California MCLE — Competence Issues

Earn your 2 competence hours — including the required wellness hour.

TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (#17280). At least 1 of your 2 hours must address substance use, mental health, or impairment.

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California Competence Issues Courses

10 courses approved for CA California Competence Issues Courses credit

A Healthier Legal Future71 minCA 1 hr

A Healthier Legal Future

Dean David Jaffe

American University Washington College of Law

A Lawyer's Addiction90 minCA 1.5 hrs

A Lawyer's Addiction

Brian Cuban

Author and addiction recovery activist

Mindfulness & Attorney Stress55CA 1 hr

Mindfulness & Attorney Stress

Prof. Nathalie Martin

University of New Mexico School of Law

View all 10 courses →

Coverage

What counts as California Competence Issues CLE

California accepts coursework across these areas. The first two are tagged for the required substance-use/impairment hour.

Substance Use Prevention & Treatment

Required hour

Recognition of substance-use disorders, intervention strategies, treatment pathways for attorneys, and the State Bar discipline framework that overlaps with disability.

Mental Health & Impairment

Required hour

Depression, anxiety, and other mental or physical conditions that impair the lawyer's ability to perform legal services with competence — recognition and response.

Stress Management & Burnout

Practical strategies for sustaining a legal career: workload calibration, recovery routines, the science of burnout, and the warning signs that precede crises.

Attorney Wellness & Resilience

Evidence-based wellness practices applied to legal work — sleep, exercise, social connection, and the structural changes that move firms beyond rhetoric.

Recognizing Impairment in Colleagues

When and how to intervene with partners, associates, or co-counsel showing signs of impairment, including the supervisory obligations under the Rules.

Lawyer Assistance Resources

Confidential resources available to California attorneys — peer support, treatment paths, and the discipline-process implications of seeking help.

Compliance

How the California Competence Issues requirement works

Active California attorneys must complete 2 hours of Competence Issues within each 3-year MCLE compliance period — part of the 25-hour MCLE total. The requirement was adopted to address the disproportionately high rates of substance use, depression, and anxiety in the legal profession.

Critical sub-requirement: at least 1 of the 2 hours must specifically cover the prevention, detection, and treatment of substance use disorders or other mental or physical conditions that impair a lawyer's ability to perform legal services with competence. The second hour may address broader attorney-wellness topics.

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

Common questions

California Competence Issues — Q&A

What's the substance-use sub-requirement?

California requires that at least 1 of the 2 Competence Issues hours specifically address the prevention, detection, and treatment of substance use disorders or other mental or physical conditions that impair an attorney's ability to perform legal services. The second hour may address broader attorney-wellness topics.

What topics qualify for Competence Issues credit?

Substance use prevention and treatment, mental health awareness for attorneys, stress management and burnout prevention, recognizing signs of impairment in colleagues, physical health issues affecting professional competence, and broader strategies for maintaining wellness while practicing law.

Can I earn Competence Issues credit through self-study?

Yes. Both Competence Issues hours can be earned through self-study (TalksOnLaw qualifies). Plan around California's 12.5/25 participatory cap across your full 3-year cycle when allocating self-study versus participatory hours.

Are TalksOnLaw competence courses pre-approved?

Yes. TalksOnLaw is an approved California MCLE provider (#17280). Every Competence Issues course on this page — including those tagged for the substance-use/wellness sub-requirement — is pre-approved by the State Bar of California.

Finish your California competence requirement today.

Two pre-approved hours, including the required wellness hour. On demand, on any device.

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