New Lawyer Training FAQs
(For Attorneys Admitted by Examination or Registered for Corporate Status)
- Who is required to complete a New Lawyers Training Program, and what are the basic requirements?
- What if I have registered for inactive status?
- Who is exempt from the New Lawyers Training Program requirement?
- How do I meet my New Lawyers Training Program requirement?
- What is the New Lawyers Training Program?
- What will I learn in a New Lawyers Training Program?
- How can I locate a New Lawyers Training Program?
- If I take a New Lawyers Training Program outside Ohio, will I receive credit in Ohio?
- If I take a New Lawyers Training Program before I am admitted to the practice of law in Ohio, will I receive credit?
- What if I have further questions?
1. Who is required to complete a New Lawyers Training Program, and what are the basic requirements?
Attorneys admitted by examination and attorneys initially registering for corporate status on or after Nov. 1, 2008, must comply with New Lawyers Training ("NLT") educational requirements of Gov. Bar R. X, unless otherwise exempted from the requirements (see number 3, below).
General Requirements
- You must complete 12 hours of NLT instruction by the end of your first biennial reporting period. Your biennial reporting period is based on your last name. An attorney whose last name begins with a letter A through L must complete his or her educational hours by the end of each odd-numbered year and an attorney whose last name begins with a letter M through Z must complete his or her educational hours by the end of each even-numbered year.
- If you were admitted to the practice of law or initially registered for corporate status in the second year of your first biennial reporting period, you must complete your NLT requirements by the end of the next biennial reporting period.
- For example:
- If you were admitted to the practice of law or initially registered for corporate status in 2012, and your last name begins with a letter A through L, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2013.
- If you were admitted to the practice of law or initially registered for corporate status in 2012, and your last name begins with a letter M through Z, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2014.
- You are also required to file a Final Reporting Transcript by Jan. 31 of the year following completion of NLT requirements.
2. What if I have registered for inactive status?
If you are registered for inactive status with the Office of Attorney Services you are exempt from NLT.
If you change your registration status to active, you will be required to complete the NLT requirements by the end of biennial reporting period in which active status is reinstated. However, if you go on active status on or after July 1 of the second year of your reporting period, you must complete the NLT requirements by the end of the next biennial reporting period. You will also be required to file a report with the Commission verifying your compliance with NLT.
3. Who is exempt from the New Lawyers Training Program requirement?
- An attorney admitted to the practice of law in Ohio without examination (or "on motion") (Gov. Bar R. I Section 9). Please note that although attorneys admitted without examination are exempt from NLT, they nevertheless are required to comply with continuing legal education requirements of Gov. Bar R. X.
- An attorney registered for inactive status under Gov. Bar R. VI, Section 2 (see number 2, above).
- An attorney granted a military or other exemption as provided in Gov. Bar R. X, Sec. 3(F).
4. How do I meet my New Lawyers Training Program requirement?
Classroom Hours
- You must earn at least 12 hours of New Lawyers Training instruction by attending courses that have been accredited by the Supreme Court of Ohio's Commission on Continuing Legal Education as New Lawyers Training education.
- Three of the 12 hours must consist of 60 minutes of instruction on topics related to professional conduct, professional relationships, obligations of lawyers, or aspirational ideals of the profession; 60 minutes of instruction on topics related to fundamental law office management; and 60 minutes of instruction on topics related to client fund management.
- Nine of the 12 hours must be instruction in one or more substantive law topics that focus on handling legal matters in specific practice areas.
Mentoring
If you are admitted to the practice of law by examination, you may meet your NLT requirements by participating in the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program sponsored by the Commission on Professionalism and by completing three classroom hours of instruction on professionalism, law office management, and client fund management. For additional information on mentoring, please go to www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/mentoring/default.asp.
Reporting Requirement
Whether you meet your NLT requirement by taking classroom hours or participating in mentoring, you will be required to file a final reporting transcript by Jan. 31 of your reporting year.
5. What is a New Lawyers Training Program?
It is a program that has been accredited as a New Lawyers Training Course by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education. The course must be live (as opposed to "online" or "self-study") and satisfy the requirements of CCLE Reg. 406. See, CCLE Reg. 414.
6. What will I learn in a New Lawyers Training Program?
A New Lawyers Training course is developed as a basic level course that introduces new attorneys to the "nuts and bolts" of practicing law.
7. How can I locate a New Lawyers Training Program?
Check our Web site at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/CLE/ActivitySearch. On the Web site, there is a search feature that uses a drop down menu. Select “New Attorney” as the Activity Type and press the Search button. The search will return only those activities that are approved for New Lawyer Training.
To sign up for a NLT program, please contact the sponsor directly.
8. If I take a New Lawyers Training Program outside Ohio, will I receive credit in Ohio?
No. Only programs that have been pre-approved by the Commission as an Ohio New Lawyers Training Program meet Ohio's NLT requirement.
9. If I take a New Lawyer Training Program before I am admitted to the practice of law in Ohio, will I receive credit?
No. To receive NLT or CLE credit in Ohio, you must first be admitted to the practice of law in Ohio.
10. What if I have further questions?
We want you to comply with our rules and strongly encourage you to call us if you have any questions regarding your New Lawyers Training requirements. You may reach us by telephone at 614.387.9325, or by e-mail at ccle@sc.ohio.gov.
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