CLE Statuses and Definitions

For additional information on definitions, see Rule 2 of the Rules of the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education.

Statuses

CLE Statuses 1, 2, and 3: A lawyer with a status of 1, 2, or 3 is compliant with CLE requirements. A lawyer may be compliant with CLE but not authorized to practice because the lawyer’s lawyer registration status or disciplinary status prevents the lawyer from being authorized to practice.

Emeritus status: A lawyer who has met the requirements of CLE Rule 14 and is authorized to provide pro bono legal representation to a pro bono client referred by an approved legal services provider. To qualify for Emeritus status, the lawyer must have filed a Retirement Affidavit pursuant to Rule 2(C)(5) of the Rules of the Supreme Court on Lawyer Registration, be on voluntary restricted status, and have submitted an Affidavit of Emeritus Status Appendix IV showing compliance with the requirements of CLE Rule 14. Emeritus status lawyers remain on restricted status. See Rule 2J.

Involuntary Restricted (IR) status: The status of a lawyer licensed in Minnesota who is not in compliance with the educational and reporting requirements of the CLE Rules and who has been involuntarily placed in that status by order of the Court. Lawyers on IR status are not authorized to practice law. See Rule 12 for additional provisions.

Voluntary Restricted (VR) status: The status of a lawyer licensed in Minnesota who has voluntarily decided not to have an active license and who does not need to comply with the educational and reporting requirements of the CLE Rules. Lawyers on VR status are in good standing but are not authorized to practice law. See Rule 12 for additional provisions.

Retired status: The status of a lawyer who has filed a Retirement Affidavit with the Lawyer Registration Office and whose license is placed on restricted CLE status. See Rule 13 for additional provisions.

Defined Terms

The following terms are defined in the CLE Rules:

  • Approved course
  • Approved legal services provider
  • Board
  • Chairperson
  • Classroom setting
  • Course in ethics or professional responsibility
  • Course in the elimination of bias in the legal profession and in the practice of law
  • Court
  • Director
  • Established continuing legal education course sponsor
  • Fee
  • In-house course
  • Laboratory setting
  • Law and literature course
  • Moderator
  • On-Demand course
  • Participant
  • Pro bono client
  • Pro bono legal representation
  • Professional development course
  • Submit

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