California MCLE — Civility

Earn your 1 hour of California Civility credit.

TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (#17280). Courses on professional courtesy, respectful litigation, and civility in adversarial settings.

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California Civility CLE Courses

1 course approved for CA Civility credit

Out of Bounds – Negotiations Ethics83 minCA 1.25 hrs

Out of Bounds – Negotiations Ethics

Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow

Professor at UC Irvine School of Law

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Coverage

What counts as California Civility CLE

California accepts coursework across these areas toward the 1-hour Civility requirement.

Professional Courtesy & Decorum

Expectations for respectful, courteous conduct toward opposing counsel, judges, court staff, witnesses, and other participants in the legal process.

Civility in Litigation

Maintaining civility in depositions, discovery disputes, motion practice, and trial — including the California Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism.

Negotiation Etiquette

Practicing respectful negotiation, managing emotions in adversarial settings, and achieving client goals through professional rather than scorched-earth tactics.

Communication & Conflict Resolution

Effective communication skills, de-escalation techniques, and conflict-resolution practices that serve both the client and the longer-term legal community.

Sanctions for Incivility

How California courts have sanctioned attorney incivility — from fee shifting to disqualification — and the discipline framework that overlaps with civility lapses.

Civility & Professional Integrity

How civility relates to professional responsibility under the Rules — integrity, candor, and the broader public confidence in the legal system.

Compliance

How the California Civility requirement works

Active California attorneys must complete 1 hour of Civility within each 3-year MCLE compliance period — part of the 25-hour MCLE total. The category was adopted to address rising concerns about attorney incivility and its costs to clients, courts, and public confidence in the legal system.

Acceptable topics include the State Bar's Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism, civility in litigation and depositions, negotiation etiquette, conflict resolution, and how civility intersects with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

California is a self-reporting state. TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (#17280); every Civility course on this page is pre-approved. Retain your certificates in case of audit.

Common questions

California Civility CLE — Q&A

What does the 1-hour Civility requirement actually cover?

Professional courtesy and respect, civility in litigation conduct, negotiation etiquette, conflict resolution, and the broader connection between civility and professional responsibility. The State Bar's Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism are a typical anchor.

Are TalksOnLaw civility courses pre-approved?

Yes. TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (#17280). Every Civility course on this page is pre-approved by the State Bar; certificates download instantly with the credit details for self-reporting.

Can I take this online?

Yes. The 1-hour Civility requirement can be earned through self-study (online). California's broader 12.5/25 participatory cap applies across your full cycle, so plan your self-study allocation accordingly.

Why does California require this?

The Civility requirement was adopted to address rising concerns about attorney incivility — particularly in litigation — and the costs that incivility imposes on clients, courts, and the public's confidence in the legal system. California courts have increasingly sanctioned uncivil conduct, making this category practical as well as procedural.

Earn your California Civility credit today.

One pre-approved hour, on demand. Modern, practical guidance for adversarial practice.

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TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (Provider #17280).