MCLE Requirements
MCLE REQUIREMENTS
Highlights
General Questions
The Missouri Bar administers the accreditation and reporting provisions of Rule 15. Requests for information concerning Rule 15 should be sent to: The Missouri Bar, Attn: MCLE, 326 Monroe Street, P.O. Box 2355, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2355; or 573-638-2233; or MCLE@mobar.org.
As used in Rule 15 the term "lawyer" means all members of The Missouri Bar, including judge members, except lawyers in the reduced enrollment fee category of Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 6.01(I)(3) for the entire July 1 – June 30 reporting year. All lawyers, including Senior Counselors who are "EXEMPT" from the payment of bar dues, must comply with the requirements of Rule 15, either by completing 15 hours of continuing legal education, if they are actively practicing in Missouri, or by claiming an exemption as a non-practicing lawyer. Rule 15 and the regulations permit certain non-practicing lawyers to claim an exemption. To claim this exemption, a lawyer must file the Annual Report of Compliance each year by July 31 and claim the appropriate exemption. See Questions 3 and 13 below. New lawyers are exempt from the 15-hour annual requirement for the July 1 – June 30 MCLE reporting year in which they are admitted to The Missouri Bar. Thus, lawyers newly admitted during the July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 reporting year are exempt from the 15-hour annual requirement for that year.
Each lawyer actively practicing law in Missouri must complete 15 hours of continuing legal education during each July 1 - June 30 reporting period and by July 31 make an annual report to The Missouri Bar, except lawyers newly admitted during the July 1 - June 30 reporting year who are exempt from the 15-hour requirement for the July 1 - June 30 reporting year in which they are admitted. As explained in Questions 31-37, all new lawyers admitted to The Missouri Bar after June 30, 1990 are required to obtain three hours of ethics credit within 12 months of admission and all lawyers practicing in Missouri are required to obtain three hours of ethics education every three years. The current three year ethics compliance period is July 1, 2008-June 30, 2011.
For the purpose of Rule 15, the term "practice of law" is not limited to the private practice of law. Lawyers employed in corporate law departments, bank trust departments, government legal offices, as judicial law clerks and law school professors, including law professors authorized under Rule 13.06 to supervise law students in court, are subject to the 15-hour annual requirement and the 3 hours of ethics required of practicing lawyers by Rule 15.05(f). Lawyers who receive a limited license under Rule 8.105 to serve as in-house counsel must comply with the requirements of Rule 15. Retired lawyers who do not hold themselves out as actively practicing and only occasionally render legal advice to family members or friends are not considered to be in the active practice of law for the purpose of Rule 15 and may claim an exemption by filing the Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1 by July 31 of each year.
Six hours of the 15-hour requirement may be satisfied by self-study. Self-study credit may not be used to satisfy the ethics education requirement, absent authorization based upon showing of physical hardship or other extenuating circumstances.
(4) When Must the 15-Hour Requirement Be Completed and Reported?
The 15 hours must be completed between July 1 and June 30 of the succeeding year. The Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1 is due by July 31 of each year. See Question 37 for information concerning reporting of the ethics requirements.
(5) How Do Lawyers Report Compliance?
A lawyer must file the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1, with The Missouri Bar by July 31. Sponsors are required to retain attendance records but sponsors may not file compliance information on behalf of an individual lawyer. Lawyers and sponsors are not required to send certificates of attendance from individual programs to The Missouri Bar. Each lawyer is responsible for maintaining his or her personal MCLE record. Even if a lawyer has 15 carryover hours from the preceding reporting year, the lawyer must file an Annual Report of Compliance by July 31 showing the carryover hours and any other programs the lawyer may have attended.
(6) What Are the Requirements of Continuing Legal Education in Professionalism, Ethics and Malpractice Prevention?
Effective July 1, 1990, Missouri lawyers are required to obtain continuing legal education devoted exclusively to ethics, professionalism, or malpractice prevention. There are two different requirements. For further information, see Questions 31-37.
