Waiver or Modification of CLE Requirements

Submit Application for Waiver or Modification of CLE Requirement only via email to cleoffice@nycourts.gov

All members of the New York State Bar are presumed to be practicing law in New York. If you did not practice law in New York, were retired or on full-time active military duty during all of your CLE reporting cycle, you may be exempt from the CLE requirement. See section 1500.5(b) of the Program Rules regarding exemptions from the CLE requirement. 

If you did not practice law in New York for part of your CLE reporting cycle, you may have a prorated CLE requirement.

You should apply for a waiver or modification of the CLE requirement only if you determine that you are not exempt from CLE requirements and have not completed your required number of CLE credits, in the correct categories, within the applicable time period. Please note that CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys (those admitted to the NY State Bar for 2 years or less) differ from those for experienced attorneys (those admitted to the NY State Bar for more than 2 years).

Newly admitted attorneys must earn a total of 32 CLE credit hours (with 16 credit hours each year) in the newly admitted cycle. See CLE requirement for newly admitted attorneys.

Experienced attorneys must earn at least 24 CLE credit hours each biennial reporting cycle. See CLE requirement for experienced attorneys.

You may submit an application for a waiver or modification to the CLE Board to seek either a waiver (completion of the CLE requirement is not required) or a modification (partial completion of the CLE requirement is accepted or other exception(s) to the CLE Program Rules are permitted). Please submit your completed waiver or modification application as an email attachment to cleoffice@nycourts.gov.

It will take approximately 30-45 days for your application to be processed. The Board may grant a waiver or modification of the CLE requirement, based on undue hardship or extenuating circumstances. The Board’s determination will be will be emailed to you.

The CLE section of the biennial attorney registration form contains a certification for attorneys who have applied to the CLE Board for a waiver or modification of the CLE requirement. Once you have applied for a waiver or modification, you may sign this certification and submit your biennial attorney registration form with the required fee. If your application is granted, please submit an "Attorney Registration Continuing Legal Education Update Form" to update your records. You will receive this Update Form after you have been granted a waiver or modification.

January 2023