Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.   What is Mandatory Continuing Legal Education?

Answer:       Mandatory continuing legal education is a program adopted by the Supreme Court of South Carolina which establishes minimum requirements for continuing legal education for South Carolina attorneys and judges. The program has been in place since 1982 which was the first year that active Bar members were required to complete and report compliance.

2.   Who administers the MCLE program?

Answer:       The program is administered by the Supreme Court of South Carolina Commission on CLE & Specialization (Commission).

The Commission is an agency of the Supreme Court of South Carolina created by Rule 408, SCACR. Twelve members of the Commission are appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee operations of the agency. The Commission Members include representatives from the South Carolina judiciary, to include a member of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, a circuit court judge, a family court judge and practicing attorneys from the four (4) judicial regions.

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3.   What is the purpose of the MCLE program?

Answer:       In the modern legal environment, the law continues to grow more complex, and it changes with increasing frequency. The minimum CLE requirements are in place to ensure that every active South Carolina Bar member remains competent and current with the law throughout their legal careers.

4.   Is the Commission on CLE & Specialization the same as the South Carolina Bar-CLE Division?

Answer:       No. The Commission on CLE & Specialization is the regulatory agency of the Supreme Court of South Carolina which administers the MCLE program and accredits all CLE programming. The South Carolina Bar, CLE Division is a division of the Bar that sponsors (produces) CLE programs for attorneys and judges. You can contact the SC Bar-CLE Division at (803) 771-0333 or visit its website at www.scbar.org.

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5. What must I do to comply with the MCLE requirements?

Answer: To comply with the MCLE requirements you must do the following:

• Take the minimum number of approved MCLE and LERP credit hours
• File the annual report of compliance by the deadline
• Pay the appropriate fees

• Effective March 1, 2011, at least once every three (3) annual reporting years, complete one (1) hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse or mental health issues and the legal profession

6. When is the filing deadline for MCLE/LEPR requirements?

Answer: By order of May 3, 2006, the Supreme Court amended Rules 408, 419 and 504 SCACR, concerning the annual reporting year for judges and attorneys, and the filing deadline for attorneys.

The filing deadline for attorneys is on or before March 1. The annual reporting year runs from March 1 until the last day of February.

7. How many MCLE/LEPR credits do active attorneys have to report each reporting year?

Answer: Active attorneys must report 14 hours of approved MCLE courses per reporting year. All courses must be approved by the Commission. At least two (2) of the 14 MCLE hours must be courses that are devoted to legal ethics and professional responsibility. Additionally, effective March 1, 2011, at least once every three (3) annual reporting years, active attorneys and judges must complete one (1) hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse or mental health issues and the legal profession.

8.   What is the Substance Abuse/Mental Health requirement and when must it be completed?

Answer:       Pursuant to the August 5, 2010 Order of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, effective March 1, 2011, at least once every three (3) annual reporting years, attorneys and judges must complete one (1) hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse or mental health issues (SA/MH) and the legal profession. All SA/MH credits qualify for legal ethics/professional responsibility (LEPR) credit. Substance abuse/mental health credits earned during your current three-year cycle cannot be carried forward to satisfy the requirements of your next three-year cycle of reporting years.

9.   What are LEPR courses?

Answer:       South Carolina has an ethics requirement as mandated by its Supreme Court. LEPR courses are those that deal with legal ethics and professional responsibility. LEPR courses include, but are not limited to, instruction that focuses on the Rules of Professional Conduct as they relate to law firm management, malpractice avoidance, legal ethics, and the duties of lawyers to the judicial system, the public, clients and other lawyers.   Substance abuse/mental health credits qualify for LEPR credit.

10.   How many LEPR credits do active attorneys have to take each reporting year?

Answer:       Active attorneys must take at least two (2) hours of LEPR credit annually. Substance abuse/mental health credits qualify for LEPR credit.

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11.   How will I know if a course has LEPR credit?