Every lawyer to whom a delinquency notice is sent pursuant to Rule 15.06(b) shall pay a late-filing fee of $35.00. Payment of this fee shall accompany the late-filed information establishing compliance with Rule 15. Rule 15.06(f) establishes an additional $100.00 fee as a condition for reinstatement of lawyers suspended from the practice of law for failing to comply with Rule 15. The fees shall be paid to The Missouri Bar for deposit in the Advisory Committee Fund. The money received from the late-filing fees assists in funding the lawyer discipline system and does not accrue to the benefit of The Missouri Bar.
(8) In Addition to the Annual Report Are Other Records of Attendance Required?
Sponsors are required to retain records of attendance for three years to enable lawyers or The Missouri Bar to obtain verification of attendance. Sponsors do not submit information establishing compliance by individual lawyers. Accredited sponsors are required to send a list of the programs they conduct to The Missouri Bar. Attendees are not required to send verification of attendance at individual programs to The Missouri Bar.
If a lawyer obtains more than 15 hours of CLE within a reporting year, exclusive of the hours of credit for self-study, up to 15 hours of such excess may be carried over to the next reporting year by entering the appropriate information on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance. Even if a lawyer is exempt from the 15-hour requirement during the reporting year, such as a lawyer initially licensed to practice during the July 1 – June 30 reporting year, the lawyer must still complete more than 15 hours exclusive of self-study to have carryover credit. See Question 10 for the formula for determining the amount of carryover credit.
To determine the carryover credit hours to which a lawyer is entitled, total the hours of credit reported, including carryover hours from the preceding year. Then subtract the self-study credit hours reported, as required by Regulation 15.05.6. Finally, subtract 15 from that amount. A maximum of 15 hours may be carried over to the next reporting year. To claim carryover credit from the preceding year, the credit hours must have been reported on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance for the preceding year.
Formula: Line e - Line c - 15 = carryover hours (maximum of 15). Line g is included in the amount on Line a.
(11) How Are the Number of Hours for a Program Determined?
The total instructional time in minutes is divided by 50 and rounded to the nearest one-tenth (.1) of an hour. Instructional time does not include introductory remarks, coffee or meal breaks or business meetings.
(12) What If a Lawyer Attends a Portion of a Program?
A lawyer can obtain credit for the portion he or she attends. The number of hours of credit is determined by adding the minutes of instruction actually attended, dividing by 50 and rounding to the nearest one-tenth (.1) of an hour.
(13) Can Lawyers in Missouri Not Actively Practicing in Missouri Keep Their Licenses Without Completing 15 Hours of CLE Annually?
Lawyers residing in Missouri but not actively practicing in Missouri during a reporting year may retain their licenses and remain members of The Missouri Bar without satisfying the 15-hour requirement but must file the Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1 by July 31 of each year to claim an exemption. Retired lawyers who do not actively hold themselves out as practicing lawyers in Missouri and only occasionally render legal advice to family members or friends are not considered to be in the active practice of law for the purpose of Rule 15. Members of The Missouri Bar who reside outside of Missouri should review Questions 28-30.
(14) What If a Lawyer or Judge Does Not Satisfy the 15-Hour Requirement and Is Not Otherwise Exempt or Excused from Compliance Due to Hardship or Extenuating Circumstance?
The names of all lawyers who do not comply with the requirements of Rule 15 are sent to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Chief Disciplinary Counsel and the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline. Rule 15.06(f) provides that every lawyer so reported is automatically suspended from the practice of law on the date the report is received by the Clerk of the Supreme Court. Such lawyer’s license may be reinstated as provided in Rule 15.06(f).
Accredited Programs and Activities
(15) How Does a Lawyer Know Whether a Program or Activity Is Accredited?
In many instances, the brochure will indicate that a program is accredited in Missouri. Also, the sponsor should be able to inform a lawyer whether the program is accredited or if the sponsor has requested accreditation from The Missouri Bar. Finally, The Missouri Bar will maintain records of accredited sponsors and individually-accredited programs.
(16) What Sponsors Are Accredited?
Certain well-known sponsors of CLE programs are accredited sponsors, including The Missouri Bar, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, St. Louis University Law School, Washington University Law School, Judicial Education Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, St. Louis County Bar Association, Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, American Bar Association, American Law Institute and the Practising Law Institute. Other sponsors can obtain accreditation of a program upon application to The Missouri Bar by submitting of Form 6. It is expected that sponsors will state in their brochures which programs are accredited in Missouri.
