CLE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Most, but not all, DSOTD programs qualify for CLE credit. CLE approval is at the discretion of the state bar. 

DSOTD attorney advisors, criminal defense practitioners serving as faculty, experts working in conjunction with DSOTD and/or committees develop and deliver all content for DSOTD's programs.

No. CLE approval is at the discretion of the state/region's bar or registration association. CLE accreditation will generally be sought in all applicable jurisdictions for those attending in-person and live webinar programs. DSOTD staff will note whether CLE is being sought in the training event announcement or program's materials page. 

Pertinent CLE information will be made available to participants by DSOTD staff within 30 days of a program's completion, if applicable and approved by the state/region's bar or CLE commission.

To find DSOTD ethics content approved for CLE, you may do one of the following:

• Enter the word "ethics" in the search function on FD.org, review the returned ethics materials and review the material's accompanying CLE accreditation information.
• Navigate to the "Ethics" section of FD.org's  Criminal Defense Topics to access available ethics content. Notably, you must log into the password protected side of FD.org to view videos and program materials. 

Participants will receive a CLE Information Sheet detailing the amount of CLE credit approved by the state/region.

DSOTD staff will provide participants a CLE Information Sheet, a Uniform Certificate of Attendance (COA) and a program agenda within 30 days of the completion of the program. This information will be provided via email.  

A list of website links with requirements for your state bar can be found in our State/Region Specific Information page. 

Information regarding who will report/submit attendance on behalf of a participant, can be found on DSOTD's State/Region Specific CLE Information page, specifically within the "States/Regions with CLE requirements" section.

Information regarding who will report/submit attendance on behalf of a participant, can be found on DSOTD's  State/Region Specific CLE Information page, specifically within the "States/Regions with CLE requirements" section. 

Notably, DSOTD does not collect any fees from attorneys. In addition, if an attorney is barred in one or more of the following states: NM, TN, PA, or NE, attendance will be reported to one state only for applicable CLE programs. This limitation is taken to minimize reporting fees per attorney/program.

Email us at DSO_CLEAdmin@ao.uscourts.gov for further assistance.

Specialty credits are credits available in an area of specialization directed toward the development of advanced skills. There are seven specialty skills, not including general and ethics credits. DSOTD generally offers the following five (as noted in the COA.

• Areas of Professional Practice
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Elimination of Bias
• Law Practice Management
• Skills

To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states: NM, TN, PA, NE, CLE attendance will be reported to only one of these states.

No, DSOTD does not keep individual attorney CLE records. Attorneys are responsible for keeping track of their own CLE records, registration emails and program documentation.

Attorneys are required to attend the full length of the program to obtain CLE credit. DSOTD awards CLE credit for full program participation only.

Visit DSOTD's "Training Events" page to view and access DSOTD programs and events.

Attendance at DSOTD programs is limited to participants who provide services pursuant to the Federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA). For more information, please read our training events registration disclaimer.

Follow the instructions below for verification and to obtain CLE documentation:
Attorneys must first verify with their state bar what credit reporting rules apply to ensure compliance. CLE information by state is available in the CLE Info Center.

• Send an email request to the DSOTD staff member listed on the program materials page for the desired program. If you do not see a DSOTD staff member listed, email your request to DSO_CLEAdmin@ao.uscourts.gov with the details outlined below.
• Your email request must include the following for verification and consideration:
  • Title of the program(s)
  • The date that the in-person program, "live" webinar (s) and/or previously recorded webinar / program watched by the attorney.

  • State and bar number.

     

  • Upon receipt of the of your email, a DSOTD staff member will:
    •    Verify the attendance and or participation.
    •    Send an email with CLE documentation such as a Uniform Certificate of Attendance (UCOA), a CLE Information Sheet and/or an Attendance Verification Certificate once attendance and or participation has been confirmed.
    Important Information:
    •    Due to the volume of requests, we receive and to minimize reporting fees per attorney/program:

•    The verification process will take up to 10 business days. 
•    DSOTD will issue CLE documentation and report attendance for two (2) programs, and two (2) states maximum per calendar year. If you are barred in more than one of the following states: NE, NM, TN, PA, CLE attendance will be reported to one of these states. Please be sure to indicate which state in your request.
•    DSOTD will not be able to process CLE credit requests for previously recorded webinars/programs older than three (3) years from the original date of the program or attorney view date. Please be sure to verify credit reporting rules for previously recorded webinars with your state bar. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center. 
•    Some states do not issue CLE credit for previously recorded webinars older than one (1) reporting year from the original date of the webinar (i.e. AL State Bar).
•    Attorneys cannot self-apply/report credit in states where the Training Division is an Accredited CLE provider. To verify your state's accreditation status with DSOTD, visit the CLE Info Center.
 

Attorneys are required to sign in and sign out each day of the program as applicable and instructed by DSOTD staff to receive full CLE credit.

• If an attorney signs in and does not sign out, the attorney cannot receive full CLE credits for attending. Exceptions are made at the discretion of DSOTD staff. Ultimately the state bar decides if an attorney can be granted CLE credit for the total credit hours reported. The attorney must be present for at least 40 minutes for DSOTD to report attendance on their behalf.

If program are available, they will be posted on the password protected side of fd.org under "Program Materials"

Follow the instructions below for verification and to obtain CLE documentation:

1. Verify what credit reporting rules apply for your state bar to ensure compliance. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center. If you do not have an email for the TD staff person, email your request to DSO_CLEAdmin@ao.uscourts.gov with the details outlined below.