Answer:       The CLE program sponsor should let you know if a program (or portions of a program) has been accredited for LEPR credit. The sponsor also will tell you the exact number of LEPR credit hours in the presentation.

12.   If I earn more than 14 hours during the reporting year, can I carry the excess hours forward?

Answer:       Yes. An active attorney, who earns more than 14 hours of credit in the reporting year, may carry forward a maximum of 14 hours to the next reporting year, of which two (2) hours may be LEPR credit. Substance abuse/mental health credits earned during an attorney or judge’s three-year cycle cannot be carried forward to satisfy the requirements of the next three-year cycle of reporting years. Credit from “alternatively delivered” (AD) courses may not be carried forward. See FAQ 22 regarding alternatively delivered courses.

13.   Who must comply with the MCLE requirements?

Answer:       Pursuant to Rule 408, SCACR, all active members of the South Carolina Bar must comply with the MCLE requirements.

14.   How do I change my status from active to inactive?

Answer:       To change your status, you will need to contact the Supreme Court’s Attorney Information System (AIS) by phone at 1-855-235-2500, by e-mail at aissupport@sccourts.org, or online at www.sccourts.org/ais.

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15.   Who is exempt from complying with the MCLE requirements?

Answer:       The following are exempt from the MCLE requirements:

• Pursuant to Rule 408 (a)(2), SCACR, lawyers who are at least 60 years of age and who have been admitted to practice law for thirty (30) years may apply to the Commission for an exemption. This exemption is not automatic. See FAQ 18 which outlines the procedure to file for the exemption.

• Bar members who are inactive are exempt from complying with MCLE requirements;

• Specialists certified pursuant to Rule 408 SCACR, who satisfy CLE requirements of their specialty, are exempt from MCLE requirements. However, each specialist must have at least two (2) LEPR hours annually. Also, effective March 1, 2011, each specialist must complete one (1) hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse or mental health issues and the legal profession. Substance abuse/mental health credits qualify for LEPR credit. Each specialty’s CLE requirements can be found on this website. See Specialization Regulations & Forms.

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16. Must I comply with MCLE requirements while I am in active duty in the military?

Answer: Regular members of the SC Bar who are deployed overseas on an active duty military assignment may request and obtain a temporary waiver of their CLE requirement from the Commission, during the period of their deployment. Military members of the SC Bar, regardless of their duty station, are exempt from SC CLE requirements for as long as they maintain military member status. Military members who change their status are afforded an exemption for their first year of civilian regular membership, after their change of status. If you change your SC Bar membership status from “regular” to “military,” you will become eligible for a permanent waiver of the annual CLE requirement, pursuant to Rule 408(a)(2)(C), SCACR, for as long as you remain a military member. To change your SC Bar membership status you must contact both the SC Supreme Court’s Attorney Information System (AIS) (https://www.sccourts.org/AIS/) and the SC Bar Membership Services Department (http://www.scbar.org/Bar-Members; 803-576-3834; cmedlin@scbar.org), to request the change. Note that military members may not engage in the practice of law in South Carolina outside of their duties in the Armed Forces of the United States, pursuant to Rule 410(h)(1)(E), SCACR.

• You can contact the SC Bar at (803) 799-6653.

• Please send notice of your active military status to the Commission at the following address:
      Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization
      Post Office Box 2138
      Columbia, SC 29202

• You can email the Commission at: commcle@bellsouth.net

When you leave military duty and transfer back to active status with the South Carolina Bar, you should contact the Commission regarding your MCLE requirements.

17.   Must I report compliance if I am exempt?

Answer:       No. If you fall within the exempt categories noted above, you do not need to take CLE courses nor do you need to file an annual compliance report.

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18.   I am a 60 year old attorney and have been admitted to practice for 30 years, how do I file for an exemption of my MCLE requirements?