(17) If a Sponsor Does Not Obtain Accreditation of a Program or Activity, How Does an Individual Lawyer Obtain Accreditation of a Program or Activity?
If a program is already accredited, or if the sponsor has an application for accreditation pending, a lawyer need not file an application for accreditation. If a sponsor has not obtained accreditation of a program, an individual attorney may obtain accreditation by filing an Application by a Member of The Missouri Bar for Accreditation of a Continuing Legal Education Program or Activity, Form 2. If a brochure publicizing the program is available, a copy of the brochure should accompany the Form 2. The application should be submitted and approval received prior to filing the Annual Report (Form 1), which is due by July 31 and, preferably, prior to attending the program. The Form 2 is available on the Missouri Bar website under MCLE Downloadable Forms.
(18) Can In-House Programs by Law Firms, Corporate Law Departments or Government Agencies Qualify for Accreditation?
Yes, in-house programs may be accredited on the same basis as programs by other sponsors.
(19) Can Credit Be Obtained by Viewing Videotapes or Materials Online?
If a qualified commentator is not available, a videotape or online materials may only be reported for self-study credit, which, except in cases of hardship, is limited to 6 hours and may not be reported for ethics credit. However, if a qualified commentator is available to answer questions contemporaneously with showing of the videotape or accessing the online materials, such a program may be submitted for accreditation as any other live program.
Regulation 15.04.5 provides that up to six hours of self-study credit may be earned by studying law-related materials including but not limited to videotapes, audiotapes and advance sheets in furtherance of general academic and professional competence. Study of online on-demand legal materials may be reported for self-study credit, subject to a 6-hour limit. Absent authorization due to a hardship, such as a physical disability, self- study may not be reported to satisfy the ethics education requirements discussed in Questions 31-37.
The Missouri Bar does not accredit or otherwise specify which materials qualify for self-study. If, in the reasonable professional judgment of a lawyer, the study of particular law-related materials furthers his or her "general academic or professional competence," the lawyer may report the hours of study on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance to satisfy the requirement of Rule 15. Pursuant to Reg. 15.05.6, self- study may not be considered in determining the number of hours which a lawyer may carry over to the next reporting year.
(21) How Many Hours May Be Completed by Self-Study?
In most situations, a maximum of 6 hours may be completed by self- study. However, an alternative method of compliance, which may include more than 6 hours of self-study, may be authorized upon hardship application, Form 3, pursuant to Regulation 15.05.3. The request for authorization to utilize such an alternative method of compliance should be made by sending an Application by a Member of The Missouri Bar for Hardship Exemption from MCLE Requirement, Form 3, to The Missouri Bar, Attn: MCLE, P.O. Box 2355, Jefferson City, MO 65102-2355. Pursuant to Reg. 15.05.6, self-study may not be considered in determining the number of hours which a lawyer may carry over to the next reporting year. Also, self-study may not be used to satisfy the requirement of three hours of ethics education, absent approval of a hardship application due to physical disability or similar circumstances.
Regulation 15.05.1 sets forth the standards for determining the number of credit hours which a CLE speaker or author earns for a particular activity.
Authors of certain legal publications and speakers at accredited continuing legal education programs may receive MCLE credit if they do not receive compensation, other than reasonable expenses. Presentations to lay groups or students which are not accredited CLE programs may not be reported for MCLE speaker credit. Authorship of articles for general circulation newspapers or publications directed to a non-lawyer audience do not qualify for MCLE author credit under Regulation 15.05.1.
Speakers at accredited continuing legal education programs directed to lawyers who do not receive an honorarium or compensation (other than reasonable expenses) are entitled to report their actual presentation time and actual preparation time. There is a limit on the preparation time which may be reported of 15.0 hours for each 1.0 hour of presentation time. For example, a lawyer who makes a 60 minute presentation would be entitled to report 1.2 hours of actual presentation time. (60 minutes divided by Missouri's 50-minute credit hour equals 1.2) Also, the lawyer could report his or her actual preparation time, subject to an upper limit of 18 hours. (The upper limit is determined by multiplying 15.0 hours times 1.2 hours of presentation time.) The lawyer's attendance at a portion of the program other than the presentation may be reported for attendance credit. If the continuing legal education program has not been accredited by action of the sponsor, the individual lawyer should request accreditation of the program so that the presentation time and preparation time qualify for speaker credit.
