CLE Credit for Pro Bono Work Q&A
When may I begin keeping track of pro bono legal services hours in order to request CLE credit for those hours? The effective date of the amendment to the rules for Government of the Bar which permits CLE credit for pro bono legal services is January 1, 2014. No pro bono legal services performed prior to the effective date will qualify for CLE credit, regardless of whether you are in the first year or the second year of your reporting biennium. How many hours of pro bono legal services are required to earn an hour of CLE credit? Six hours of pro bono legal services is required to earn one hour of CLE credit. How many hours of CLE credit may be earned through pro bono legal services in a reporting biennium? A maximum of six hours of CLE credit may be earned in a reporting biennium through eligible pro bono legal services. May less than one hour of CLE credit be earned through pro bono legal services? No. The minimum amount of CLE credit that may be earned through eligible pro bono legal services is one CLE credit. However, fractional CLE credit hours for eligible pro bono legal services may be allowed, in quarter hour increments, once the minimum amount has been earned. May I carry forward to the next reporting biennium any CLE credits for pro bono legal services earned in excess of the six CLE credits allowed per biennial period? No, the number of CLE credits that may be earned in any biennium through eligible pro bono legal services is capped at six CLE credit hours, and any CLE credit earned in excess of the cap may not be carried forward to the next biennium. What kind of pro bono legal services are eligible for CLE credit? In order for pro bono legal services to be eligible for CLE credit, the pro bono legal services must be performed for a person of limited means, or a charitable organization, and the case or matter must be assigned, verified, and reported to the CLE commission by: 1. An organization receiving funding from the Legal Services Corporation or the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation; How will hours of pro bono legal services be verified by an organization eligible to report CLE credits earned through pro bono legal services to the CLE Commission? Each organization providing pro bono programs or services in Ohio will be responsible for collecting and verifying an attorney's pro bono legal services. The organization is also responsible for reporting an attorney's CLE credit hours to the CLE Commission. How do I obtain pro bono work that may be eligible for CLE credit? Contact your local legal aid, bar association or pro bono program to request that a case be referred to you; to arrange to volunteer at a brief advice and information clinic; or to perform other types of pro bono legal services for persons or charitable organizations of limited means. You should also verify that the organization is recognized by the CLE Commission to report CLE credits for pro bono legal services.
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