Vt. Mand. CLE R. 4

As amended through November 4, 2024

Rule 4 - [Effective 1/1/2025] MCLE-Qualifying Program Standards

To be approved for credit, Continuing Legal Education Programs must meet the following standards:

(A) The program must have significant intellectual or practical content and be designed for an attorney audience. Its primary objective must be to increase the attendee's professional competence and skills as an attorney and to improve the quality of legal services rendered to the public. Programs designed for judicial officers generally do not qualify.

(B) The program must pertain to a recognized legal subject or other subject matter which integrally relates to the practice of law, diversity and inclusion issues, attorney wellness, or the ethical obligations of attorneys. Provided the program satisfies the other accreditation requirements, CLE Programs that address any of the following will qualify for MCLE credit:

(1) Substantive Law Programming

(2) Legal and Practice-Oriented Skills Programming

(3) Specialty Programming (see Rule 3(A)(4))

(4) New Attorney Programming (see Rule 1(O))

(5) Law Practice Programming (see Rule 1(L))

(6) Technology Programming (see Rule 1(U))

(7) Interdisciplinary Programming (see Rule 1(K))

(8) Attorney Wellness Programming (see Rule 1(A))

(C) The program must be delivered as Moderated Programming, Non-Moderated Programming with Interactivity as a Key Component, or Non-Moderated Programming Without Interactivity. The Sponsor must have a system which allows certification of attendance to be controlled by the Sponsor and which permits the Sponsor to verify the date and time of attendance.

(D) Thorough, high-quality instructional written materials which appropriately cover the subject matter must be distributed to all attendees in paper or electronic format during or prior to the program.

(E) Each program must be presented by a faculty member or members qualified by academic or practical experience to teach the topics covered, whether they are attorneys or have other subject matter expertise.

(F) Credit will not be given for coffee breaks, keynote speeches, business meetings, and speeches presented at and attendance at luncheons and banquets.

Vt. Mand. CLE R. 4

Amended Feb. 10, 2020, eff. 7/1/2020; amended Aug. 12, 2024, eff. 1/1/2025.

Board's Notes-2025 Amendment

Rule 4(A) is amended to clarify that educational programs designed for judicial officers generally do not qualify for credit as continuing legal education for lawyers.

Board's Notes

This rule, adopted in full from the Model Rule, replaces the prior rules § 5(a), (b)(1)-(6), although the new MCLE-qualifying program standards are generally consistent with those from the prior rules. The new rule makes explicit that certain types of programming, such as Law Practice Programming, Technology Programming, Interdisciplinary Programing, and Attorney Wellness Programming, are accreditable.