Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credit for Pro Bono Casework

Lawyers Alliance volunteers may be eligible for CLE credits for their legal work. The New York State Continuing Legal Education Board (CLE Board) accredited Lawyers Alliance as a Pro Bono CLE Provider for pro bono activities performed after October 7, 2002. According to the CLE Board Regulations and Guidelines:

Eligible pro bono work - Attorneys can earn CLE credit for pro bono legal services performed for nonprofit clients serving the poor.

CLE credits - Attorneys can earn one CLE skills credit hour for every six 50-minute hours of pro bono legal services (up to six CLE credits during any two-year reporting cycle). Half credits are available. Attorneys can carry over credits into the next biennial cycle under certain circumstances. Newly admitted attorneys can earn CLE credits for pro bono work solely for the purpose of carrying over credits to the following biennial reporting cycle.

CLE credit through Lawyers Alliance

Attorneys must keep time records of their participation in pro bono CLE activities and maintain those records for four years.

Attorneys must complete an Affirmation of Participation describing the services provided and stating the number of hours of pro bono legal service performed.

We provide an Affirmation of Participation form to interested volunteers, who must complete and sign the forms and return them to Lawyers Alliance.

Upon receipt of an attorney's Affirmation of Participation form, we will draft a Letter of Participation, which the attorney should retain for four years along with his or her own time records as proof of earned CLE credit for pro bono services.

Further information
If you have general questions about CLE credit, visit the Court's CLE website at www.courts.state.ny.us.