New lawyers have no shortage of things to worry about, but CLE shouldn’t be one of them. We’re making CLE requirements easy to understand—and even easier to fulfill.

Am I newly admitted in New Jersey? If you were sworn in to the N.J. bar less than two years ago, give yourself a pat on the back because you’re newly admitted.

What compliance group am I in? When is your birthday? Those born Jan. 1 through June 30 are in Compliance Reporting Group 1. Everybody else is in—you guessed it—Compliance Reporting Group 2!

So… when is my deadline? It depends on (1) when you were admitted and (2) what compliance group you are in. For example, let’s say you were admitted in 2016. Group 1 will need to complete 12 of their credits (including two ethics) by Dec. 31, 2017, and then the full 24-credit newly admitted requirement by Dec. 31, 2019. Group 2 must complete the 24-credit newly admitted requirement by Dec. 31, 2019.

Not admitted in 2016? Check out these resources to find your deadline.

How many credits do I need to complete the Newly Admitted Requirement? You need 24 credits total.

How many ethics credits? Of those 24, four need to be ethics!

How many general? That leaves 20 general credits… but this is where it gets complicated. For attorneys completing the newly admitted requirement, 15 of these credits must be in at least five of the following New Jersey-specific areas:

• New Jersey Basic Estate Administration
• New Jersey Basic Estate Planning
• New Jersey Civil or Criminal Trial Preparation
• New Jersey Family Law Practice
• New Jersey Real Estate Closing Procedures
• New Jersey Trust and Business Accounting
• New Jersey Landlord/Tenant Practice
• New Jersey Municipal Court Practice
• New Jersey Law Office Management

Long story short: Pick five of the above, and make sure you have 15 credits’ worth—the other five credits can be in whatever subject area you want!

What about live credits? Like all New Jersey lawyers, newly admitted attorneys need to do 12 out of their 24 total credits in a live, in-person classroom setting. For those credits, check out our Bridge the Gap events!

Questions? Check out our CLE requirements page and the guidelines on the New Jersey Courts website.