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HOW TO SECURE APPROVAL OF A COURSE FOR USE TOWARD THE

WISCONSIN MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) REQUIREMENT

The Wisconsin mandatory CLE requirement is administered by the Board of Bar Examiners, an agency of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, with staff offices at Suite 715 Tenney Building; 110 East Main Street; Madison, WI 53703-3328. SCR Chapter 31 and duly adopted Board rules govern the Wisconsin CLE program. The information and instructions below are intended to guide completion of the CLE Course Approval Form – General (Form 2), not as substitutes for the rules themselves. Copies of SCR Chapter 31 and its Appendix are available at: www.wicourts.gov.

A course approval form should be completed for each activity to be considered by the Board for approval for use toward the CLE requirement. The form may be duplicated as needed. An approval decision is usually made within two weeks; it will take longer if the request is not complete, or if the course approval form is submitted during the CLE seasonal peak (November-January). Please note that course approval forms arriving at the Board office with Report of Compliance (CLE Form 1*) will be separated and processed independently.

In order to make an approval decision the following must be provided:

A timetable or agenda whereby a credit determination may be made. It should include a precise breakdown of the actual starting and ending times of the activity, including the starting and ending times of breaks, opening remarks, meals and keynote speeches.

A complete description of the written materials distributed to participants, or a copy thereof. (Materials will be returned if a postpaid envelope is enclosed.) If it is not clear whether all portions of the program were supported by written materials, an annotated agenda may be submitted.

An indication as to whom the activity was offered. If it is not apparent that the objective was legal education, or if it appears to be geared to a general audience, include a statement as to how it increased the competence of lawyers who attended.

Also, please note:

Fax submissions of requests for CLE credit must be limited to 10 pages or less.

As Wisconsin lawyers are obligated to satisfy a three-hour legal ethics and professional responsibility requirement biennially, it is necessary to clearly identify those programs, or portions of programs, lasting at least one continuous hour (50 minutes) on this topic.

Copies of SCR Chapter 35 and 36, which set forth education requirement for lawyers who accept appointments by a court as guardian ad litem for a minor or an adult, are available at www.wicourts.gov.

Lawyers who teach approved courses are entitled to double the number of hours approved for each portion taught.

Although sponsors are required by the rules governing the Wisconsin CLE requirement to maintain a list of Wisconsin lawyers attending approved activities and to transmit the list to the Board following the presentation of the course, the Board will accept certificates of attendance in lieu of a complete attendance list.

*The Board of Bar Examiners does not maintain a transcript of CLE courses attended by lawyers. In order to receive credit for attendance at approved activities for use toward the Wisconsin CLE requirement, individual lawyers must report their hours of actual attendance (not to exceed the amount approved) on a timely filed Report of Compliance (CLE Form 1). Wisconsin lawyers admitted in even-numbered years must file a CLE Form 1 evidencing compliance by December 31 every even-numbered year; Wisconsin lawyers admitted in odd-numbered years, by December 31 every odd-numbered year. CLE Form 1s are mailed from the Board of Bar Examiners approximately three months before the end of each attorney's reporting period.

BE-402, 05/08 Request for Approval of Continuing Legal Education Activity