53.1. NHMCLE REQUIREMENT

A. Purpose.  Continuing legal education CLE improves the administration of justice and benefits the public interest.  Regular participation in CLE programs strengthens the professional skills of practicing lawyers, affords them periodic opportunities for professional self-evaluation and enhances the quality of legal services rendered to the public.  This Rule requires active members of the New Hampshire Bar to participate in additional legal study throughout their careers.

B. Amount Required

    1. In General -- Every lawyer covered by this rule shall complete 720 minutes (twelve hours) of CLE in each reporting year.  At least 120 minutes (two hours) of CLE shall be in the area of legal ethics, professionalism or the prevention of malpractice, substance abuse or attorney-client disputes.

    2. Active Status Lawyers Volunteering for Pro Bono Cases — Active Membership Status lawyers who volunteer for assigned, pro bono cases for the purpose of representing indigent parties through 603 Legal Aid, NH Legal Assistance, Veterans Legal Justice, and the Disability Rights Center may claim up to three hundred and sixty (360) general minutes of continuing legal education credit per reporting period at the rate, prorated as applicable, of sixty (60) CLE minutes for every 300 billable-equivalent minutes of pro bono representation provided to a client. CLE ethics minutes cannot be earned from pro bono service. Pro bono minutes approved for CLE minutes will be reported to the NHMCLE Coordinator by the directors of the above-named entities on or before April 1 of each year. CLE minutes performed after April 1 will be applied to the following reporting year.

    3. Return to Active Membership Status -- Lawyers who are suspended or have selected inactive membership status with the New Hampshire Bar Association for more than two (2) consecutive reporting years are required to complete 360 minutes of additional CLE upon returning to active membership status.  Lawyers may complete the additional credits during the reporting year in which they return to active membership status or in the reporting year immediately preceding. Lawyers shall report completion of these credits by such method as the NHMCLE Board shall prescribe.

C. Reporting Year -- The reporting year shall be the period from June 1 to May 31. The annual NHMCLE affidavit filing period shall be June 1 to July 1 following the end of the reporting year, and reporting shall be done in the manner specified in Rule 53.3.

D. Carry Over of Excess Minutes - If a lawyer has completed more than 720 minutes of CLE in a reporting year commencing after the effective date of this rule, the excess minutes may be used to fulfill the requirement of Rule 53.1(B) for the reporting year next following only. Ethics credits may be brought forward to meet the ethics requirement only when not utilized to meet any minimum requirement in the year earned.

E. Qualifying Activities - To satisfy the requirements of Rule 53, every person covered by this rule shall seek out educational activity of significant intellectual and practical content reasonably directed at maintaining or enhancing his or her professional knowledge, skills and values.