State MCLE Requirements
California MCLE Requirements
California attorneys must complete 25 credit hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education every 3 years, including 10 hours of specialty credit across five required categories.
Overview
The State Bar of California requires all active licensees to complete and report 25 hours of approved MCLE activity within each three-year compliance period. Of these 25 hours, at least 12.5 hours must be participatory (live or interactive) — the remaining hours may be earned through self-study.
Within the 25-hour total, 10 hours must come from specific required categories (detailed below), leaving 15 hours of general MCLE credit that can be fulfilled through any approved activity.
Compliance periods are assigned by the State Bar based on your last name. You can check your specific deadline and group on the State Bar of California MCLE page.
25-Hour Breakdown
All categories below are mandatory. TalksOnLaw courses cover every required category.
Legal Ethics
4 hrsCovers professional responsibility, conflicts of interest, client communication, fiduciary duties, and the California Rules of Professional Conduct.
Recognition & Elimination of Bias
2 hrsAddresses bias in the legal profession and society. At least 1 of these 2 hours must focus specifically on implicit bias and the promotion of bias-reducing strategies related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics that undermine confidence in the legal system.
Competence Issues
2 hrsEducation on issues affecting attorney competence. At least 1 hour must address the prevention, detection, and treatment of substance use or other mental or physical issues that impair a licensee's ability to perform legal services. The second hour may cover attorney wellness — physical and mental wellbeing, stress management, and their impact on competence.
Technology in the Practice of Law
1 hrCovers technology tools, programs, or applications that assist attorneys in their law practice — including AI in legal research, conducting remote proceedings, cybersecurity, and e-discovery.
Civility in the Legal Profession
1 hrAddresses professional courtesy, respectful conduct in litigation and negotiation, and maintaining civility in adversarial proceedings.
General MCLE
15 hrsThe remaining 15 hours may be earned through any approved MCLE activity. This includes courses on substantive law topics, practice skills, law practice management, or additional hours in any of the specialty categories above.
Reporting & Compliance
Compliance Period
California uses a 3-year compliance cycle. Your specific deadline depends on which compliance group you are assigned to based on your last name. Check the State Bar's website or your My State Bar Profile for your exact due date.
Self-Reporting
California is a self-reporting state. Neither members nor providers report attendance to the State Bar. You are responsible for maintaining your own MCLE records for at least four years after the end of your compliance period.
Participatory Credit
At least 12.5 of your 25 hours must be participatory (live or interactive). The remaining 12.5 hours may be self-study. TalksOnLaw on-demand video courses qualify as self-study credit.
New Attorneys
Newly admitted California attorneys have the same 25-hour requirement. Your first compliance period begins the date you are admitted and ends on the last day of your assigned compliance group. Proportional reductions apply for shortened first compliance periods.
Fulfill All California MCLE Requirements with TalksOnLaw
TalksOnLaw is a California Multiple Activity MCLE Provider (Provider #16583). All courses are presumptively approved for credit, including all specialty categories.
CLE-accredited interviews with leading law professors, judges, and practitioners. Watch on any device, at any time.