Answer:       To receive the exemption, an active attorney who meets the requirements should prepare an affidavit which includes the following:

      • His/her age and date of birth
      • The date of his/her admission to practice law
      • A request to be exempt from the MCLE requirements

Please send your affidavit to:
      Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization
      Post Office Box 2138
      Columbia, South Carolina 29202

The Commission will notify you in writing that your exemption has been granted and that you no longer need to earn CLE credits and file a compliance report. The exemption will become effective in the filing period in which it was granted.

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19.    I was admitted to the South Carolina Bar during the 2018-2019 reporting year (March 1, 2018 - February 28, 2019). When do I file my first compliance report?

Answer:       Newly admitted lawyers are exempt from MCLE requirements in the reporting year in which they are licensed.

Therefore, if you were admitted to the Bar during the 2018-2019 reporting year (from March 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019), you will file your first compliance report (for the 2019-2020 reporting year) in March 2020. Therefore, your first compliance report will be due on or before March 1, 2020. Any CLE courses that you may take during the 2018-2019 reporting year or prior to your admission cannot be used to satisfy future MCLE/LEPR or Substance Abuse/Mental Health requirements.

Provided, however, if you were admitted to the Bar under a limited certificate and did not attend Bridge the Gap, you must file a report of compliance for the reporting year in which you were admitted.   Additionally, effective March 1, 2011, you will also be required to satisfy the three-year substance abuse/mental health CLE requirement.

20.    Do any of my hours from Bridge the Gap carry forward to my first compliance reporting year?

Answer:       If you attended Bridge the Gap before March 1, 2013, a total of eight (8) hours will be carried forward to your first compliance reporting year. The eight (8) hours will include two (2) LEPR (ethics) hours. If you attended Bridge the Gap after March 1, 2013, there will be no carry-forward hours to your first compliance reporting year.

21.   Do all of the annual 14 MCLE credits have to come from live seminars?

Answer:       No. Eight (8) of your annual MCLE credit hours must come from live seminars. Six (6) hours can come from seminars that are “alternatively delivered (AD). AD credit earned in excess of six (6) hours cannot be carried forward to the next calendar year.

22.   What educational activities qualify as “AD”, alternatively delivered courses?

Answer:       Telephone and on-line courses (to include live webcasts) are alternatively delivered or “AD” courses.

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23.    Are webcasts of live seminars “live” courses?

Answer:       No. Webcasts of live seminars, which are received over the Internet, are considered to be alternatively delivered courses, the same as other on-line courses.

24.    Are video replays of live seminars and satellite broadcasts of live seminars considered to be “live” courses?

Answer:       Yes. Video replays of live courses and satellite broadcasts, such as the SC Bar-CLE Division’s broadcasts to remote sites, are considered to be “live” courses.

25.    Can a single AD course (telephone and online courses) have more than 90 minutes of MCLE/LEPR credit?

Answer:       Telephone seminars can be accredited for a maximum of 90 minutes. Online courses can be accredited for a maximum of six (6) hours per educational activity

26.    Does South Carolina permit “self-study” to obtain MCLE/LEPR credit hours?

Answer:       No. There is no provision for self-study course work.

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27.    Does South Carolina accredit in-house courses?

Answer:       Yes. In-house courses can be accredited if they meet the criteria as outlined in Commission Regulation IV(D). To receive credit, all in-house courses must be submitted to the Commission prior to the presentation. Not more than one-half of an attorney’s approved credits for any reporting year can be earned through in-house programs. For example, if you earn a total of 15 MCLE hours during the reporting year, only seven and one-half (7.5) of those credits may be earned through in-house courses. Please check the Commission's Regulations for a complete list of requirements for “In-House CLE” programming.

28.    Can I get extra MCLE/LEPR credit for teaching a course?

Answer:       Yes. The Commission’s Regulations allow you to earn enhanced credit for teaching. You must apply for teaching credit on the prescribed form. You will get three times the amount of time that you teach if you prepare five pages or more of quality written material for the participants. If you do not prepare written material, you can earn one and one-half times the amount of time that you teach. You must submit your request for teaching credit within 60 days of the presentation. Please see the complete list of restrictions on teaching credit.

