California
CLE Requirements: The State Bar of California requires attorneys to complete 25 credits, including 4 credits of legal ethics, 2 credits of competence issues (of which one must be prevention and detection competence), 2 credits of elimination of bias (of which one must be implicit bias), 1 credit of civility, and 1 in technology by January 31 every three years. There are three compliance groups, assigned by last name and staggered by year. All credits must be reported by February 1. No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period. For more information, please visit the FAQ page on the State Bar of California website.
NEW! The State Bar of California has made the following changes to MCLE compliance deadlines:
- Group 1, Last names A-G: Extended to a single 38-month cycle ending March 29, 2025. Report deadline: March 30, 2025.
- Compliance groups 2 and 3: Extended to a single 38-month cycle ending March 29, 2026, or 2027. Report deadline: March 30.
- After the single 38-month cycle, each group returns to a standard 36-month cycle starting March 30 of their respective year and ending the day before the deadline 36 months later.
Find your MCLE compliance group. See also Notice on 2025 Fee Cycle Changes.
NEW! The State Bar of California made changes to the MCLE course requirements effective October 1, 2023. Beginning with the compliance period ending January 31, 2025, licensees must complete these additional new subfields:
- Technology in the Practice of Law credit (one hour required)
- Civility in the Legal Profession credit (one hour required)
- Competence credit (Increased from one credit to two)
Learn about the specific requirements for newly-admitted California attorneys.
Completing Your California Requirements with PLI: All PLI and SEC Institute products qualify as "participatory" credit. There is no limit to the number of credits an attorney can earn via participatory programs. View all CLE programs approved in California. View programs approved for legal ethics, recognition and elimination of bias, implicit bias, prevention and detection competence, wellness competence, technology in the practice of law, and civility in the legal profession in California.
PLI is an approved Multiple Activity Provider with the State Bar of California, and our programs are presumptively approved.
Attendance Reporting: PLI reports attendance to the State Bar of California.