Rule 1.3.2 - Mcle Requirements(a) Active Practitioners in Rhode Island shall complete ten (10) MCLE Credit Hours of continuing legal education in each MCLE Reporting Year. At least two (2) of the required ten (10) MCLE Credit Hours shall be in the area of legal ethics and one (1) MCLE Credit Hour shall be in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as defined in Appendix A(b)Exemptions Article IV, Rule 3.2(a) and Subsection (a) of § 1.3.2 shall not apply to the following Active Practitioners who may be subject to certification of the exemption or waiver:(1) An Active Practitioner who suffers a disability which makes physical attendance at continuing legal education programs an extreme hardship shall file on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal) by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year a request for a substitute program in lieu of attendance and shall therein propose the alternative continuing legal education program the Active Practitioner can undertake, together with a doctor's letter specifically stating the Active Practitioner's inability to attend. The MCLE Commission shall review and approve or disapprove such alternate programs or waivers on an individual basis;(2) Other requests for alternative continuing legal education programs, waivers, or exemptions for good cause shall be submitted to the MCLE Commission on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal) by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year with full explanation of the circumstances supporting the request (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal);(3) Attorneys who are listed as inactive or resigned on the records of the Supreme Court shall be exempt;(4) Attorneys holding a full-time federal, state, or municipal position and who are not engaged in the practice of law shall be exempt during their term(s) of employment but must certify said status on office letterhead indicating job title and any other relevant documentation to the MCLE Commission on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal) by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year;(5) Federal and state court judges and magistrates whose judicial duties are full-time and who are not engaged in the practice of law shall be exempt;(6) All newly admitted attorneys for the current and next full MCLE Reporting Year;(7) Active Practitioners who are current members of the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners and the Committee on Character and Fitness, due to their unique contribution to the profession shall be exempt but must certify said status by submitting a letter from the chairperson attesting to membership to the MCLE Commission on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal) by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year;(8) Active Practitioners who are current members of the Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline, the MCLE Commission, the the Disciplinary Board, and the Ethics Advisory Panel are exempt from reporting two (2) legal ethics credits due to their unique contribution to the profession. The chairperson must submit a letter to the MCLE Commission attesting to membership by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year. The Active Practitioner may submit said status on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal);(9) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions in this section, any attorney who reaches the age of seventy (70) during a MCLE reporting year shall be granted exemption for that year and thereafter;(10) Attorneys who are active full-time, military personnel are exempt from the requirement, but must certify said status on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal) by submitting a redacted copy of the attorney's current orders by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year;(11) The Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Deputy Disciplinary Counsel, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, and the Ethics Advisory Panel staff attorney are exempt from reporting two (2) legal ethics credits due to their unique contribution to the profession. The office must submit a letter to the MCLE Commission attesting to membership by June 30 of each MCLE Reporting Year. The Active Practitioner may submit said status on the summary reporting form (Appendix G via the MCLE Portal); and(12) Attorneys who are active on the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (UPLC) are exempt from reporting two (2) legal ethics credit hours due to their unique contribution to the profession. As the committee workload changes each year, the UPLC will be required to present a detailed request for any increased credit exemption to the MCLE Commission no later than May 15th of each year.(c) Attorneys who participate on the criminal Court Appointment Panel shall be awarded one (1) MCLE Credit Hour per case with a maximum of five (5) MCLE Credit Hours allowed per MCLE Reporting Year. Credit shall be awarded in the MCLE Reporting Year for the disposition of the criminal case. Attorneys shall complete a MCLE Criminal Court Appointment Panels form located on the Rhode Island Judiciary's website at www.courts.ri.gov. Attorneys shall submit an Appendix D via the MCLE Portal and attach the Criminal Court Appointment Panels form. Last amended effective 5/27/2016; amended effective 7/1/2018; amended effective 5/21/2019; amended April 24, 2024, effective 4/24/2024.