Half of the state’s attorneys have until May 31 to file their Late Compliance Reporting Form and submit the corresponding late compliance fee or risk being sanctioned.

Attorneys whose last names begin with the letters M through Z are required to earn their hours by the end of every even-numbered year, which encompasses the reporting period that covers the years 2011 and 2012.

To submit a request for late compliance, a Continuing Legal Education Late Compliance Reporting Form (Form 19) should be completed providing evidence of the CLE activities that have been completed to remove the deficiencies for the 2011/2012 reporting period. The form should include the date, title, activity code number, and the number of hours completed. If applicable, the form should also be accompanied by the final reporting transcript.

Requests for late compliance must be submitted with the late compliance fee, postmarked on or before May 31. Failure to submit the request for late compliance by the May 31 deadline, will result in the Commission on Continuing Legal Education issuing a monetary sanction and/or suspension from the practice of law.

Attorneys are required to complete 24 CLE hours, including one hour of instruction on ethics, one hour of instruction on professionalism, and a half-hour of instruction on substance abuse, every two years. Judges have an increased hour requirement of 40 hours every two years and also must attend Judicial College courses.

Those subject to a suspension should call the Office of Attorney Services at 614.387.9320 to determine what they must do to avoid suspension.