Ohio Newly Admitted CLE Requirements for Attorneys

Attorneys recently admitted by exam (or lawyers admitted by UBE transfer) are considered newly admitted and must complete the New Lawyers Training Program prior to their first biennial CLE reporting deadline.

Ohio Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete 12 hours of New Lawyers Training (NLT) courses that have been approved by the Ohio CLE Commission and specifically designated as meeting the NLT requirement for Newly Admitted Attorneys.

Of the 12 credit hours, new attorneys must take 1 hour each in Professional Conduct, Law Office Management, and Client Fund Management. The remaining 9 credit hours must be in substantive law topics.

New Lawyers Training (NLT) courses must be taken in a live format, such as Live In Person, Live Webcast, or Live Interactive Webinars and are offered by a variety of CLE providers, including Lawline! (Newly Admitted OH Attorneys can find all NLT-approved courses here.)

Alternatively, Newly Admitted Attorneys can also participate in the "Lawyer to Lawyer" Mentoring Program organized by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Participation in this program would grant attorneys 9 hours of general credit; Newly Admitted Attorneys who opt to participate in the Mentoring program must still complete 1 hour of professional conduct, 1 hour of law office management and 1 hour of client fund management.

Attorneys whose last names begin with a letter from A through L must complete the  continuing legal education credit hours requirement on or before December 31st of each odd-numbered year. Attorneys whose last names begin with a letter from M through Z must complete the continuing legal education credit hours requirement on or before December 31st of each even-numbered year.

Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete the 12 hours of NLT instruction by the end of their first biennial compliance period. Attorneys who were admitted to the practice of law in the second year of their first biennial period must complete the NLT requirements by the end of the next biennial period. An attorney’s biennial period depends on his or her reporting group.

Example:

• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2023, and your last name begins with a letter A through L, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2025.

• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2023, and your last name begins with a letter M through Z, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2024.

Yes! Attorneys can carry over up to 12 excess General CLE credits to the following biennial reporting cycle.

Newly admitted attorneys must complete New Lawyers Training  courses that have been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio's Commission on Continuing Legal Education as New Lawyers Training education.  Lawline offers NLT Live Webcasts at various intervals. Any currently approved NLT offerings can be found here.

https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/CLE/nlt/FAQ.asp