Who is considered an Experienced Attorney in North Carolina?

Experienced Attorneys are attorneys admitted to the North Carolina bar for more than two years.

What are the NC CLE Requirements for Experienced Attorneys?

Experienced North Carolina Attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours (including at least 2 in Ethics & Professionalism credits and at least 1 in Technology) every 2-years. Attorneys must also complete 1 in Professional Well-Being.

How can Experienced Attorneys in NC fulfill their CLE Requirements?

Experienced Attorneys can fulfill their NC CLE Requirements by attending CLE classes that have been approved by the North Carolina State Bar. Some approved formats include: Computer-Based Courses On Demand Video or Audio Courses Live Courses Simultaneous Broadcast (e.g. Live Webcasts) Live in Person courses Teleconferences

How many credits can NC attorneys complete on Lawline?

Attorneys can complete all twelve credits on Lawline. All credit hours can be completed in on-demand or audio format. Our North Carolina course catalog can be found here.

Are there other ways attorneys in NC can earn CLE credit?

Yes! Experienced Attorneys can receive credit for speaking or teaching a CLE program. Attorneys can earn one hour of CLE credit for every ten minutes of actual instruction. To report this time to the CLE department, attorneys complete the Request for Teacher Credit of an Approved Continuing Legal Education Activity form.

What is the deadline for Experienced Attorneys in NC to complete their CLE credits?

Experienced Attorneys must complete their CLE requirement by the last day in February (28/29th).

Can Experienced Attorneys in NC carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another?

Yes! Attorneys can carry over up to twelve (12) CLE credit hours earned in one calendar year to the following calendar year. Once the credits are carried over in to the next reporting cycle, they will only count as general credit.

Can NC attorneys self-apply for course approval?

Attorneys cannot self apply for course accreditation. North Carolina attorneys will no longer receive reciprocity for courses approved in other states. Please ensure that the courses you are taking meet the North Carolina requirements.

How do NC attorneys report their attendance?

The program sponsor is responsible for reporting attendance to North Carolina. Lawline will automatically report your attendance to North Carolina on Tuesdays. Please ensure that your bar number is filled out and correct in your profile and allow up to 5 business for your credits to be processed by the State Bar. Note: attorneys will now pay North Carolina a $25/year fee at the time of their membership renewal.

North Carolina CLE Requirements for Attorneys

Choose Location:

North Carolina

North Carolina CLE Requirements At A Glance

Total Credits: 24 credit hours every 2-years

At least 4 in Ethics
At least 1 in Professional Well-Being
At least 1 in Technology

CLE Deadline: February 28th

Carry Over Credit: Attorneys may carry over 12 credits into the next reporting period, but they will only count towards the attorney's general credit.

Reporting: Deadline to report is 40 days after completion. Lawline reports credits for North Carolina.

Note!: Reporting compliance groups will be staggered based on the year the attorney was admitted to the North Carolina Bar (even/odd years)

- For 2024 only, those attorneys who were admitted during an odd year will have a 1-year and 12 hour requirement (i.e. 3/1/2024-2/28/2025)
- Those attorneys who were admitted during an even year, will begin compliance with the new 2-year and 24-credit requirements (i.e. 3/1/2024-2/28/2026)

Start Free Trial

North Carolina CLE Requirements - Experienced Attorneys

Start Free Trial

North Carolina CLE Requirements - Compliance & Reporting

Start Free Trial

Additional CLE Resources For North Carolina Attorneys

Newest Courses

Browse all NC CLE Courses

Trending Courses

Browse all NC CLE Courses

Why Choose Lawline North Carolina CLE?

Join thousands of attorneys improving their practice and completing the mandatory North Carolina continuing legal education requirements with our selection of online NC CLE courses. Watch any course today with a no-risk free trial.

Start Your Free Trial

Instantly receive certificates of completion after finishing a course

Instantly receive certificates of completion once you've completed your CLE course with our mobile app.

Unlimited credits

Complete your CLE requirements and gather new skills and knowledge in high-demand areas, including legal tech, AI, ethics, and more.

Learn on the go

Watch courses from anywhere — whether you're at home, commuting, or in the office — with 24/7/365 access to our digital learning platform.

Universal credit tracking

Capture and track your CLE credits with our universal credit tracking system, even if you've completed a course elsewhere.

Live support

Our team is available from 8AM – 8PM Eastern. Get the support you need, how you need it - chat, email, and phone.

Learning Paths

Level up in a specific practice area with a curated sequence of courses designed to simplify your learning, develop your skills and enhance your professional knowledge.