Supreme Court Extends CLE Reporting Period and Bridge the Gap Completion Dates
Due to ongoing CLE issues caused by the COVID-19 virus, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has granted a request from the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a one-year extension for completion of the Bridge the Gap program for certain attorneys and an extension of the CLE reporting period to September 30, 2020. The reporting period normally would have ended on June 30, 2020. Click here to view the full Court Order
Bridge the Gap Extension:
- Attorneys admitted between July 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, are granted a one-year extension to complete the Bridge the Gap program. Therefore, those attorneys must complete the program within thirty-six months after their admission to the Bar. The necessity for this extension was due to the cancellation of the April 2020 session of the Bridge the Gap course for new admittees.
CLE Reporting Period Extension:
- All required CLE credits must be completed and reported by September 30, 2020, to avoid late filing fees.
- An email reminder notice will be sent on August 31, 2020 to those attorneys who are not yet in CLE compliance.
- Credits submitted after October 1, 2020 for the 2018-2020 reporting period will require a $50 late filing fee. Credit will not be entered until the late fee is paid.
- Certified notice will be sent out as soon as practicable after October 1, 2020, to those attorneys who are in non-compliance after the September 30 reporting deadline.
- Attorneys will have 30 days from the date of the certified notice of non-compliance to complete and file courses to attain CLE compliance.
- A petition to suspend any attorney who does not attain CLE compliance within that 30 day period will be sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
- Attorneys will be suspended until such time as they have established CLE compliance.
Related Information:
Temporary Waiver of Online Continuing Legal Education Credit Limit
Due to concerns associated with the COVID-19 virus, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has granted a request from the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a temporary waiver of current CLE rules and regulations which limit the CLE credits for online and in-house credits to 12 credits. The temporary waiver is limited to the 2018-2020 reporting period. Please see the attached link for the full Order of the Court