2. Send an email request to the DSOTD staff member assigned to the program with the following details:

• Title of the Program (s)
• Actual date of the:
  • "live" in-person program attended or
  • "live" webinar (s) attended, or
  • previously recorded webinar / program watched by the attorney.
• State and bar number.

• Upon receipt of the email, DSOTD staff will:

  • Verify the attendance and/or participation.
  • Send an email with CLE documentation such as a Uniform Certificate of Attendance (UCOA), a CLE Information Sheet and/or an Attendance Verification Certificate (if applicable) once attendance and or participation has been confirmed.

  Important Information:

  • The verification process will take up to 10 business days.
  • Due to the volume of requests, we receive and to minimize reporting fees per attorney/program:
    • TD will issue CLE documentation and report attendance for two (2) programs, and two (2) states maximum per calendar year.
      • If you are barred in more than one of the following states: NE, NM, TN, PA, CLE attendance will be reported to one of these states. Please be sure to indicate which state in your request.
    • TD will not be able to process CLE credit requests for previously recorded webinars/programs older than three (3) years from the original date of the program or attorney view date.
      • Please be sure to verify credit reporting rules for previously recorded webinars with your state bar. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center.
      • Some states do not issue CLE credit for previously recorded webinars older than one (1) reporting year from the original date of the webinar (i.e. AL State Bar).
  • Attorneys cannot self-apply/report credit in states where the Training Division is an Accredited CLE provider. To verify your state's accreditation status with TD, visit the CLE Info Center.

Follow the instructions below for verification and to obtain CLE documentation:

The attorney must first verify with their state bar what credit reporting rules apply to ensure compliance. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center.

• Send an email request to a Training Division (TD) Meeting Coordinator or the
  Attorney Advisor assigned to the program with the details outlined below.
  • If you do not have an email for the TD staff person, email your request to DSO_CLEAdmin@ao.uscourts.gov with the details outlined below.
• Your email request must include the following for verification and consideration:
• Title of the Program (s)
• Actual date of the:
  • "live" in-person program attended or
  • "live" webinar (s) attended, or
  • previously recorded webinar / program watched by the attorney.
• State and bar number.

Upon receipt of the email, a TD staff person will:

• Verify the attendance and or participation.
• Send an email with CLE documentation such as aUniform Certificate of Attendance (UCOA), a CLE Information Sheetand/or an Attendance Verification Certificate (if applicable) once attendance and or participation has been confirmed.

Important Information:

• The verification process will take up to 10 business days.
• Due to the volume of requests, we receive and to minimize reporting fees per attorney/program:
  • TD will issue CLE documentation and report attendance for two (2) programs, and two (2) states maximum per calendar year.
    • If you are barred in more than one of the following states:NE, NM, TN, PA, CLE attendance will be reported to one of these states. Please be sure to indicate which state in your request.
  • TD will not be able to process CLE credit requests for previously recorded webinars/programs older than three (3) years from the original date of the program or attorney view date.
    • Please be sure to verify credit reporting rules for previously recorded webinars with your state bar. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center.
    • Some states do not issue CLE credit for previously recorded webinars older than one (1) reporting year from the original date of the webinar (i.e. AL State Bar).
• Attorneys cannot self-apply/report credit in states where the Training Division is an Accredited CLE provider. To verify your state's accreditation status with TD, visit the CLE Info Center.

If program handout materials and videos are available, they will be posted on the password protected side of fd.org under "Program Materials".

Duration of in-person programs varies by days, whereas webinars occur on one day. Duration of sessions for both in-person and webinar program generally lasts approximately 60-75 minutes. The specific length for every session is listed in each program agenda. For those watching recordings of past programs, the exact duration of each recording is displayed at the start of each recording.

No, if an Attorney watches a previously recorded webinar, the time frame for obtaining CLE information and documentation no longer applies. Attorneys must first be verified, and CLE Information and documentation will be provided after the verification process.

Program materials are available on the password protected side of fd.org under "Program Materials"

Due to the volume of requests, we receive and to minimize reporting fees per attorney/program:

• The verification process will take up to 10 business days.
• TD will issue CLE documentation and report attendance for two (2) programs, and two (2) states maximum per calendar year.
• TD will not be able to process CLE credit requests for previously recorded webinars/programs older than three (3) years from the original date of the program or attorney view date.
  • Please be sure to verify credit reporting rules for previously recorded webinars with your state bar. CLE information by state bar is available in the CLE Info Center.
  • Some states do not issue CLE credit for previously recorded webinars older than one (1) reporting year from the original date of the webinar (i.e. AL State Bar).
• Attorneys cannot self-apply/report credit in states where the Training Division is an Accredited CLE provider. To verify your state's accreditation status with TD, visit the CLE Info Center.

The platforms used to deliver virtual programs e.g., webinars capture Attorney engagement and analytics.

You may view upcoming event information and/or contact us one of the following ways:

• Visit Training Events
• Send a message via "Contact Us" on fd.org.
  • For specific questions about registering, email us.
  • For specific questions about CLE, email us.

Yes, the number is 1-800-788-9908 (toll free hotline)

If you have general questions about DSOTD's CLE process and requirements that are not program specific, please email Jenny Abreu, Program Specialist, Continuing Legal Education (CLE).