Rule 1.3.0 - Purpose and Definitions(a) The purpose of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Regulations is to expound on the guiding principles set forth in Article IV, Rule 3 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules. These MCLE Regulations are adopted to implement a program of MCLE and to set standards and minimum requirements for the program.(b)Definitions.(1) "Accredited Sponsor" means a sponsor of continuing legal education activities accredited pursuant to Article IV, Rules 3.4 and 3.5 and MCLE Regulations §§ 1.3.4 and 1.3.5.(2) "Active Practitioner" means an attorney who is required to pay the annual registration fee imposed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court for the current registration period. Attorneys who maintain active status during any portion of the MCLE Reporting Year are subject to MCLE requirements.(3) "Approved Program or Activity" means a continuing legal education program that meets the requirements of Article IV, Rules 3.4 and 3.7 and MCLE Regulations §§ 1.3.4 and 1.3.7 and is offered by an Accredited Sponsor under Article IV, Rule 3.5 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.5, or a program that otherwise meets the requirements of Article IV, Rules 3.4 and 3.7 and MCLE Regulations §§ 1.3.4 and 1.3.7 and is approved by the MCLE Commission pursuant to Article IV, Rule 3.6 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.6.(4) "Article IV, Rule 3" means the MCLE Rule of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.(5) "Director" means the Executive Director of the MCLE Commission.(6) "In-house" means continuing legal education programs sponsored by a single private law firm, a single corporate law department, or a single federal, state, or local governmental entity where the only participants are members or employees of the firm, department, or entity.(7) "In-person" means a live continuing legal education program presented in a classroom setting devoted to the program with attendees in the same room as the instructor.(8)"Late Filing" means the Active Practitioner did complete the requisite courses or credits during the current MCLE Reporting Year, but did not submit or certify the credits by June 30 of that reporting year.(9) "Makeup Filing" means the Active Practitioner did not complete the requisite courses or credits during the current MCLE Reporting Year.(10) "MCLE Commission" means the Rhode Island Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission.(11) "MCLE Credit Hour" means fifty (50) minutes spent by an Active Practitioner in instructional programming at an approved continuing legal education activity.(12) "MCLE Regulations" means the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulations adopted by the MCLE Commission and approved by the Rhode Island Supreme Court from time to time.(13) "MCLE Reporting Year" means the time period between July 1 and June 30 of any given fiscal year. The initial MCLE Reporting Year for newly admitted attorneys shall commence the second July 1 after the attorney is sworn in.(14) "Teleseminar" means a live continuing legal education program broadcast via telephone to remote locations (i.e., a classroom setting or a central listening location) or to individual attendee telephone lines. Attendees may participate in the program in a group setting or individually. Question and answer opportunity is made available.(15) "Video Replay" means continuing legal education programs delivered via the Internet, consisting of on-demand, not live, webcasts/webinars (recorded online courses), or video lectures. Question and answer opportunity is not made available.(16) "Webcast/Webinar" means a live continuing legal education program broadcast via the Internet to remote locations (i.e., a classroom setting or a central viewing or listening location) or to individual attendees. Attendees may participate in the program in a group setting or individually. Question and answer opportunity is made available. Amended effective 7/1/2018; amended April 24, 2024, effective 4/24/2024.