COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF
Rules and Regulations Governing
Continuing Legal Education AwardPREAMBLE: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
As society becomes more complex, the delivery of legal service becomes more complex. The public rightly expects that practicing attorneys, in their practice of law, and judges, in the performance of their duties, will continue their legal and judicial education throughout the period of their service to society. With ever-increasing responsibility being placed upon non-lawyer legal staff to assist in delivering legal services, the public also has come to expect a high standard of competence from legal support professionals. It is the purpose of these rules, therefore, to promote and encourage a high standard of competence and professionalism among legal support professionals through continuing legal education.
1 Definitions
1.1 The "Committee" is the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Colorado Association of Legal Support Staff ("CALSS").
1.2 "Continuing legal education" or "CLE" is any legal, judicial, or other educational activity accredited by the Committee or other recognized educational institution or board.
1.3 "These Rules" refer to the Rules and Regulations Governing Continuing Legal Education Award.
1.4 A "unit" of CLE is a measurement factor combining time and quality as assigned by this Committee or other recognized educational institution or board to all or part of a particular continuing legal education activity.
2 Minimum Educational Requirements
2.1 To qualify for a CLE Award, an applicant must complete 45 units of CLE during each applicable three-year period.
2.2 At least 7 of the 45 units will be devoted to CLE specifically addressing legal or judicial ethics.
2.3 All CALSS members are eligible to apply for a CLE Award. The initial application may be made at any time following completion of the minimum CLE requirements, and shall be renewable three years from the date of issuance.
2.4 Only CLE units completed after July 9, 1996 (the date of incorporation of CALSS) may be used to meet the minimum educational requirement for the first applicable three-year period. Following initial application, units of CLE completed in excess of the required units in any applicable three-year period may not be used to meet the minimum educational requirements in any succeeding three-year period.
3 Eligibility of Continuing Legal Education
3.1 Continuing legal education must be an educational activity which has as its primary objective the increase of competence of legal support professionals. The activity must be an organized activity dealing with subject matter directly related to the practice of law or the performance of support duties. The Committee shall recognize a broad variety of educational activities which meet these requirements.
3.2 Formal classroom instruction or educational seminars which meet the requirements of paragraph 3.1 above lend themselves very well to the fulfillment of the educational requirement imposed by these Rules and will be readily recognized by the Committee. However, it is not intended that compliance with these Rules will impose any undue hardship upon any member by virtue of the fact that he or she may find it difficult because of age or other reasons to attend such activities. Consequently, in addition to recognizing classroom activities and seminars at centralized locations, the Committee shall promote and recognize such educational activities as video tape and audio tape presentations; preparation of articles, papers, books, and other such written materials; self-administered courses and testing; and other meritorious learning experiences.
3.3 The Committee shall recognize units of credit assigned to all or part of a particular continuing legal education activity by any recognized educational institution or board. If an educational activity has not been so accredited, the Committee shall review the activity and, if appropriate, assign an appropriate number of units. Generally, a unit of credit shall be the equivalent to attending 50 minutes of a formal classroom lecture.
3.4 The Committee shall award units of CLE credit for certain approved pro bono activities. Such pro bono activities may include, but are not limited to, providing assistance for pro bono programs sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association or any local bar association. The Committee shall review each activity on an individual basis and, if appropriate, assign an appropriate number of units. Generally, 1 unit of credit shall be awarded for each 50 minutes spent in an approved pro bono activity.
4 Credits; Computation
4.1 Generally, credit for formal course work shall be awarded on the basis of 1 unit for each 50 minutes actually spent in attendance at an accredited activity. Credit will not be allowed for any program which in its entirety lasts less than 50 minutes.
4.2 The units of credit assigned to a course generally reflect the maximum that may be earned through attendance. Only actual attendance by the member earns credit.
4.3 Credit will generally not be given for time spent for introductory remarks, coffee and luncheon breaks, keynote speeches, or business meetings.
4.4 In awarding credit for teaching, the Committee shall take into account the following factors: (1) teaching content and level; (2) teaching methodology; (3) personal preparation by the individual applicant, including time spent; (4) originality of preparation with the individual applicant; and (5) supplemental course materials personally prepared by the individual applicant.
4.5 In awarding credit for research activity, the Committee shall consider the following factors: (1) the content, level, and length of the published findings or committee papers; (2) the originality of the published findings or committee papers with the individual applicant; and (3) the nature of the publication in which they appear.
4.6 In awarding credit for individualized educational activities, the Committee shall consider the following factors: (1) the nature of the structured, individualized activities comprising the course of study; (2) the time normally required to complete those activities; and (3) the extent to which the individual completing the program is evaluated by the sponsor. Generally, if the structured activity consists of listening to or watching the electronic replay of a lecture, the Committee shall award credit in the same manner as for attendance at a live lecture. In order to claim credit for individualized educational activity, a member shall engage in such activity in a physical setting conducive to intellectual concentration and effective study.
4.7 In awarding credit for pro bono activity, the Committee shall consider the following factors: (1) the organization sponsoring the activity; (2) the scope and nature of the specific project; and (3) personal involvement of the individual applicant, including time spent.
5 Procedure for Application
5.1 An initial Application for Continuing Legal Education Award (Form CLE-1 attached) may be submitted to the CALSS CLE Chairman at any time upon completion of the required units of CLE. To maintain a CLE Award in effect without interruption, subsequent applications must be submitted within the three-year period following the date of issuance of the initial or any renewal Award.
5.2 No fee shall be charged for a CLE Award.
5.3 Any CLE Award application which includes teaching as part of the qualifying continuing legal education activity shall be accompanied by an Application for Accreditation of Teaching Activity (attached as Form CLE-2).
5.4 Any CLE Award application which includes a research activity as part of the qualifying continuing legal education activity shall be accompanied by an Application for Accreditation of Research Activity (attached as Form CLE-3).
5.5 Any CLE Award application which includes an individualized educational activity as part of the qualifying continuing legal education activity shall be accompanied by an Application for Accreditation of Individualized Educational Activity (attached as Form CLE-4).
5.6 Any CLE Award application which includes pro bono activity as part of the qualifying continuing legal education activity shall be accompanied by an Application for Accreditation of Pro Bono Activity (attached as Form CLE-5).
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Attachments:
CLE Form 1
CLE Form 1a
CLE Form 2
CLE Form 3
CLE Form 4
CLE Form 5