Judges and attorneys whose last names begin with the letters A through L need to complete their continuing legal education (CLE) hours by December 31, 2013.

“We typically see a rush at the end of the year for people to get their credits, particularly if it’s the end of their reporting year,” said Milt Nuzum, director of judicial services for the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College.

Nuzum said attorneys, magistrates, and acting judges are required to complete 24 CLE hours every two years and judges and retired judges who are eligible for assignment are required to complete 40 hours every two years.

“It’s kind of a confusing time for people. I mean this is not a rule that you look at often. You know you have to get your continuing legal education when you become a lawyer, that just goes with the territory, but often you don’t think about it until the year end is rolling up and you think, ‘Did I get my hours?’” Nuzum said.

Nuzum said judges, magistrates, and acting judges have to take 10 hours of CLE credit through the Judicial College. Nuzum is encouraging all judges, who wish to go through the Judicial College, to take online courses sooner rather than later.

“Each year it’s progressively increased in terms of the demand,” Nuzum said. 

Nuzum said online courses are available every day of the year, but if judges wait until the last minute they may not receive the credits they need if they don’t complete the online course by 11:59 p.m., December 31.  He further said that the cap for all self-study hours is six per biennial period.

In addition to earning their continuing legal education hours by December 31, 2013, attorneys and judges with the last names beginning with A through L also must report their CLE hours by January 31, 2014.

Rule amendments adopted in October 2012 will make changes to CLE requirements for attorneys and judges effective January 1, 2014 including increasing the hours of self-study courses. More information is available about CLE requirements.