State CLE Requirements
New York CLE Requirements
New York attorneys must complete 24 credit hours of Continuing Legal Education every 2 years, including 6 hours of specialty credit across three required categories.
Overview
The New York State CLE Board requires all experienced attorneys (admitted to the New York Bar for more than two years) to complete 24 credit hours of accredited CLE activity within each two-year reporting cycle. Of these 24 hours, at least 6 must come from required specialty categories, leaving 18 hours that may be earned in any approved category.
Your reporting cycle runs from your birthday in one year to your birthday two years later. You must complete your CLE hours and file your attorney registration form within 30 days after your birthday on alternate years.
For more details, see the NY Courts CLE FAQ for Experienced Attorneys.
24-Hour Breakdown
All categories below are mandatory. TalksOnLaw courses cover every required category.
Ethics & Professionalism
4 hrsCovers the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, attorney disciplinary matters, professional responsibility, judicial ethics, and related topics. Up to 3 hours of Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection-Ethics credit may also count toward this requirement.
Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias
1 hrAddresses the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the recognition and elimination of bias, and related topics. Required for all experienced attorneys with a reporting cycle beginning on or after July 1, 2018.
Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection
1 hrCovers cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection as they relate to the practice of law. This requirement may be fulfilled with either Cybersecurity-General or Cybersecurity-Ethics credit (or a combination). If you take Cybersecurity-Ethics credit, those hours also count toward your Ethics & Professionalism requirement (up to 3 hours).
General CLE
18 hrsThe remaining 18 hours may be earned in any approved CLE category, including Skills, Law Practice Management, and Areas of Professional Practice — or additional hours in any specialty category above.
Cybersecurity: General vs. Ethics
New York's 1-hour Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection requirement can be satisfied with either Cybersecurity-General or Cybersecurity-Ethics credit (or a half-hour of each).
The key difference: Cybersecurity-Ethics credits have a dual benefit — they satisfy the cybersecurity requirement and also count toward your 4-hour Ethics & Professionalism requirement (up to 3 hours). Cybersecurity-General credits only count toward the cybersecurity requirement.
This makes Cybersecurity-Ethics especially valuable if you still have Ethics hours to fill. TalksOnLaw offers courses in both sub-categories.
Reporting & Compliance
Reporting Cycle
Your two-year cycle is tied to your birthday. You must complete 24 hours and file your registration within 30 days after your birthday every other year. Your first cycle after admission is determined by your admission date.
Carryover Credits
Once you've completed your 24-hour requirement, up to 6 additional credits earned during the same cycle may be carried over to the next reporting period — in any category, including Ethics, Diversity, and Cybersecurity.
Credit Formats
New York accepts live, in-person, and online courses. Note that starting January 1, 2026, Skills credits must be completed in a traditional live classroom or fully interactive videoconference group setting.
Newly Admitted Attorneys
Attorneys admitted for two years or less must complete 32 hours in their first two years: 16 from an approved transitional program (including 3 Ethics, 6 Skills, 7 Law Practice Management or Areas of Professional Practice) and 16 additional hours. The Diversity and Cybersecurity requirements do not apply to newly admitted attorneys.
Fulfill All New York CLE Requirements with TalksOnLaw
TalksOnLaw is an approved New York CLE provider. Our courses cover Ethics & Professionalism, Diversity, Cybersecurity (General and Ethics), and all general CLE categories.
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