New Lawyer Training FAQs

Attorneys admitted by examination and attorneys admitted by UBE transfer must comply with New Lawyers Training ("NLT") educational requirements of Gov. Bar R. X, unless otherwise exempted from the requirements (see number 9, below).

General Requirements

• You must complete 12 hours of NLT instruction by the end of your first CLE biennial compliance period. Your biennial 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 December 31 of each odd-numbered year. An attorney whose last name begins with a letter M through Z must complete his or her educational hours by December 31 of each even-numbered year.
• If you were admitted to the practice of law in the second year of your first biennial period, you must complete your NLT requirements by the end of the next biennial period.

For example:

• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2022, and your last name begins with a letter A through L, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2023.
• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2022, and your last name begins with a letter M through Z, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2024.
• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2023, and your last name begins with a letter A through L, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2025.
• If you were admitted to the practice of law in 2023, and your last name begins with a letter M through Z, you must complete your NLT educational hours by Dec. 31, 2024.

It is a program that has been accredited as a New Lawyers Training Course by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education. The instruction shall be live, including in-person or live webinar that will satisfy the requirements of CCLE Reg. 406. See, CCLE Reg. 414.

Check our CLE Activity Search. On the website, 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 Lawyers Training. The list is updated as courses are approved.

To sign up for a NLT program, please contact the sponsor directly.

You must earn at least 12 hours of New Lawyers Training instruction by attending programs that have been accredited by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education as New Lawyers Training education.  You may earn the 12 hours either entirely through live in-person classroom instruction, or by live self-study formats such as, live webcast, and live interactive webinar, or through a combination of classroom instruction and mentoring. Please go to CLE Activity Search and under “Activity Type,” select “New Attorney” for a list of accredited NLT programs

Classroom Instruction

• The required 12 hours of New Lawyers Training instruction must be earned 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 earning your New Lawyer Training hours by participating in mentoring and through classroom attendance, please note the following:

You may meet nine of the 12 required New Lawyers Training hours by participating in the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program sponsored by the Commission on Professionalism. If you participate in mentoring, you also are required to complete an additional three classroom hours of instruction on professionalism, law office management, and client fund management. For additional information on mentoring, please go to the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring site.

Attorneys and sponsors may seek approval of an out-of-state New Lawyers Training activity that was held in-person in a physical classroom.  See, CCLE Reg. 410 (Post-Program Approval). The application forms are available at CLE Forms.

A New Lawyers Training course is developed as a basic introductory level course.

No. To receive NLT or CLE credit in Ohio, you must first be admitted to the practice of law in Ohio.

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 the compliance biennium in which active status is reinstated. However, if you go on active status on or after July 1 of the second year of the compliance biennium, you must complete the NLT requirements by the end of the next compliance biennium.

• 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 5 (see What if I have registered for inactive status question above).
• An attorney granted a military or other exemption by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education as provided in Gov.Bar R. X, Sec. 12.
• An attorney registered for corporate counsel status (Gov.Bar R. VI, Sec.6), that has a start of Ohio practice date on or after Jan. 1, 2023. Please note that although attorneys registered as corporate counsel are exempt from NLT, they nevertheless are required to comply with the continuing legal education requirements of Gov.Bar R. X.

NOTE: There is NO EXEMPTION from the New Lawyers Training requirements for attorneys who are registered for active status and living or working out-of-state.

You may be able to carry over up to 12 hours of additional credit to the next compliance period.

Your specific NLT requirement depends on several factors, including your year of admission, method of admission, last name, and registration status. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to call us if you have any questions regarding your New Lawyers Training requirements. You may reach us by telephone at 614.387.9320, or by email at ccle@sc.ohio.gov.