California MCLE Certified Paralegal Requirements

All California Paralegals (contracting with and/or working under the direction of a supervising attorney) are required to certify their completion of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) participatory credit hours.

Paralegals and legal assistants are required to complete 8 hours of mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) every two years: 4 hours in General Law or an area of Specialized Law and 4 hours in Legal Ethics pursuant to California Business and Professions Code §6450(d).

Every two (2) years all California Paralegals (contracting with and/or working under the direction of a supervising attorney) are required to certify their completion of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) participatory credit hours.

All credit hours may be taken as live or self study programs.

As a division of NBI, Inc., a State Bar of California approved Multiple Activity Provider, IPE programs are presumptively approved by the State Bar of California.

Paralegals are responsible for maintaining their own records of completion. Paralegals do not certify compliance to the State Bar of California. Instead, paralegals certify compliance to their supervising attorney. If compliance is ever questioned, it is the supervising attorney, not the paralegal, who is responsible for certifying that the requirements have been met. Please retain the Verified Certificate of Completion for your records.

4 hours in ethics every 24 months (two years).

Yes. California paralegals are allowed credit for attorney CLE approved courses.

View California attorney courses offered by our parent company NBI Inc.

• State Contact Information
  • Mailing/Shipping address: 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105
  • Main Office Phone Number: (415) 538-2000

• California CLE Resources
  • Business & Professions Code Section 6450
  • California Legislative Information