29.    Can I get MCLE credit for published legal writing?

Answer:       Yes. The Commission’s Regulations allow you to earn MCLE credit for published writing concerning substantive or procedural law. You must apply for writing credit on the prescribed form. The published writing must be a minimum of 2,000 words, and you must submit your application within one year of publication. Please see the complete list of restrictions on writing credit.

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30.    How can I check the number of MCLE/LEPR and Substance Abuse/Mental Health hours that I currently have?

Answer:       Your MCLE/LEPR and Substance Abuse/Mental Health hours are available by accessing the Check MCLE Credits link on the Commission's website and entering your AIS Username and Password, by calling the Commission office at (803) 799-5578 or by emailing commcle@bellsouth.net with your request.

31.    If I have attended a course that has not been accredited by the SC Commission on CLE and Specialization, will I receive credit for it?

Answer:       No. You will not receive MCLE/LEPR or Substance Abuse/Mental Health credit for a course unless it was submitted to the Commission for accreditation and approved for credit.

32.    How can I find out if the Commission has approved a specific course?

Answer:       Click here to search for accredited courses.

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33.    I have attended a course that has not been accredited by the Commission, how can I get credit for the course?

Answer:       You can ask the course’s sponsor to file the application for accreditation. Most in-state and out-of-state course sponsors are familiar with the application and reporting procedures in South Carolina.

If a sponsor has not accredited the course, an attorney can apply for course credit independently of a sponsor by completing and submitting a Uniform Application for Accreditation of CLE Activity, along with a $25 per course application fee. Along with the application, you will be required to submit a copy of the program’s brochure, agenda and handout materials. The application has complete information regarding the required attachments needed to file the application.

34.    If I attend a course outside South Carolina, can I count it toward my MCLE/LEPR requirement?

Answer:       If the course was submitted to the Commission and approved for having met the South Carolina accreditation standards, you may count it toward your MCLE/LEPR requirement. See above FAQ 33 regarding the procedure to have courses accredited by the Commission.

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35.    If I have taken the requisite number of approved MCLE/LEPR credit hours, must I file a compliance report?

Answer:       Yes. The Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for Judges and Active Members of the South Carolina Bar (Regulations) require that in addition to taking the MCLE/LEPR hours, you must file a compliance report by the filing deadline and pay the appropriate fees.

36.    How do I get a copy of my compliance report?

Answer:       Each year the Commission mails all active, non-exempt attorneys an annual report of compliance. Compliance reports will be mailed in January 2019, for the 2018-2019 compliance reporting year.

37.    If I do not receive my compliance report, do I still have a responsibility to file?

Answer:       Yes. The Regulations do not require that the Commission provide you with a copy of your compliance report, only that the reports be made available to you through its office. If for whatever reason you do not receive your compliance report in the mail, it is your responsibility to notify the Commission and another copy of your compliance report will be provided to you. You can reach the Commission at (803) 799-5578 or e-mail at commcle@bellsouth.net. Non-receipt of your compliance report does not excuse you from the responsibility of filing your report by the reporting deadline.

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38.    What should I do if my compliance report is complete and correct?

Answer:       If your compliance report is complete and correct, you need to sign it and return it along with the filing fee no later than March 1.

39.    How much is the compliance report filing fee?

Answer:       The compliance report filing fee is $50. Please make your check payable to SC Commission on CLE.

40.    Where do I submit my compliance report?

Answer:       You may mail your compliance report to the following address:
      Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization
      Post Office Box 2138
      Columbia, South Carolina 29202

You may hand deliver or overnight your compliance report to the Commission. Please overnight your report to the street address:
      Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization
      950 Taylor Street, Suite 120
      Columbia, South Carolina 29201

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41.    What should I do if my compliance report is incomplete or incorrect?

