a. members who are inactive (on their dues status with the Membership Department) for the entire calendar year
b. out-of-state members who neither practice in Georgia nor represent Georgia clients
c. out-of-state members who comply with the CLE requirements of their resident state ($75 fee required with this exemption.)
d. members over age 70
e. judges who are prohibited from practicing law
f. designated statewide elected officials
g. attorneys who establish special circumstances constituting undue hardship

5. How are CLE exemptions taken by attorneys?

a. Age 70 exemptions are automatic
b. Inactive exemptions are automatic for members electing that membership status for a full calendar year
c. Hardship Exemptions - Forms to request hardship exemption can be found on our website at http://www.gabar.org/public/pdf/CLE/CLE-Form10-Request.pdf
d. All other exemptions must be marked on the Status Report mailed in October of each year or the Annual Report mailed in January of each year. Also, you can find the report online at http://www.gabar.org/check_cle/

6. Can any CLE hours be taken by online or other distance learning format?

Yes, 6 hours per year can be taken in a distance-learning format. These type of hours are called in-house hours and they are tracked on attorneys' CLE transcripts maintained by the State Bar of Georgia CLE department staff. An attorney can take 6 in-house hours per year and can carry forward 6 CLE hours to the next succeeding year.

7. Can CLE hours be carried forward?

Yes.
Regular CLE hours - 12 hours can be carried to the next year
In-House CLE hours - 6 hours can be carried to the next year
Ethics hours - 2 hours can be carried to the next year
Professionalism hours - 2 hours can be carried to the next year
Trial hours - 3 hours can be carried to the next year

8. What is the Annual Report?

It is a transcript of CLE courses that is sent to all active, non-exempt members in January of each year showing all CLE hours taken for the previous year and indicating all fees owed.

9. What are sponsor fees and attorney fees?

All courses entered into our CLE database are charged a $5 per hour per attorney fee. Sponsors of the seminars are required to pay this fee for courses held in Georgia. Attorneys are required to pay this fee for courses held outside of Georgia or in other circumstances such as online seminars when the sponsor does not pay the fee. An attorney can pay the $5 per hour fee to the State Bar of Georgia when attendance is reported to us, or can be billed on the Annual Report that is mailed in January of each year.

10. How am I notified if my hours are deficient?

In January of each year, an Annual Report of CLE hours for the previous calendar year is sent to all active members of the State Bar of Georgia unless an exemption has already been entered. If the attorney has completed all the required CLE hours for the previous year and does not owe any course fees, then the attorney does not need to do anything further. However, if the attorney either needs more hours for the previous year or owes a course fee that is listed on the Annual Report, then he or she must sign the Annual Report and return it to the CLE department by January 31.

11. What happens in the event an attorney fails to comply with the Mandatory CLE program?

If an attorney remains in nomcomplicance, the Supreme Court of Georgia will be notified so that it may enter any order it deems appropriate including suspension from the practice of law until, as a minimum, the deficiency is corrected, all penalty fees are paid, and a reinstatement fee is paid. A late fee of $50 is required if the Annual Report for an attorney short on hours or owing course fees for the previous year is not returned by January 31. A $100 penalty fee is required if hours for the preceding year are not completed by the deficiency period ending March 31.

12. How can I best comply with my MCLE requirements?

a. Take all the required hours before the December 31 deadline
b. If you are required to file the Annual Report which is mailed to you in late December or early January, be sure it is returned with a postmark by January 31. This saves the $50 late filing fee.
c. If your hours are incomplete on December 31, make them up during the grace period, which expires on March 31. This save the $100 late CLE fee.
d. Monitor your record during the year at http://www.gabar.org/check_cle/. Some sponsors take several weeks to report your attendance, so check back if a seminar is not listed in your record. If it does not appear, contact the CLE department staff at 404-527-8710.

13. How may I obtain more information on MCLE?

Website: http://www.gabar.org/programs/continuing_legal_education/
Write or call the CLE department:

State Bar of Georgia CLE department, 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303; (404) 527-8710; (800) 334-6865