Authors may report their actual preparation time, subject to a limit of 15 hours for each publication.
The amount of speaker and author credit should be reported on line b. of the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance.
(23) What Types of Programs and Activities Qualify for MCLE Credit?
Programs offered by accredited or identified sponsors. Regs. 15.04.2 and 15.04.3(a) and (b). Programs for which an individual lawyer seeks and obtains accreditation. Reg. 15.04.3(c). Self-study. Reg. 15.04.5. CLE speaker and author credit when the speaker or author does not receive compensation other than reasonable expenses. Reg. 15.05.1. Alternative methods permitted upon approval of a hardship application. Reg. 15.05.3. Programs of the state bar association of an attorney whose principal place of practice is in a state other than Missouri. Reg. 15.05.5.
Exemptions
(24) Which Lawyers Are Not Required to Complete 15 Hours of CLE During a Reporting Year?
A lawyer who does not actively practice law in Missouri during a reporting year, whether the lawyer resides in Missouri or out-of-state, is not required to complete the 15 hours and may claim an exemption. The exemption must be claimed annually by filing the Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1, by July 31 of each year, unless the lawyer is in paid non-resident fee status of Rule 6.01(I)(3) for the entire reporting year. See the answer to Question 3 for information about the types of activities or employment that constitute the "practice of law" for the purpose of Rule 15.
A lawyer in the paid non-resident dues status of Rule 6.01(I)(3) during the entire July 1-June 30 reporting year is exempt from completing 15 hours and need not file an Annual Report to claim the exemption. Lawyers who change to Rule 6.01(I)(3) dues status in the middle of a July 1 – June 30 MCLE reporting year, for example at the time of payment of annual dues, are not exempt from the requirements of Rule 15 for that year.
Lawyers are exempt from the 15 hour annual requirement for the July 1 – June 30 reporting year in which they are admitted to The Missouri Bar. Accordingly, lawyers initially licensed to practice law in Missouri during the July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 reporting year are not required to file the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1, for the July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 reporting year. However, a lawyer initially licensed during the July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 reporting year should file an Annual Report for that year to report ethics credit obtained during that reporting year (See Questions 31-37) or to claim carryover hours if the lawyer has completed more than 15 program or speaker/author hours, exclusive of self-study (See Question 9).
Government attorneys engaged in the public practice of law are subject to the 15 hour MCLE requirement as are attorneys in corporate legal departments and bank trust departments, judicial law clerks and law professors, including law professors supervising students under Rule 13.06. Lawyers who receive a limited license under Rule 8.105 to serve as in-house counsel must comply with the requirements of Rule 15. Certain full-time government officials not in the public or private practice of law in Missouri during the reporting year may apply for an exemption.
Visiting attorneys permitted to practice in Missouri pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 9.03 not otherwise subject to Rule 15 are not subject to the reporting requirement of Rule 15. Lawyers may obtain a waiver due to physical hardship or extenuating circumstances pursuant to Reg. 15.05.3.
(25) How Does a Lawyer Claim the Non-Practicing Exemption?
To claim this exemption, a lawyer may not have actively practiced law in Missouri during any portion of the July 1 - June 30 reporting year. The non-practicing exemption may be claimed by making the appropriate designation on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1 and filing that report each year by July 31.
(26) What If, Between July 1 and June 30, a Lawyer Changes from Non-Practicing Status to the Active Practice of Law in Missouri or from the Active Practice of Law to Non-Practicing Status?
If a lawyer is engaged in the active practice of law in Missouri during any portion of a July 1 - June 30 reporting year, the lawyer must complete the full 15 hours of continuing legal education within a reporting year.
The lawyer also is subject to the requirement of three hours of ethics education between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2008 if the lawyer practices in Missouri during any part of the July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 reporting year, the final year of that three-year ethics compliance period.