Answer:       If your compliance report is incomplete or incorrect, you should make necessary additions or corrections to the form before returning it.

If you have taken a CLE course that does not show up on the report, you may add the course provided the course has been previously approved for accreditation by the Commission. If you add a course that was not accredited, you will not receive credit for course. All courses that have been accredited by the Commission will appear on the list of accredited MCLE courses.

See FAQ 33 regarding how you can obtain credit for a course that has not previously been accredited.

After you have made corrections to your report, sign it and return it with the filing fee before the filing deadline.

42.    If an accredited course that I attended is not listed on my compliance report, and I do not add the course to the report, will I get credit for the course?

Answer:       No. When you file your compliance report it must be complete. If an accredited course that you attended does not show up on your report, you must add it or you will not get credit for the course unless you file an amended compliance report.

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43.    Should I file my compliance report if I have not completed my 14 hours of MCLE/LEPR course work?

Answer:       No. If you have not earned your annual MCLE/LEPR credit hours, DO NOT file your compliance report. You will not be in compliance by filing the report without doing the course work. Wait until you have completed the course work before filing. If you file the report without completing the work, you will need to re-file and pay the $50 filing fee for a second time, in addition to any late fees that may be due.

44.    If I plan to attend a seminar, but have not yet attended it, can I include that course when I file my compliance report?

Answer:       No. Your compliance report must only list the courses that you actually have attended at the time that you file the report. The compliance report that you must sign clearly states “that the information contained in this report is, to the best of my knowledge, complete and accurate and that I did, in fact, participate for the number of hours indicated in the courses listed in Part II.“ If you submit a report with courses that you plan to attend in the future, you will have to file an amended report after you complete the course work.

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45.    If I filed my compliance report and then attended additional courses this reporting year, how can I get credit for those additional courses?

Answer:       You must file an amended compliance report. Once you file your compliance report, you cannot receive credit for additional courses that you take unless you prepare and file an amended compliance report. The best practice is to wait to file your compliance report until you have completed all your annual course work. Complete instructions for filing an amended compliance report are found on this website.

46.    When must I complete my course work for the 2018-2019 reporting year?

Answer:       The 2018-2019 reporting year began on March 1, 2018 and will end on February 28, 2019.

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47.    When do attorneys file their annual compliance reports?

Answer:       Pursuant to Rule 419, SCACR, active attorneys’ compliance reports and filing fees are due no later than March 1.

To avoid the late fee, make sure that your compliance report is USPS postmarked no later than March 1. Please note that we use the USPS postmark date, not your office meter date.

48.    Are extensions of time to complete CLE requirements available?

Answer:       No. Extensions of time to complete course work are not permitted. Lawyers are encouraged to maintain enough hours through the carry-forward provision to plan for illness or other unforeseen circumstances.

49.    What happens if I file my compliance report after March 1?

Answer:       If you file your compliance report after March 1 but before April 15, you will be assessed a late filing fee of $75 in addition to the $50 annual filing fee. If you have filed late on a prior occasion, you will be assessed a late filing fee of $200 in addition to the $50 annual filing fee.

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50.     If I am filing my report after the March 1 deadline, how do I know if my late fee should be $75 or $200?

Answer: The fees due can be found on the front of your compliance report in the box labeled “FEES.”

51.    What happens if I do not establish compliance with the Commission?

Answer:       On May 7, 2012, the South Carolina Supreme Court amended Rule 419, SCACR, which governs sanctions for noncompliance with the mandatory CLE requirements. Pursuant to Rule 419(c)(2), effective January 1, 2013, if you have not filed your report showing compliance with the MCLE/LEPR requirements and paid all fees by March 15, the Commission will promptly notify you that failure to establish compliance by April 15 will result in suspension from the practice of law by the Supreme Court.

