course.

Avoid the pitfalls

• If you see CLE credits for previous reporting periods because you earned and reported them after the last deadline, DON’T count them for this period. They already counted once, and you can’t use these credits in your 2016 report.
• Having trouble remembering your password? Contact the Member Services Center at 888-800-3400.
• Not seeing all of your CLE credits? Contact the State Bar at programregistrations@calbar.ca.gov

For any other questions, such as an explanation of MCLE requirements or whether you are exempt from having to report the full 25 hours, contact the MCLE Program at 888-800-3400 or MCLE@calbar.ca.gov