Mississippi CLE Requirements for Attorneys

Attorneys in Mississippi are considered experienced after they have been admitted for 2 or more reporting cycles and have completed the New-Lawyer program.

Experienced Mississippi Attorneys must complete at least 12 CLE credits, including at least 1 CLE credit in Ethics/Professionalism, each year.

Experienced Mississippi Attorneys can fulfill their CLE Requirement by taking approved CLE courses. Some acceptable formats include:

• Online Courses (max 6 credits per reporting cycle)
  • On Demand Videos
  • Satellite-Transmissions
  • Telephone Seminars
• Live, In-Person Courses

Yes! Experienced Attorneys in Mississippi can earn CLE credit for the following:

• Teaching an approved CLE course: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each hour of teaching at an approved CLE course so long as the course has high quality written materials. If a course only includes a 1 - 2 page outline or no written materials, attorneys can earn 3 CLE credits for each hour of instruction. Repeated presentations can earn half the credits from the initial presentation. Mississippi attorneys can earn a maximum of 12 CLE credits for teaching each reporting cycle and attorneys cannot be paid to teach the course.
• Writing a law journal article published by an ABA- or AALS-accredited law school: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each article published.
• Serving on the Mississippi Board of Bar Admission or a Bar Examiner: Attorneys can earn a maximum of 6 CLE credits during each report cycle for writing and/or grading the Mississippi Essay Examination or grading the Multistate Performance Test including attending the grading seminar.
• Serving on the Committee of Professional Responsibility, the Ethics Committee, the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee or the Professionalism Committee: Attorneys can earn 1 CLE Ethics/Professionalism credit for each reporting cycle an attorney serves on one of the committees.
• Enrolling in or auditing a course at an ABA- or AALS-accredited law school: Attorneys can earn 4 CLE credits for each credit hour of the course. Mississippi attorneys can earn a maximum of 12 CLE credits by taking or auditing a law school course each reporting cycle.
• Enrolling in an approved bar review course: Attorneys can earn a maximum of 12 CLE credits per reporting cycle. Note, the attorneys must already be admitted to Mississippi or other state. Self-study courses do not qualify for credit.
• Serving on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each year they serve on the Committee.

• Serving on the Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee or the Model Criminal Jury Instruction Committee: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each year they serve on the Committee.

• Serving as the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi or as a member of the Mississippi Legislature: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each year they serve as the Lieutenant Governor or as a member of the Mississippi Senate or the House of Representatives.

• Teaching a course at an ABA- or AALS-approved law school: Attorneys can earn 6 CLE credits for each credit hour of the course.

• Attending an approved CLE courses offered by an employee's governmental department or agency: Full-time employees can earn a maximum of 12 CLE credits per reporting cycle. Part-time employees can earn a maximum of 6 CLE credits per reporting cycle.

Attorneys must complete their CLE requirement by July 31st each year.

Yes! Mississippi attorneys can carry over up to 12 CLE credits earned in excess of the minimum requirement. The carry over credits must be reported on the annual report of compliance during the reporting cycle they were completed. Ethics credits can be carried forward as general credit.

No! Attorneys who live outside of Mississippi and are licensed to practice in Mississippi but do not engage in the practice of law in Mississippi, can claim an exemption to the CLE requirement on the annual report of compliance.

Attorneys can complete 6 credits on Lawline via On Demand courses. Our Mississippi course catalog can be found here. 

Mississippi attorneys must submit an annual report of compliance stating the completion or exemption of the CLE requirement. The annual report must include the CLE credits earned during that reporting cycle and the CLE credits that are being carried forward to the next reporting cycle.

Mississippi attorneys must certify their compliance by August 15th each year.