52.    If I am suspended from the practice of law for non-compliance, how can I get reinstated?

Answer:       Pursuant to Rule 419(e), SCACR, you will be required to file a petition for reinstatement with the Supreme Court. The petition for reinstatement must show that you are current with all CLE requirements with the Commission, including any fees and penalties. The petition must be accompanied by a filing fee of $200.00 and a proof of service showing that a copy of the petition has been served on the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

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53. I am an attorney licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Are there any special provisions that I need to know regarding satisfying my MCLE requirements?

Answer: Yes. You can satisfy the MCLE requirements of both states by complying with the MCLE requirements in the state where you reside and primarily practice.

In other words, if you reside and practice in North Carolina, you can satisfy your South Carolina 2018-2019 requirement by showing that you were in compliance for the 2018 North Carolina reporting year. You must be in compliance in North Carolina by the South Carolina deadline of March 1.

To comply in South Carolina using your North Carolina compliance, you must do the following:

• Obtain a copy of your North Carolina report showing that you are in full compliance in North Carolina

• Attach your North Carolina report to your South Carolina compliance report

• Sign the South Carolina compliance report

• Mail these documents along with a $50 filing fee to the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization so that they will be received no later than March 1

Of course, you are also able to establish compliance in South Carolina by attending and reporting sufficient accredited CLE to satisfy South Carolina requirements.

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54. I am an attorney licensed in both Georgia and South Carolina. Are there any special provisions that I need to know regarding satisfying my MCLE requirements?

Answer: Yes. You can satisfy the annual South Carolina MCLE and LEPR requirements by complying with the MCLE requirements in Georgia.

In other words, if you reside and practice in Georgia, you can satisfy your South Carolina 2018-2019 MCLE/LEPR requirements by showing that you were in compliance for the 2018 Georgia reporting year. You must be in compliance in Georgia by the South Carolina deadline of March 1. Additionally, effective March 1, 2011, at least once every three (3) annual reporting years, you must complete and report one (1) hour of instruction devoted exclusively to substance abuse or mental health issues (SA/MH) and the legal profession. To establish compliance with the three-year South Carolina SA/MH requirement, you must provide to the Commission a copy of the agenda of the program which you report for SA/MH credit. The course should be listed on the compliance report and include the date, course sponsor, course name and the credit for the course.

To comply in South Carolina using your Georgia compliance you must do the following:

• Obtain a copy of your Georgia transcript (or a certificate from the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) showing that you are in full compliance in Georgia

• Attach your Georgia transcript (or certificate from the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) to your South Carolina compliance report;

• Sign the South Carolina compliance report

• Mail these documents along with a $50 filing fee to the SC Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization so that they will be received no later than March 1

Answer: To obtain copies of your previously filed compliance reports (for filing periods 2002 through the last filing period), you can access the Check MCLE Credits link on the Commission's website and enter your AIS Username and Password. When you see the detail of your current MCLE information, you can print the reports by choosing the link for the desired reporting period. Or, please call (803-799-5578) or email the Commission (commcle@bellsouth.net) for further assistance.

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56. What is the fee to submit an Application for Accreditation for review of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education in South Carolina?

Answer: Click here to access a list of the 2018 Accredited Sponsors in South Carolina. Any organization included in the list of Accredited Sponsors does not require an application fee to be submitted along with the Application for Accreditation and required attachments.

If an attending attorney would like to submit an Application for Accreditation to have a seminar reviewed from a sponsor not included on the Accredited Sponsor List, the application fee is $25.00 per seminar.

If a sponsor of a seminar would like to submit an Application for Accreditation to have a program reviewed and that sponsor is not an Accredited Sponsor, the application fee is $75.00 per seminar. Please note, as of January 1, 2015, the sponsor application fee was increased from $50.00 to $75.00 per application.

950 Taylor Street, Suite 120 (29201)

P.O. Box 2138, Columbia, SC 29202
Telephone: (803)799-5578 Fax: (803)799-5671

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