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News & Updates


  • June Compliance Update

    The Commission assessed a $200 compliance fee to all attorneys who failed to complete 2022 CLE, file an Affidavit of Compliance, claim an exemption, or pay fees before June 1, 2023. 

     

    For attorneys working to complete 2022 CLE requirements, if you have taken courses not yet reported to the Commission, complete the Affidavit of Compliance, have it notarized, and return to the Commission immediately to avoid additional penalties. 

     

    If you need to claim an exemption or pay a fee, log onto your attorney account and complete the required steps.


  • Notices of Noncompliance 

     

    In late April, the Commission sent via certified mail to all attorneys not in compliance for 2022 a Notice of Noncompliance. Typical reasons for such a notice are:

    A shortage of CLE hours earned by December 31, 2022
    • A fee due for a shortage of hours 
    • The need to claim an exemption for 2022, such as out-of-state-resident
    • A fee due for failure to file an exemption prior to March 31, 2023.
     

    If you received a Notice of Noncompliance for 2022 and have completed the hours needed for compliance, complete the Affidavit of Compliance, have it notarized, and return to the Commission prior to May 31, 2023 to avoid additional penalties.

    If you need to claim an exemption or pay a fee, log onto your attorney account and complete the required steps.


  •  

    Supreme Court Makes

    Appointments to

    CLE Commission

       The Tennessee Supreme Court filed an Order December 12, 2022, appointing two new members to the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, extending the terms of two members, and reappointing David Veile to another one-year term as chair of the Commission.

       New to the Commission are Dr. LaDonna Tatum Williams, an assistant principal at Westmeade Elementary School in Nashville, and Shannon Hoffert, regulatory counsel at Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis. They are appointed to three-year terms starting January 1, 2023.

       Commissioners Julie Bennett of Bristol and Mitchell Panter of Knoxville each were appointed to a second three-year term.

       The Court also thanked commissioners Christopher S. Campbell of Memphis and Concetta Smith of Nashville, whose terms expire at the end of 2022. Mr. Campbell served six years on the Commission and Ms. Smith served three years.

  • Court eliminates
    distance-learning limitations

     

    The Tennessee Supreme Court has amended the Rule for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education to remove limitations on distance-learning continuing legal education (“CLE”) credits. The Order was filed and effective on November 1, 2022.

    The change to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21 deletes the previous requirement that Tennessee-licensed attorneys with a CLE obligation earn at least seven CLE credit hours through in-person courses each year and no more than eight hours through distance-learning courses. The Court has waived the in-person requirement since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing attorneys to earn all of their CLE credits through distance learning. The November 1 Order makes that change permanent.

    In June, the Court solicited comments on eliminating the limitations on distance-learning credit hours. More than 80 attorneys and legal organizations filed comments, which were overwhelmingly in favor of eliminating the limitations.

    “The comments we received from attorneys across the State made clear that distance-learning courses make it easier, both logistically and financially, for attorneys to satisfy their CLE requirements and to access courses that are relevant to their areas of practice,” said Justice Sarah Campbell, who serves as liaison to the CLE Commission. “By eliminating the limitations on distance-learning credits, attorneys will have flexibility to choose the learning method they prefer. In-person CLE continues to be an important part of our profession and that will not change.”

    In light of the amendment, the CLE Commission will update all attorney records to reflect the new provisions and distribute progress reports in the coming weeks. Lawyers can check the status of their 2022 CLE compliance by logging into their attorney account at CLETN.com. All compliance is established after December 31.