New Mexico CLE Requirements for Attorneys

Attorneys who have completed the Newly Admitted requirement or who have practiced law in another jurisdiction for at least two years prior to their admittance to New Mexico are considered Experienced Attorneys.

New Mexico attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours every year, including 2 Ethics/Professionalism credits and 1 Equity in Justice credit.

New Mexico attorneys can fulfill their CLE Requirement by taking courses that have been individually accredited by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or courses offered by providers that have been presumptively approved to offer MCLE courses in New Mexico. Some examples of course formats include:

• Live Webcasts

• Live Teleconferences

• Lectures or Seminars

• Publication Credits (see below for more detail on how attorneys can earn CLE credit for publishing legal writing)

• LLM credits (see below for more detail on how attorneys can earn CLE credit for attending advanced legal courses)

• Watching Videos or Listening to Audio files at an approved program with a moderator fostering discussion

• In-House CLE Programs

• On Demand Video or Audio Courses

Attorneys can complete all twelve credits on Lawline through a combination of Live Webcasts and On Demand programs. Our New Mexico course catalog can be found here.

Yes! New Mexico attorneys can earn credit for:

• Speaking or teaching an accredited CLE program: Attorneys earn CLE credit for the time presenting plus they can earn up to 3 credits of preparation time for each presentation hour. NM attorneys do not earn preparation for repeated presentations but they do earn the CLE credits for the time presenting. Attorneys cannot earn teaching credit if the course being taught is part of their employment.

• Publishing legal writing: NM attorneys can earn 1 CLE credit for each 60 minutes spent writing or co-writing legal material published in Legal Periodicals, Journals, Books or Treatises Approved by the Board. The writing must substantially contribute to Legal Education or Competency and cannot be done in the ordinary course of one’s practice of law or employment. CLE hours are earned for the reporting year when the publication occurs. NM attorneys can earn a maximum of 10 General CLE Credits via this method.

• Attending advanced legal courses: Attorneys can earn CLE credit for attending advanced legal coursework at an educational institution. Credit amount is calculated based on the length of the course, at a maximum of 24 total CLE credits (20 General and 4 Ethics).

• Mentoring in the "Bridge the Gap: Transitioning into the Profession" program: Attorneys can earn 4 General and 2 Ethics credits by participating in the year-long Bridge the Gap program as a mentor.

New Mexico attorneys must complete their CLE requirement by February 1st each year.

The initial compliance year for a Newly Admitted New Mexico attorneys is the first full compliance year after their date of admission.

Yes! Attorneys can carry over up to 12 Live CLE credit, including 2 Ethics and Professionalism credits and 1 Equity in Justice, to the following reporting cycle.

Excess Ethics, Professionalism, and Equity in Justice CLE credits can be carried over to the next year but will count towards General CLE credits.

CLE credits can only be carried over for 1 compliance year.

State Bar of New Mexico  
5121 Masthead St NE
Albuquerque, NM 87199  
(505) 797-6054
mcle@nmbar.org
https://www.sbnm.org/Licensing-Regulatory

NM MCLE Website and Attorney Login

https://www.sbnm.org/Licensing-Regulatory/Bridge-the-Gap-Mentorship-Program

https://www.sbnm.org/Licensing-Regulatory/Bridge-the-Gap-Mentorship-Program/Rule-24-110