Dec. 7, 2022 – A temporary order that increased from 15 to 30 the number of on-demand CLE credits Wisconsin lawyers may claim in a reporting period will expire on Jan. 31, 2023,
under an order issued by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Pandemic Rule
The supreme court temporarily increased the number of allowable on-demand CLE credits in March 2020, shortly after the start of the pandemic.
In
Order No. 20-01, the supreme court recognized that many CLE seminars had been cancelled or postponed and that many lawyers would need to isolate themselves or avoid public gatherings. Thus, attorneys could get all credits on-demand, online.
The amendments were extended by interim orders issued in January 2021 and January 2022.
Petition for Another Extension
Last month, the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) petitioned the supreme court to extend the interim order issued in January 2022, to allow lawyers whose CLE reporting period ends on Dec. 31, 2023 to claim up to 30 on-demand CLE credits through Jan. 31, 2024.
The supreme court denied that request in the
Dec. 1 order.
The Dec. 1 order specifies that lawyers whose CLE reporting period ends on Dec. 31, 2023 and who have logged more than 15 on-demand credit-hours may use the excess on-demand credit-hours to satisfy the Dec. 31, 2023 reporting obligation.
Moving forward, after the current reporting period, “no more than 15 credits may be claimed for repeated on-demand programs during a lawyer's CLE reporting period.”
The order also provides that, beginning Feb.1, 2023, any lawyer whose license is suspended because he or she was unable to complete enough CLE credits (through either in-person or live on-line programming) may request a waiver with the BBE under
SCR 31.12.
Learn more about CLE reporting
Need CLE? Check out the State Bar’s OnDemand CLE Catalog
Lawyers can still earn up to 30 credits OnDemand, through pre-recorded, online programs delivered over the internet and accessible anytime (at least 3 ethics credits must be earned in-person or through live scheduled webcasts). But after Jan. 31, 2023, the old rule applies – only 15 OnDemand credits allowed per reporting period.
Looking for last minute CLE?
Check out the State Bar’s OnDemand library.
Note on CLE Reporting
If you were admitted to practice law in an even-numbered year, CLE reporting deadlines are fast-approaching. The reporting period for those admitted to practice law in 2018 or 2020, for example, will end on Dec. 31, 2022. Those lawyers must complete and report CLE requirements to the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE).
The rules grant an additional month to obtain and report CLE activity for the reporting period. That is, to avoid a late filing fee or other penalties, 2021-22 courses must be completed by Jan. 31, 2023, and CLE reports must be submitted electronically to BBE on or before Feb. 1, 2023.
