Rule 1.3.5 - Accredited Sponsor Approval(a) In order to obtain and maintain accreditation, sponsors of MCLE courses or activities must comply with the following minimum requirements via the MCLE Portal: (1) The sponsor must develop and implement methods to evaluate the sponsor's course offerings to determine their effectiveness and, upon request from the MCLE Commission, provide course evaluations by attendees; and(2) The sponsor must provide courses consistent with the Standards for individual course approval as set forth in Article IV, Rule 3.7 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.7.(b) A law firm, corporate legal department, or government agency may apply to the MCLE Commission via the MCLE Portal for approval of credit for an In-house course or activity. In addition to the Standards set forth in Article IV, Rule 3.7 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.7, a minimum of seven (7) lawyers, including the instructor, must attend the course or activity for the course or activity to qualify for MCLE credit, and the In-house MCLE activity shall meet the following minimum requirements: (1) The course must be open to in-person monitoring/observation by any member of the MCLE Commission; and(2) The activity must be scheduled at a time and location so as to be free of interruptions from telephone calls and other office activity.(c) The MCLE Commission may, at its discretion, require an Accredited Sponsor to submit a report in writing of continuing legal education activities conducted during any given MCLE Reporting Year.(d) If the MCLE Commission determines that an individual course offered by an Accredited Sponsor fails to meet the Standards for accreditation, the Commission may deny approval for the course even though offered by an Accredited Sponsor (Appendix D).(e) The MCLE Commission may at any time reevaluate and, for cause, revoke the status of an Accredited Sponsor for including, but not limited to, failure to comply with Article IV, Rule 3.8 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.8(e).(f) There are three (3) types of fees associated with Accredited Sponsor status. First, the Accredited Sponsor offering more than two (2) credits per MCLE Reporting Year shall pay an annual accreditation fee plus an application fee per course. In the remaining two (2) types, the Accredited Sponsor shall pay a limited annual accreditation fee based upon the number of credits (one (1) or two (2) credits) for the Approved Program or Activity within the MCLE Reporting Year. (See Appendix C, Schedule of Fees.)(g) A sponsor wishing to apply for Accredited Sponsor status shall submit to the MCLE Commission via the MCLE Portal information on any continuing legal education programs planned for the current application year. The MCLE Commission may, at its discretion, request submission of course materials for inspection (Appendix D).(h) Sponsors of courses which have been accredited or approved may announce in informational brochures or registration materials: "Subject to Article IV, Rule 3 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules, this course has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a maximum of _______CLE credits, inclusive of ________legal ethics credits and/or __________ diversity, equity, and inclusion credits."(i) At the conclusion of an Approved Program or Activity, each participating attorney should be given the opportunity to complete an evaluation form addressing the quality, effectiveness, and usefulness of the program or activity.(j) Accredited Sponsors shall allow MCLE Commission members and staff to attend, free of charge, any continuing legal education program. Such attendance shall not qualify for MCLE.(k) In the case of In-person, Webcast/Webinar, and Teleseminar courses, a qualified person must be in attendance and shall be the one who, by academic or professional qualifications, possesses the knowledge to interact with the audience to supplement the presentation and answer questions. Commentary and question-and-answer segments should occur at a meaningful time during the program, preferably after each subject matter break.(l) Sponsors shall maintain a record of all courses and attendance from the MCLE Reporting Year for a period of three (3) years. Such records will be subject to review by the MCLE Commission upon request. Amended effective 7/1/2018; amended April 24, 2024, effective 4/24/2024.