THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIA ATTORNEYS COULD LOSE ELIGIBILITY TO PRACTICE LAW FOR NOT COMPLETING MCLE REQUIREMENTS

Despite the passing of the February 1, 2002 MCLE compliance deadline, The California Bar has announced that more than 3,000 attorneys - of the Bar's MCLE Compliance Group 3 (N-Z) - have still not completed their MCLE requirement. These attorneys were to have completed 25 (or in some cases 61) hours of Minimum Continuing Education credit by the State Bar of California-mandated February 1 deadline. (Click here for more information on the MCLE deadlines.)

Of the total 3,238 attorneys who are not in MCLE compliance:

• 2,563 owe the Bar their MCLE compliance card and a late filing fee
• 371 have paid the late fee but not submitted the MCLE compliance card
• 304 have submitted the MCLE compliance card, but not the late fee
• 409 are already not entitled to practice law for some other reason

On June 12, 2001, the Bar sent an MCLE Non-Compliance 60-Day Notice to those attorneys. This 60-Day Notice served as a de facto final extension of the MCLE requirements for those attorneys - giving them 60 days from the letter's date to comply with their MCLE requirement.

Those attorneys who do not fulfill their MCLE requirements by the mid-August deadline will be placed on "Involuntary Inactive Enrollment " status by the Bar and will not be eligible to practice law. An attorney who continues to practice law while on "Involuntary Inactive Enrollment " status would be considered to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and may be subject to further sanctions.

The "Involuntary Inactive Enrollment " designation will also be added to the attorney's "Member Record" on the California State Bar's web site.

Attorneys with questions, or needing assistance should call Noah Chandler of the California State Bar's Office of Certification at 415/538-2136 or email certification@cabar.ca.gov.

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