Wisconsin CLE Requirements for Attorneys

In Wisconsin, an attorney is considered experienced after being admitted to the WI state bar for more than one year.

Experienced Attorneys in Wisconsin are required to complete 30 CLE credit hours every 2 years to fulfill their lawyer education. From the 30 hours, at least 3 must be ethics credits (cannot be completed via On Demand).

Experienced Attorneys in WI can fulfill their CLE requirement by taking courses that have been approved and accredited by the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners. Some examples of acceptable course formats in Wisconsin include:

• Repeated On Demand CLE Programs: Maximum 15 per reporting period, cannot include ethics
  • Online On-Demand Video
  • Online On-Demand Audio
• Live CLE
  • Live Webcasts
  • Classes in a Live Traditional Classroom
    

WI attorneys can attend a maximum of 6 hours per reporting cycle in each of the following credit types:

• Lawyer Awareness and Understanding (courses related to substance abuse/dependence disorders, mental illness, stress management, and work/life balance), and
• Law Practice Management

Yes! Wisconsin Experienced Attorneys can fulfill their CLE requirements with the following activities:

• Teaching CLE. Attorneys may earn 2 CLE credits for each hour taught at an approved judicial education or CLE activity.
• Teaching Law School. Attorneys may earn 1 CLE credit for each academic credit taught an ABA-accredited Law School.
• Legal Writing and Publication. An Experienced Attorney in WI may earn up to 15 CLE credits for publishing writing primarily related to the practice of law. This can be in the form of a book, article with the Index to Legal Periodicals, or within a book as the pocket area and supplement.
• Pro Bono Legal Services. WI attorneys can claim 1 hour of CLE credit for every 5 hours of pro bono legal services performed, up to a maximum of 6 hours per reporting cycle.
• Grading the Essay Section of the WI Bar Exam. Attorneys may earn 6 CLE credits per Examination.

Attorneys in Wisconsin have until December 31st of the second year of their reporting period to complete their CLE requirements. Reporting periods are determined based on the attorney’s year of admission in Wisconsin. Attorneys admitted in even-numbered years must complete and report their requirements by December 31st in even-numbered years, and attorneys admitted in odd-numbered years must complete and report their requirements by December 31st in odd-numbered years.

Yes! Experienced Attorneys in Wisconsin can carry over a maximum of 15 CLE credit hours towards the next reporting cycle. Ethics credits cannot be carried over.

Attorneys can complete all thirty credits on Lawline. Our Wisconsin course catalog can be found here.  

Attorneys can self apply for course accreditation by filling out the form below:

Wisconsin Self Application Form 

An attorney who is admitted to practice in WI but whose practice is principally in another jurisdiction that has a Mandatory CLE requirement is exempt from the WI CLE requirement, as long as the other state’s MCLE requirement is met and the attorney certifies compliance on their annual report for Wisconsin.

Board of Examiners 
Lenney Bldg. 
110 E. Main Street, Suite 715 
Madison, WI 53703-3328 
608-266-9760 
http://www.wicourts.gov/services/attorney/edu.htm

Yes, Lawline is a GPA sponsor.

https://www.wicourts.gov/services/attorney/edu.htm  

http://blog.lawline.com/updates-to-the-wisconsin-cle-rules-what-attorneys-need-to-know