Pennsylvania Newly Admitted CLE Requirements for Attorneys

Attorneys who are still within their first annual compliance period are considered to be Newly Admitted.

Newly Admitted Attorneys are exempt from completing the standard CLE requirement for at least 12 months and up to 2 years from their date of admission, depending the compliance group to which they are assigned.

Once the grace period is over, the first annual compliance period begins and Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete 12 CLE credits, including at least 2 in Ethics, Professionalism, or Substance Abuse, and the 4-credit Bridge the Gap program.

Newly Admitted Attorneys in Pennsylvania can complete their CLE requirements by taking continuing legal education courses that have been approved and accredited by the PA CLE Board. Courses can be completed in a number of formats, including:

Distance Learning (maximum 6 credits):

• Online Video or Audio

Note: All distance learning courses (Webcast, On Demand, etc.) must be completed from an accredited provider such as Lawline.

Live (minimum 6 credits):

• Live Webcasts
  
• Traditional Classroom CLE
• Satellite Seminars

Bridge the Gap is a live-in person course that is offered by a number of different sponsors of PA CLE. Find Bridge the Gap options here!  

Bridge the Gap is a mandatory  4 hour program for Newly Admitted PA attorneys. This program is designed to introduce New Lawyers to practicing law in Pennsylvania and the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Find Bridge the Gap options here! 

Yes! Attorneys in Pennsylvania can get CLE credit for the following activities:

• Teaching CLE Courses.  Attorneys can receive 2 CLE credits per hour spent teaching an accredited CLE course, provided that the attorney also prepares quality written materials for use in the course. If an attorney teaches the same program a second time, or does not prepare quality written materials, the attorney will only receive 1 CLE credit per hour of the presentation.
• Attending Law School and Graduate Level Courses. Attorneys who attend courses at ABA- or Middle States Commission on Higher Education-accredited law schools, other than for the purposes of receiving a basic degree, may receive 1 CLE credit for each approved graduate credit hour awarded by the school.

Newly Admitted Attorneys in Pennsylvania must complete their CLE requirement, including the Bridge the Gap program, within 1 year after their grace period ends. The Compliance Groups and grace periods are assigned by the Disciplinary Board upon passing the Bar.

Upon admission to practice in Pennsylvania, attorneys are randomly assigned into one of 3 Compliance Groups. Each compliance group has a different annual deadline to complete the CLE requirements:

• Group 1: April 30th 
• Group 2: August 31st
• Group 3: December 31st

Yes! Newly Admitted Attorneys in Pennsylvania can carry forward excess live credits earned, up to twice the annual credit requirement, into the next two reporting periods. Ethics, Professionalism, and Substance Abuse credits can carry forward as such.

https://www.pacle.org/providers/bridge-the-gap

Newly Admitted Attorneys can complete up to 8 credits (out of the required 12) through a combination of Live Webcast and On Demand courses. Lawline does not provide the required PA Bridge the Gap course. Our Pennsylvania course catalog can be found here.