Ga. Alt. Dis. Res. R. VIII

As amended through February 1, 2024
Rule VIII - Education

In order to educate the bar about the benefits of ADR and the specifics of ADR processes, each member of the State Bar of Georgia shall be required to complete a one-time mandatory three hour CLE credit in dispute resolution. The ADR continuing legal education requirement shall be completed before March 31, 1996. Lawyers admitted to the bar from July 31, 1995, to February 2, 2005, may satisfy this requirement by attending the Bridge-the-Gap seminar conducted by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia. Lawyers admitted to the bar thereafter may satisfy this requirement by completing the State Bar of Georgia Transition Into Law Practice Program or a comparable program approved by the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency.

Lawyers who have completed a class essentially devoted to the study of ADR in law school are deemed to have satisfied the above requirement. Lawyers who have been trained as a neutral in a training which was approved for CLE credit or would now be eligible for CLE credit are deemed to have satisfied the above requirement. Lawyers who have previously taken an approved CLE seminar devoted to ADR are deemed to have satisfied the above requirement. The Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution will review requests for exemption from the ADR CLE requirement on the basis of law school course work.

The Georgia Supreme Court recommends that the program required for every new member of the State Bar of Georgia incorporate an introduction to ADR processes. This court further recommends that information concerning ADR be incorporated into CLE ethics and professionalism seminars. Sponsors and seminars designed to satisfy the ADR CLE requirement must be approved by the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency and the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution.

Ga. Alt. Dis. Res. R. VIII