A lawyer should make a written request to The Missouri Bar by using the Application by a Member of The Missouri Bar for Hardship Exemption from MCLE Requirement, Form 3. The application should be made at least 60 days prior to the end of the reporting year for which the waiver is sought, except in cases when such a deadline is impractical or inappropriate. The request will be reviewed expeditiously.
(28) What About Out-of-State Members of the Missouri Bar Who Do Not Practice in Missouri?
If a lawyer does not practice in Missouri during a reporting year, whether residing in Missouri or out-of-state, the lawyer is not required to complete 15 hours of CLE annually. Depending upon the lawyer's Bar enrollment fee category, a lawyer residing out-of-state may still be required to file the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance by July 31 of each year to claim an exemption.
An out-of-state member of The Missouri Bar who does not practice in Missouri during a July 1 – June 30 reporting year, but who is not in the reduced fee category of Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 6.01(I)(3) for the entire July 1-June 30 reporting year, must file the Annual Report of Compliance by July 31 but may claim an exemption by making the appropriate designation on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1.
Out-of-state lawyers in the reduced enrollment fee pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 6.01(l)(3) for the entire July 1-June 30 reporting year are exempt from the requirement of Rule 15.05(a) and are not required to file an Annual Report of Compliance to claim the exemption. However, if a lawyer changes to Rule 6.01(I)(3) fee status in the middle of a July 1 - June 30 reporting year, for example, at the time of payment of the annual dues, the lawyer must file an Annual Report of Compliance for that reporting year by July 31. If the lawyer practiced in Missouri during a July 1 - June 30 reporting year prior to the change of fee status, the lawyer must complete and report 15 hours of continuing legal education for that July 1 - June 30 reporting year.
If the lawyer practices in Missouri during part of the July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 reporting year, the final year of the 3-year ethics compliance period of Rule 15.05(f), the lawyer must complete 3 hours of ethics for that period. (See the answer to question 33.)
(29) What If an Out-of-State Lawyer Not Presently Practicing in Missouri Returns to the Active Practice of Law in Missouri?
If an out-of-state lawyer returns to the active practice of law in Missouri, the lawyer must complete and report 15 hours of continuing legal education during the reporting year that the lawyer returns to active practice in Missouri. If a lawyer practices in Missouri during July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008, the final year of the three-year ethics compliance period (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2008), the lawyer will be subject to the full three-hour ethics requirement and must complete three hours of professionalism, ethics or malpractice prevention education between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2008.
(30) What About a Lawyer Whose Principal Practice Is in a State Other than Missouri but Who Actively Practices in Missouri and Thus Is Subject to Rule 15?
A lawyer whose principal place of practice is in a state other than Missouri but who also actively practices in Missouri is subject to the MCLE requirements. However, such a lawyer can comply with the 15-hour annual requirement of Rule 15 through "reciprocal compliance" if the state of principal practice has a substantially similar MCLE requirement. All states that presently have MCLE requirements satisfy the "substantially similar" standard of Reg. 15.05.5. The out-of-state lawyer who desires to claim "reciprocal compliance" may do so by making the appropriate designation on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1, and filing the report by July 31 of each year. The requirement of Rule 15.05(e) that new lawyers obtain 3 hours of ethics within 12 months of admission cannot be satisfied through reciprocal compliance. Satisfaction of the Rule 15.05(f) requirement of 3 hours every 3 years ethics may be satisfied by reciprocal compliance but only if the lawyer reports reciprocal compliance each of the 3 years of the ethics compliance period.
If a lawyer's principal place of practice is in a state other than Missouri, and that state does not have a continuing legal education requirement, the lawyer may satisfy the requirement by completing accredited programs or activities as defined in Regulation 15.01.1 or by completing programs of the bar association of the state of the lawyer's principal place of practice.
Requirements of Continuing Legal Education in Ethics
Rule 15.05(e) requires new lawyers admitted to The Missouri Bar after June 30, 1990, and lawyers readmitted after that date, to obtain three hours of ethics education within twelve months of admission or readmission. This requirement applies to all new admittees, even those who do not reside or practice in Missouri after admission. Hours attended between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2008 to satisfy the requirement of Rule 15.05(e) related to new admittees also apply toward the requirement of three ethics hours between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2008 established by Rule 15.05(f).
