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In this month’s What You Need to Know, we profile new rules recently adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Continuing Legal and Judicial Education Rules and Regulations
On April 15, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court adopted amendments to the rules and regulations governing continuing legal and judicial education in Colorado, effective July 1, 2021. Starting with attorneys with the three-year CLE compliance period that began January 1, 2021 and will end December 31, 2023, Colorado attorneys will need to complete at least two credit hours in equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and at least five credit hours in legal ethics or legal professionalism. However, the total number of required CLE credit hours remains 45.
Questions about how the new rule works? About what CLE qualifies for EDI credit? About how this works if you also comply with another state’s CLE requirements? Or generally about the alternative ways of getting CLE credit? We have summarized the new rule and regulation changes on our CLE website. We also have FAQs on other topics, including how pro bono work can qualify for CLE credit.
Admissions
On April 15, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court adopted amendments to the attorney admissions rules that affect attorneys licensed elsewhere or who took a uniform bar exam elsewhere who are seeking to be admitted in Colorado, effective July 1, 2021. The amendments pertain to Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure 203.2, 203.3, 203.4, 205.3, 205.4, 205.6, 208.2, and 209.5 , and, among other things:
- Eliminate the requirement for reciprocity for on-motion applicants as long as they have been admitted through a bar examination in another United States jurisdiction;
- Extend the duration of validity for an MPRE score for all applicants from two years to five years, and allow applicants with 15 years or more of practice time to not have to retake the MPRE to be admitted in Colorado; and
- Allow an attorney licensed in another state who has applied for admission in Colorado and been authorized for practice pending admission to appear in state courts or state agencies without having to seek pro hac vice permission if that attorney is employed by a state or local governmental agency or nonprofit legal services provider.
The proposed changes also would have modified requirements for applicants who receive their law degree from a foreign school to allow admission based on educational equivalency rather than limiting admission to those who are from English-speaking common law countries. Based on public feedback received, OARC is continuing to refine this part of the proposal.
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