(32) What Ethics Education Does Rule 15.05(f) Require of All Lawyers Actively Practicing in Missouri?
The current three-year ethics compliance period is July 1, 2008-June 30, 2011.
Rule 15.05(f) requires all lawyers who actively practice in Missouri during the final year (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008) of the three-year ethics compliance period (July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2008), except new lawyers admitted to The Missouri Bar between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, to obtain at least three hours of continuing legal education in ethics during that period. New lawyers admitted to The Missouri Bar between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 will have twelve months from the date of admission to obtain three hours of ethics to satisfy Rule 15.05(e) and are not required to obtain three hours of ethics by June 30, 2008 to satisfy the requirement of Rule 15.05(f). See the answer to Question 3 concerning what constitutes the “practice of law” for Rule 15.
If a lawyer obtains in excess of three hours of ethics credit in a three-year compliance period, those excess hours may not be carried over to apply to the 3-hour requirement of the succeeding three-year compliance period. However, the ethics hours apply toward the 15-hour annual requirement and are included in the computation of carryover credit for the succeeding annual 15-hour requirement.
(33) What If a Lawyer Only Practices in Missouri During a Portion of the July 1, 2005-June 30, 2008 Ethics Compliance Period?
If a lawyer actively practices in Missouri during July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008, the final year of the July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2008 three- year ethics compliance period, except a new lawyer admitted to The Missouri Bar during the July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 reporting year, the lawyer is required to fully comply with the three-hour ethics requirement. The three-hour ethics requirement is not proportionally reduced because a lawyer only actively practices during the final year of the three-year period. New lawyers admitted to The Missouri Bar between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 will have twelve months from the date of admission to obtain three hours of ethics to satisfy Rule 15.05(e) and are not required to obtain three hours of ethics by June 30, 2008 to satisfy the requirement of Rule 15.05(f).
The current three year ethics compliance period is July 1, 2008-June 30, 2011.
(34) Does the Three Hours of Ethics Credit Apply to the 15-Hour Annual Requirement?
Ethics credit hours apply toward the 15-hour annual requirement for the reporting year in which they occur and may be included in the computation of carryover credit to apply toward the 15-hour requirement of the succeeding July 1 - June 30 reporting year.
(35) What Qualifies as CLE in Ethics?
For a program or portion of a program to qualify for ethics credit, the program or portion thereof must be devoted exclusively to professionalism, ethics or malpractice prevention. To be an accredited CLE program, there must be at least 50 minutes of instruction. If there is a portion of a program devoted exclusively to ethics, there must be at least 25 minutes (0.5 MCLE credit hour) devoted to ethics instruction. Accredited CLE programs are not required to include portions devoted exclusively to ethics. It is expected that program brochures of accredited sponsors in Missouri will designate those programs or portions of a program which qualify for ethics credit. If a lawyer plans to attend a program which appears to qualify for ethics credit, and the sponsor has not designated that program as qualifying, the lawyer may apply for a designation of a program or portion of program by using the Application by a Member of The Missouri Bar for Accreditation of a Continuing Legal Education Program or Activity, Form 2.
The regulations define the program content which will qualify as instruction in professionalism, ethics and malpractice prevention. Those definitions are printed on the Application by a Member of The Missouri Bar for Accreditation of a Continuing Legal Education Program or Activity, Form 2. Ethics programs do not include topics such as attorney fees, client development, law firm administration, marketing or advertising, law office economics and practice systems unless there is direct and substantial discussion concerning Rules 2 and 4 of Missouri Supreme Court Rules, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct or the Code of Judicial Conduct of the American Bar Association.
(36) Can Only Attendance at Programs Satisfy the Ethics Education Requirements?
Only attendance at programs and speaker or author credit will satisfy the ethics education requirements, unless physical disability or other circumstances warrant approval of a hardship application for compliance through self-study.
The lawyer's credit hours devoted exclusively to ethics should be reported on the Attorney's Annual Report of Compliance, Form 1, for the July 1 - June 30 reporting year in which the credit hours occur. These hours are included in line "a" or “b” on the Annual Report as well as line "g." A lawyer should not wait until the third year of the compliance period to report ethics credit hours that occurred during previous years.